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I wanted to re-read Emma after watching one of the many movie adaptations, especially when it occurred to me I hadn't read it in quite some time. After watching and then reading in a short time period, I feel that the movie versions invariably make Emma seem to be a bit of an idiot -- whether due to the fact that the story is compressed for time, or the need to visually telegraph what is going to the viewers. In the book, it's rather more subtle. Emma is a lively, intelligent, imaginative creature who makes some errors in judgement - which are actually fairly reasonable, especially when you consider the fact that your perspective is usually rather skewed when your involved or close to what is going on, and particularly when someone is actively trying to deceive you.

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Not my favorite of Jane Austen's books, but I was inspired to re-read it after seeing the delightful Masterpiece Theater version of the story. They did a wonderful job of bringing to life this plain, ordinary heroine who reads to many Gothic mysteries and is ready to imagine romance or intrigue anywhere. The narrator makes a great deal of the fact Catherine Moreland does not resemble the usual heroine of a novel-- not extraordinarily pretty, neither extremely rich nor poor; she is just about as ordinary as she can be. And yet in spite of that, she gets to have her own little adventure and finds her own romantic hero.

Catherine is kind and generous; somewhat naive and innocent, and sometimes outright ignorant. There were times when she reminded me of Jane Bennet in Pride and Prejudice-- always trying to think the best of people, even when things don't quite add up. Except that Catherine isn't as wise or intelligent as Jane (and, of course, she doesn't have a sister like Eliza to tell her how things really are). Austen does a great job of making things clear to the reader that Catherine completely misses-- Catherine's faithful "friend" Isabella, people's concerns with wealth and mis-perceptions about how wealthy Catherine might be.

Catherine's romantic interest, Henry Tilney, is a completely delightful character. He's amused by the foibles of other people, like Catherine's obsession with Gothic novels, or Mrs. Allen's obsession with clothing; he's witty and humorous, and very aware of language-- he teases Catherine over the silly things that she says, which probably she has heard other people say, and in the process he begins to educate Catherine and form her mind. When she says a book is "nice" he responds according to the original meaning of the word (neatness), which of course confuses Catherine, and Henry digresses on how the word is used for anything and hence comes to mean nothing. Another time Catherine says she has "learned to love" a particular kind of flower, and Henry teasingly asks how she learned such a thing. According to the narrator, these two end up together because Henry was the cause of Catherine's "first serious thought," which was incredibly flattering to him.

Title:	Northanger Abbey
Author:	Jane Austen
Date published:	1818
Genre:	Fiction
Number of pages:	221
Notes:	repeat reading

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I had seen the movie before, but not read the book. And there is more to be enjoyed in the book (as one would suspect). Emma Woodhouse, a wealthy young woman, lives with her hypochondriac and worried father, and has much influence over her whole neighborhood and small town. She is used to being powerful and having her own way, and is spoiled but not horribly so. The only person who ever stands up to her and reprimands her for unhealthy attitudes and actions is her neighbor and longtime family friend, Mr. Knightley. She tries to play matchmaker with her new discovery (and friend), Harriet, but that doesn't go over well for a number of reasons.

Miss Bates is an unforgettable character. She is poor, takes care of her mother and her mother and niece from time to time, has never been married, always has plenty to say, and is liked by everyone. Miss Bates often has not much of substance to say, and even that she says multiple ways. But she has a good heart and is grateful for any kindness that she is shown. At one point, a number of people are out on a picnic and Emma humiliates Miss Bates in front of everyone. Mr. Knightley escorts Emma to her carriage as she is leaving and says "badly done, Emma." (slight paraphrase) Because Emma has the better situation in life, she is the one who must show restraint and kindness and not judge harshly. Over time, Emma shows her care and sorrow for what she said and the relationship is repaired. But how true it is that a few words or actions can damage others so easily.

Title:	Emma
Author:	Jane Austen
Date published:	1816
Genre:	Fiction
Number of pages:	376

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Pride and Prejudice is delightful books worth re-reading every couple of years-- and, apparently, worth making into a movie or mini-series at least every decade or so (and much more frequently, of late). It's the classic story of the man (Mr. Darcy) and woman (Elizabeth Bennett) who despise each other almost as soon as they meet (hate at first sight), both on account of their pride, although with differing motivation. But, of course, in the course of the book, they gradually fall in love, and eventually discover that they are actually perfect for each other.

Because I have read this book many times before, I found myself focusing on more peripheral aspects of the plot, and noticing new things. Of particular interest to me was the villain, Wickham. From the description in the book, it seems clear that, not only does he have good manners and seem "amiable"; he must also be incredibly good-looking, because all of the Bennett sisters (even the more sensible Elizabeth) notice him from across the street and are immediately dying to meet him. I also wondered about his lying, when he first talks to Elizabeth-- does he really believe what he's telling her, or is he just an incredibly good deceiver and manipulator? It made me wonder, a little bit, and made him seem like more of a plot device, like Don John in Much Ado about Nothing-- the wicked villain, who is absolutely evil through and through, but without much apparent motivation.

I was also a little more intrigued by Jane than I usually have been; she's too angelic, too good, and therefore a little unbelievable. But I love the relationship between Jane and Elizabeth; they are equals, and love each other dearly, even though they are fairly different in character, and Elizabeth is a bit more clever and perceptive. I particularly enjoyed the scenes when Eliza teases her; Jane is trying to believe good of everyone, and suggests that perhaps they were simply deceived, but then Elizabeth responds that even if that is the case, they must still think ill of someone, because someone caused the deception.

I think it would be fun if a movie version of Pride and Prejudice actually portrayed Wickham as the most attractive man in the film (but, of course, Darcy is the romantic lead, so they always have to cast someone gorgeous). It would also be interesting if the movie could follow Elizabeth's perspective, so that to the audience, Wickham truly seems like the good guy, and Darcy the proud, selfish villain-- until the truth is revealed to Elizabeth. Of course, it wouldn't be much of a surprise, because most of us already know the story. But familiarity certainly doesn't keep a good story from being entertaining.

Title:	Pride and Prejudice
Author:	Jane Austen
Date published:	1813
Genre:	Fiction
Number of pages:	292
Notes:	Repeat reading.

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