Cannonball Read 13

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Search This Site

| Log in
  1. Follow us on Facebook
  2. Follow us on Twitter
  3. Follow us on Instagram
  4. Follow us on Goodreads
  5. RSS Feeds

  • Home
  • About
    • About CBR
    • Getting Started
    • Cannon Book Club
    • Diversions
    • Fan Mail
    • Holiday Book Exchange
    • Book Bingo Reading Challenge
    • Participation Badges
    • AlabamaPink
  • Our Team
    • Leaderboard
    • The CBR Team
    • Recent Comments
    • CBR Interviews
    • Our Volunteers
    • Meet MsWas
  • Categories
    • Review Genres
    • Tags
  • Fight Cancer
    • How We Fight Cancer
    • How You Can Donate
    • Book Sale
    • CBR Merchandise
    • Supporters and Friends of CBR
  • FAQ
  • Contact
    • Contact Form
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Follow Us

Open Registration for CBR13 ends Jan. 31! Sign Up Today!

> FAQ Home
> Genre: Fiction > Paltrow or Silverstone for me, please, but not my literary jam.

Paltrow or Silverstone for me, please, but not my literary jam.

Emma by Jane Austen

December 16, 2019 by ardaigle Leave a Comment

Okay. Confession time – I have never like the Bronte Sisters or Austen. If I were to analyze it’s because of two reasons. 1. Slooooooooow pacing. I like books with a bit more get-up-and go. 2. As a former English major, I felt like I was “supposed to” like these books, particularly because I was a girl, and in my youth I was a contrarian and determined NOT to like what other people did and yes I was probably exhausting about it.

So, I wasn’t entirely sure whether I’d given Emma a fair shake so I decided to dive in, this time with audio. Plus, in my corner is the fact that Clueless (a modern adaptation of it) is my SECOND favorite movie of all time. More plus, during a mani/pedi a few months back I caught the bulk of the film adaptation of Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow. Over the years I would personally place Paltrow on a continuum of “fine” to “can we not?” but really enjoyed her portrayal in this movie. It may be because I find Paltrow to be petulant, entitled, and out of touch with reality, just as Emma was written.

So, I buckled up (metaphorically and literally, on my commute) and dealt with Emma. And it was, um, fine. Yes, Austen is talented, and yes this book was important but for me, reading it for me is a slog because it’s a lot of build up and navel-gazing and I guess I just don’t enjoy this style of writing. For me,nothing happens for a long time and then more nothing and more talking and nothing and then SOMETHING and then back to scenery and nothing.

Also, y’all, I can’t get over the 16 year age difference between her and Mr. Knightley, and the fact that he’d known her since she was like a toddler. Ewwwww. Ew Ew Ewwwww. That really sealed it for me.

So, I will once again channel the immortal Amy Poehler and say “Good for her, not for me” when it comes to Ms. Austen.

Filed Under: Fiction Tagged With: and also a movie, classics, Emma, Jane Austen

ardaigle's CBR11 Review No:45 · Genres: Fiction · Tags: and also a movie, classics, Emma, Jane Austen ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

About ardaigle

CBR13 participantCBR12 participantCBR11 participantCBR10 participantCBR  9CBR 8CBR 7CBR 6

I am a born and bred southerner and recent transplant to the Midwest. I read because I want to, because I NEED to, and because I'm possibly ignoring the frigid temperatures. Until spring, and then I may read outside. I also enjoy cooking, witty banter, and cheese. All the cheese. View ardaigle's reviews»

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.



Recent Comments

  • narfna on I’ve got the music in me!My favorite thing about Death is how he's in a perpetual mid-life/existential crisis. A fun tidbit about this book: Imp y Celyn is Welsh for...
  • narfna on If you are getting another cat, read this book. Heck, if you have a cat, get this book.I love Ponyo the film and Ponyo the cat. I want to squish her.
  • andtheIToldYouSos on DUNEWoooooorms, you say?!
  • narfna on DUNE"How special is this boy you ask? very And how dry is this new planet? oh man" This made me laugh out loud. I'm reading...
  • zinka on “We will find life, joy, and longevity in breaking what needs to be broken.”Thanks for that! Trying to remember to be easier on myself.
See More Recent Comments »

Want to Help Out?

CBR has a great crew of volunteers, and we're always looking for more people to help out. If you have a specialty or are willing to learn, drop MsWas a line.

  • How You Can Donate
  • FAQ
  • Shop
  • Volunteers
  • Leaderboard
  • AlabamaPink
  • Contact

Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo
  3. Google Pay
© 2021 Cannonball Read | Log in