Emma

Emma is Austen's most wrong-headed character, and her development into a woman needing forgiveness and becoming truly lovable is deeply engaging. The wonderful Nadia May reads flawlessly and, as ever, does justice to this excellent novel.

What a listen! This audiobook sparkles with life. The voices and accents are well done and i felt that it really does justice to Jane Austen.

One of my favorite AAM (Austen Awkward Moment) occurred when the newly married Mr. Elton and Mrs. Elton (the woman he married) is thrown together with Miss Harriet Smith (the woman he was supposed to marry) and Miss Emma Woodhouse (the woman he wanted to marry). I struck with the different behavior by Austen's rejected suitors: Mr. Elton (E), Mr. Knightly (E who thought Emma was partial to Mr. Frank Churchill) Mr. Darcy (P&P) and Capt Wentworth (P). The latter three became determined and better persons, the former turned sour. Their real characters are revealed under adversity. Of course, one can go on for some considerable time with this theme alone in Austen novels.

Poor Emma, she thought she had a pretty good fix on things and found out that she didnt even know herself. I have read criticism (more like catty remarks) about Emma as snobby and elitist. I reject this view; I understand it but still reject it. Miss Emma Woodhouse was mistress of her world. She knew and embraced the strict rules governing it. She didnt make the rules but she lived by them. Unfortunately, for her, the rules were changing. Agrarianism and feudalism were giving way to city life and manufacturing evident by the newly rich Mr. and Mrs. Coles and other newly wealthy neighbors thrust upon her notice. Mr. Knightly, among others, deals with the new rules (unwritten BTW) and neighbors much better than Emma.

One confession: reading or listening, I often skip over the parts with Miss Bates. HoweverShe is a good, well meaning soul, funny and Nadia May does a splendid job bringing her to life Still, I can only tolerate her in very small doses. If I was stuck with her everyday like that poor Jane Fairfax, I would go absolutely off my rocker. I am reminded that I know many Miss Bates. I also know many Mrs. Eltons. After thinking that thought, Miss Bates is not so bad after all.

Emma is excellently narrated. The characters and storyline are really brought to life. Great audio quality, too.

I love Jane Austen, love this story, and love listening to Nadia May. So why couldn't I listen to this book? I'm not sure if it was the tempo (too fast!), the voices she chose for the characters (too sharp and high) or a combination of the two, but this audiobook was incredibly irritating to listen to. I tried several times but finally gave up. The only reason I could give this three stars was that I know the book itself was good.

One of Austen's best as far as I am concerned, and Nadia May is one of the finest narrators in the business.

How could I NOT love this book? I adore Jane Austen and thoroughly enjoyed two versions of the movie of this tale. I was so very much looking forward to listening to it on a long drive.

Perhaps I am an illiterate dolt, but after two hours of enduring seemingly endless and pointless dialog with nasal high-pitched female voices droning on like chickens cackling (about NOTHING of substance and shallow characters I cared absolutely nothing about) I actually deleted this from my iPod. This feels like sacrilege, and I am sure there will be literary penance to be paid for such an abominable act. But perhaps I can save someone else the torture.

If the mother in Sense and Sensibility (one of my favorites) got on your nerves, this book will kill you. This book is 3 or 4 times longer than it should be because it is filled with nonesense conversation. I tried!!

I did not care for the reader. She read entirely too fast for my taste. The story was complicated and mixed up. I was very disappointed in it. I will try listening to it again when I need a sleeping pill.

i found this a little dull...........a little irritating,