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Hazel (1853 KP) rated Emma in Books

Dec 14, 2018

Emma

Alexander McCall Smith | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry

6.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Six bestselling authors have taken on the task of writing modern retellings of the complete works of Jane Austen. Alexander McCall Smith has successfully taken on the challenge of bringing Emma into the 21st century. Although the settings and characters remain the same the contemporary clothing, vehicles and ideas are something that the reader can relate to.

As fans of Jane Austen will already know, Emma is about rich, single Emma Woodhouse who, despite the disapproval of her good friend George Knightley, enjoys interfering in the lives of others, particularly where romance is concerned. Her meddling backfires when her plan to match her friend Harriet Smith with the boring Philip Elton has disastrous consequences.

Alexander McCall Smith’s version of Emma has more focus on the life of Mr. Woodhouse, Emma’s father, than the original did. He gives an account of Henry Woodhouse’s history and over emphasizes his anxieties about health and safety. Mr. Woodhouse’s concerns are constantly cropping up throughout the novel adding a little humour to the story.

One concern about this modern adaptation is that the writing style was overly formal. If it were not for the references to the current clothing fashions, motorcars and women attending university, the book could have been set during Jane Austen’s lifetime. Take, for example, the character Anne Taylor. Mr. Woodhouse hires Miss Taylor as a governess for his motherless daughters. Miss Taylor’s approach to the girls and her prim and proper use of language made her seem antiquated. She would not have looked out of place amongst other well-known governesses or nannies such as Mary Poppins or Nurse Matilda.

Occasionally it felt that Alexander McCall Smith was mocking the modern world, for example the activities of the younger generation or the way people speak. Whilst this may appeal to older readers who may disapprove of the recent developments and changes in the Western world; it alienates the teenagers and young adults who have grown up with modern technology.

There is no doubt that Alexander McCall Smith has done an excellent job at retelling such a famous novel, however to be a complete modern retelling I think everything needs to be brought into the 21st century. This would include all the characters and the style of language it is written in.

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Kyera (8 KP) rated Crosstalk in Books

Feb 1, 2018

Crosstalk

Connie Willis | 2016 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy

8.0

(4 Ratings)

Book Rating

The book started off a little slow and I wasn't quite sure if I was going to enjoy it. You're thrown right into a world that leaves you slightly confused. Is this modern day or are we in a more technologically advanced future? The world we step into is modern, with a few alterations like an "EED". They're a focal-point of this novel, so it would have been nice to have some backstory there since they're not something we're familiar with. Once you get over that hurdle, the book becomes much more enjoyable. I was surprised after the rocky beginning that I found myself engrossed in the book and spent more than one night reading significantly past my normal bedtime. The ending felt a little rushed and could have been done better. Ultimately the concept was fascinating and I would definitely read a sequel.