As usual I've been remiss...

Well I finished Emma and was pleased with the book overall. I found, as with all other literature from the same time period, that segments could have been conveyed in a much less verbose manner. I liked the depiction of the title character as one who was snobbish to a fault, at least that is my interpretation of her. She seemed so judgmental and could not take being judged herself. I did not, I am proud to say, fall for the idea that she would end up with Frank Churchill, and was, I admit pleased with the ruse he and Jane Fairfax put forth to conceal their engagement.

I was happy for Harriet Smith when she finally found her love. She was Emma's puppet throughout and I really disliked Emma for her manipulations as they cost Harriet much. Just think of the time wasted in Harriet's relationship with Mr. Martin solely as a result of Emma's meddling. I felt at times, especially as I continued to see Harriet led by Emma, sad and angry and wanted to shout, "seriously Emma, take up knitting or something, just leave poor Harriet alone!"

I loved how Mr. George Knightly finally professed his love for Emma, I suspected it from about half way through the novel and I really found his character to be sweet and romantic. I especially like how his reason and prudence act as a foil to Emma's lack thereof.

Overall a pleasant novel. I am now working on Jane Eyre, the Charlotte Bronte classic. Published first in 1847, about 50 years after Austen's Emma I'm liking the differences between the main characters. I also like that while Emma was told from an unnamed narrator, Jane Eyre is told by Jane herself. I like knowing her thoughts as they unfold, in her own words; something I didn't feel I got with Emma.

I am reading the version of Jane Eyre that is free on my Kindle, and unfortunately my husband is also working on several books housed on the Kindle, so my ability to read has been truncated as he is forever attached to the darn thing. I have plans to purchase another soon, perhaps with tutoring money, we shall see. One may remember that the Kindle was originally a gift from my husband to help me progress with my canon project, but alas, he as also found the joy of this neat device and is, shall we say, hogging it for now.

Until next time...