Comments (14)

Emma

a Modern Retelling
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Jan 10, 2024bb1956 rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Too wordy and too irreverent. This modern retelling of Austen's novel, with its omission of 19th century mores, formality and language diminished the charm of Emma for me; both in the character and novel.
Oct 18, 2017darladoodles rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
After reading two of the four books that are part of The Austen Project, I have given up. It is clear that no matter how much we love the stories themselves, they just aren't the same without our beloved Jane telling them. I know…
Dec 15, 2016JCLChristinD rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
If you love Alexander McCall Smith, this may be an enjoyable read. If you love Jane Austen, and her Emma, expect to be annoyed. It takes creative re-imagining to make a story about 19th century class and social roles work in a modern…
Jun 28, 2016
This was very disappointing . If you love Jane Autin this is a poor remake. This novel was more about Emma's father and he was treated with much more sympathy than Emma who was made to seem a spoiled brat. Granted, she had some growing…
reeread
Feb 20, 2016reeread rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Wanted to delay reading this "Emma" until I had read Austen's "Emma". Only read half of the original before I had to read and return Alexander McCall-Smith's version to the library. I always enjoy McCall-Smith's writing and his accurate…
Feb 05, 2016haileyj rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
We must remember this is a re-telling of an Austen book so of course the characters will seem "out of touch" with today's world. Even so, Emma was obviously a rich, spoiled girl who thought she was entitled to manage other people's lives…
Sep 01, 2015Rosina rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Delightful. An easy read. Typical of Alexander McCall smith. Right from the first page he pokes fun at all society.
Aug 02, 2015J9833 rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
If I had written Emma, I would be disappointed.
Jul 23, 2015DanglingConversations rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
Boring and childish, does not translate well into 21st century lifestyle of young women. A waste of good reading time.
Jul 13, 2015brangwinn rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
The story is nice…what more can I say, but Emma really hasn’t been translated into a modern character. The original Emma is better. I couldn’t like this Emma, she seemed so spoiled.
Apr 20, 2015samdog123 rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
If it weren't for the fact that Alexander McCall-Smith wrote this book, I don't think I would have finished it. It was a tough slog to get through this modernized version of Austen's 'Emma,' and I don't think the premise of the story…
Apr 10, 20151_Great_Book rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Not sure. Not McCall Smith's usual style. I found Emma's character shallow. Really enjoyed from page 358 on, last few bits of a later chapter, when he gets into a discussion on gaining moral insight (and we are used to so much more of…
Mar 05, 2015bhmwortman rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
For fans of Austen's original novel, McCall Smith's retelling will be delight. Interestingly, the novel spends a great deal more time developing the back story of the original novel. However, this means that readers spend more time with…
Nov 19, 2014
Latest in the Austen Project - retelling the classic Austen storylines in contemporary settings. Plus ca change...