I have read Emma twice and am excited to read it again! TBH Emma is not my favorite heroine, but I love Mr. Knightley, so I am looking forward to getting differing thoughts and opinions on these two literary figures!
I always enjoy discussion of Austen heroines because I love Emma, both the heroine and the story, and I find it interesting how polarizing the character is. Yes, she’s spoiled and insufferable at the start. But is that really so different from so many male protagonists in classic literature, or ANY protagonist in modern fiction? Most of us are spoiled beyond recognition with our choices and the sheer volume of luxury we live in compared to our ancestors, and I’d bet more of us have Emma hearts than would like to admit, so maybe we just don’t like the self reflection.
My least favorite Austen heroine is Fanny, by the way 😅 I still haven’t gotten over how undeserving Edmund was as far as winning her love.
This reflection makes so much sense. I hated most of the books I read in high school and the tradition continues with my oldest. It was the themes and structures. And honestly I think in part it’s because we weren’t mentally mature enough for some of them. They were written for adults, not 14 and 15 year olds. I started reading Austen on my own sometime after high school. I am not sure I would have connected with it if I had been required to read and dissect it to death.
I totally agree about discussing books, though! It IS fun! Doing book club visits on my book is most enjoyable when they get so wrapped up in talking about characters that they forget to ask me questions! I like to listen to how my fictional world impacted them.
I have read Emma twice and am excited to read it again! TBH Emma is not my favorite heroine, but I love Mr. Knightley, so I am looking forward to getting differing thoughts and opinions on these two literary figures!
Emma is (sadly) the heroine I relate to the most but she's also the worst! And yes, Mr. Knightley is so good. So glad you're joining in, Amanda.
I always enjoy discussion of Austen heroines because I love Emma, both the heroine and the story, and I find it interesting how polarizing the character is. Yes, she’s spoiled and insufferable at the start. But is that really so different from so many male protagonists in classic literature, or ANY protagonist in modern fiction? Most of us are spoiled beyond recognition with our choices and the sheer volume of luxury we live in compared to our ancestors, and I’d bet more of us have Emma hearts than would like to admit, so maybe we just don’t like the self reflection.
My least favorite Austen heroine is Fanny, by the way 😅 I still haven’t gotten over how undeserving Edmund was as far as winning her love.
Yay! Excited. I'm starting now. I'll just read PP last. I read that and Emma before but never the others. I love all of the movies. Thanks for this.
Emma was my first Jane Austen novel! I've been rereading it since high school and I'm so excited to read it again with you all!
Thank you so much for recording the Pride & Prejudice conversation! I wasn’t able to make the live one and I’m excited to see it.
This reflection makes so much sense. I hated most of the books I read in high school and the tradition continues with my oldest. It was the themes and structures. And honestly I think in part it’s because we weren’t mentally mature enough for some of them. They were written for adults, not 14 and 15 year olds. I started reading Austen on my own sometime after high school. I am not sure I would have connected with it if I had been required to read and dissect it to death.
I totally agree about discussing books, though! It IS fun! Doing book club visits on my book is most enjoyable when they get so wrapped up in talking about characters that they forget to ask me questions! I like to listen to how my fictional world impacted them.