The Nineteenth Century Cher Horowitz? Emma by Jane Austen: Book Review

My Review: 5 Stars

I finally read my first Jane Austen book and it did not disappoint!

Emma is the story of a rich socialite who takes care of her widowed father, enjoys giving makeovers, plays matchmaker with her friends, and ends up with her...almost brother-in-law? Ring any bells? That's because Emma is the inspiration for the quintessential 90's movie Clueless. I chose Emma as my first Austen book because wanted to read alllll about the original Cher Horowitz. Clueless is 100% faithful to Austen's iconic story and I now love it even more!

Emma is just as fun and entertaining as Clueless all because of it's title character. Although Austen is known for her swoon-worthy romances, I found myself so entertained by Emma and relating to her so much, that I hardly even needed a romance at the end (but it is the cherry on top).

Watching Emma attend social events and play match maker highlights her own privileges and naivety that she is utterly clueless of. She often finds herself ignoring or accidentally walking over the feelings of others, yet she admires the kindness and humility in her friends. She's a perfectly flawed character that constantly wants to do better but finds herself drawn back to the same habits, just like all of us.

Which is why we all need a Mr. Knighley to push us to be our best selves! Mr. Knightley (AKA Josh Lucas) is an amazing love interest that understands the complexities of Emma’s seemingly shallow personality and isn’t afraid to be brutally honest with her. He is quite literally the embodiment of actions over words:"If I had loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more."

I also loved the overall message of Harriet's storyline: People are different and want different things. This doesn't have to be good or bad. While Emma leans more towards the elite, scholarly side, Harriet (AKA Tai Frasier) enjoys the more simple things in life. And neither would be happy in the place of the other.

So if you want to date a skater boy...ahem...I mean a humble farmer...then go for it!

And of course...the feminism.

Emma is a true icon. She loves her life, and genuinely sees a husband as as a hinderance to it. She doesn't go for just any guy because he's on her socioeconomic level (AS IF!). And she even encourages her friends to do the same (even if they are happy within their own status). Single or married, Emma plans to keep her lavish lifestyle and, being the queen she is, totally succeeds.

The only thing that Clueless does better is include Dionne. Emma needed an equally stylish sidekick to accompany her during her match-making schemes!

Overall: I'm totally buggin' over how much I loved this!!! Emma's feelings are still relatable 200 years later. A must read for any girlie who loves literary classics and rom-coms!!

Synopsis:

Albeit that she is not yet 21, Emma Woodhouse foresees a future as a spinster dabbling in matchmaking. Charming and infuriating, she almost ruins the marriage prospects of Harriet Smith, her protégée, after misguidedly attempting to match Harriet with the local rector, who is in fact in search of a wealthy wife. Reprimanded by her friend, George Knightly, and misled by Frank Crawford, whom she saw as a potential suitor, Emma learns some valuable lessons in humility and about love and marriage.