2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Emma by Jane Austen.

Pages: 474 pages

Length: 1 month (March)

Participants:Lorraine, Caterina, Lynn, Samantha

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

So excited to wrap up our Jane Austen buddy reads this month! I will be starting next week.

I can believe we already read all of them! I have read good things about this book from Jane Austen. Exciting! I should start around the 5th. A few February read to finish. Took too much BR last month…

I have read the first 3 chapters. I think I will like this one. Emma seems like a very interesting character with many flaws… ( probably why she is interesting 😊).
Caterina: In the book I have, there is also a story called Lady Susan. I understand it is a short story. Have you ever read it?

Lorraine wrote: "I have read the first 3 chapters. I think I will like this one. Emma seems like a very interesting character with many flaws… ( probably why she is interesting 😊).
Caterina: In the book I have, th..."

I have not read Lady Susan. Is it a short story from Jane Austen? If you end up reading it, let us know what you think of it.

I have also read the first few chapters. I love the way Emma says she doesn't plan to marry because she doesn't need to. That must have been somewhat radical for the time period.

Read the next 3 chapters.
It is funny how some people think they know what’s best for other people…(view spoiler)[ we usually see male characters telling their wives, sisters, cousins what to do and think. Will be fun to see a female character doing it…but I smell disaster! <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

I won't get to this one until mid-month at the earliest!

L Y N N wrote: "I won't get to this one until mid-month at the earliest!"

Lynn. You get there when you get there! Do not worry!

I am about halfway through the book. I like the book and I know that Emma is meant to be a very unlikable heroine, so I am keeping that in mind as I read.

Harriet - (view spoiler)[I realize that all these characters are young and naive, but I'm surprised that Harriet decided not to marry Robert Martin. Emma is too much! (hide spoiler)]

Mr. Elton - (view spoiler)[I was surprised to see Emma and Mr. Elton end up alone in the same carriage after dinner. For some reason, I was under the impression that unmarried women could not be alone with unmarried men, at least not without a chaperone.

It also sounded like Mr Knightley knew Mr Elton might be up to something. Maybe he should have tried to prevent that moment? It turned out to be just awkward, but it could've been much worse for Emma. (hide spoiler)]

Also Re: Lady Susan - It turns out the movie Love & Friendship with Kate Beckinsale is based on this novella. It was the first work that Jane Austen tried to have published, 17 years before Sense and Sensibility.

I'm hoping to start reading this next weekend.

I've finished volume II of Emma. She is something! I think this book should have been the one titled Pride and Prejudice ! She is full of prejudice that girl. I understand that her intentions are good but with a friend like that who needs an enemy ? LOL I still like the book even though I think it is too long. Looking forward what will happen to Emma in volume 3. Not sure her actual love interest is the best choice for her...

I've just finished Emma. I liked it a lot. Happy to see that Emma gained maturity.

Emma (view spoiler)[ One thing for sure she had a lot of thing wrong! Poor Harriet. Mislead 3 times! But in the end she chose the right one for he.
(hide spoiler)]

I am happy I have read all of those Jane Austen books. thanks to everyone who have read them with me. It was fun.

I finished the book as well. I really liked it and I want to watch one of the movie adaptations now!

(view spoiler)[I laughed so hard at the dad not wanting to be separated from Emma, so Knightley has to move in with them. Who wants that in a marriage? But I guess it was more common in the 1800s. The dad was a little overbearing throughout the book, though in a somewhat endearing way.

If I had been Jane Fairfax, I probably wouldn't have been as understanding towards Frank Churchill, after he spent days flirting with someone else in front of me. Though I suppose part of the problem is that she's not in a position to be choosy. She might be disappointed with his behavior, but she realistically would not turn him down and end their engagement.

Money and inheritances didn't play a huge part in this book, but I couldn't help but wonder who inherits Hartfield after Mr. Woodhouse passes away. (hide spoiler)]

It's been a blast reading Jane Austen's literary works with you all. These were all very fun reads!

Lorraine wrote: "I've just finished Emma. I liked it a lot. Happy to see that Emma gained maturity.

Emma One thing for sure she had a lot of thing wrong! Poor Harriet. Mislead 3 times! But in the end she chose t..."

(view spoiler)[Poor Harriet indeed! Like you said... with friends like Emma, who needs enemies? I'm glad she ended up with Mr. Martin after all. (hide spoiler)]

I started this but haven't gotten very far. Friends needing help!

Hope to finish it in the next few days.

I started reading this but just can't seem to get into it, having a hard time finding time to read time month. Hopefully I can catch up this week during spring break and try to get further into Emma. Most likely will not have it finished by the end of the month though.