Joseph’s Reviews > Emma > Status Update

The first two quotes seemed to confirm my suspicion that Austen's appeal is probably just divided along gender lines, but apparently Charlotte Bronte had a lot of the same problems with her that I do. Makes me want to get around to Jane Eyre faster.

"...have been in love with you ever since you were thirteen at least."

At which time he would have been 29. *retches*

Oh no, she had to talk to poor people!!!

Okay! Took a while, but actual flirting between the main couple.

I don't think I can five this more than three stars at this point. I have endured too many of Miss Bates' text blocks.

We're supposed to be seeing Mrs. Elton as a foil for Emma, right? Seeing herself as superior to everyone else in town, and now choosing to be a patron for Jane Fairfax like Emma is for Henrietta...she bugs Emma because she has the same flaws, except, ostensibly, at least, without the nuances that we see in Emma's head.

"But she is so amusing, so extremely amusing! I am very fond of hearing Miss Bates talk."

There is something wrong with this man.

I'm not sure anything in that chapter was actually necessary.

Also, I get that "annoyingly garrulous" is Miss Bates' gimmick, but you don't need to tell us EVERYTHING that she says. Going on for MULTIPLE PAGES to tell us that Mr. Knightley gave her apples. You can give us the first hundred words or so and then say, "Emma's mind wandered as Miss Bates continued until they got to the house," or something.

At least 50% of this chapter should have been cut.

"I was sixteen years old when you were born."

Don't tell us that!