Emma by Jane AustenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I wanted to read a traditional classic novel this winter, when I knew I had more time for reading. I started reading Emma right after Christmas but set it aside several times. Winter in Michigan can be unpredictable, but I finally realized that I'd better get going if I wanted to finish it before gardening season!
I'm a fairly fast reader, but the language and characters forced me to slow down and appreciate the social mores and conventions of Austen's day. I read a couple of essays on how to approach and read Austen, and I have to admit that they were very helpful. I would highly recommend the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition which celebrates the 200th anniversary of the original publication. Juliet Wells (Goucher College) writes a reader's guide, along with information on alternate spellings and definitions of words. She also includes quite a few essays about the aspects of the cultural context: dancing, dining, politics, etc.. I read it on my Kindle and this edition was available from my local public library through Libby.
I've read most of Jane Austen's books and thought that I had already read this one, but I guess I never did. I have fond memories of the Gwyneth Paltrow / Jeremy Northam movie and plan to re-watch it very soon. Also on my to-be-viewed list is the Anya Taylor-Joy movie version and the Jonny Lee Miller mini-series.
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