Audiobook Review: Emma by Jane Austen

Author: Jane Austen

Narrator: Jenny Agutter

Title: Emma

Genre: Classic, Historical Fiction, Romance

Format: Audiobook

Published: 1815

Where I got It: Audible 

Summary: 

Emma Woodhouse is one of Austen's most captivating and vivid characters. Beautiful, spoilt, vain and irrepressibly witty, Emma organizes the lives of the inhabitants of her sleepy little village and plays matchmaker with devastating effect.

Review:

Getting back on track to doing the Austen audios. Decided to do this one next. The last time I read the book was 2011 so it's been over 10 years. Holy cannoli! 

We have Emma Woodhouse who is beautiful, witty, clever, nosey, spoiled, and vain. She loves to organize the lives of her village and play matchmaker...but this time there will be devastating effects. 

I re-read my previous review of this one. I was being very, very nice. It is one of my least favorite of the Jane Austen books....mainly because of Emma. I love a good matchmaking scheme, but she is insufferable. 

I love Harriet and Mr. Knightely. If I didn't think they would be miserable...I would root for those two to get together.

I do appreciate Jane Austen's pen and how she can really bring these characters to life. She never has a "perfect" character. They all have realistic flaws and it is always a joy to watch the main characters find their footing and find each other. 

The narrator did okay. Her voices were pretty much all the same. I'm not asking for huge voice changes, but if you're not paying attention or miss who is talking...you might have to back up. However, I was able to get through the book quicker with the audio. I remember struggling to read the print version back then. 

I originally gave this a 4 (because I rounded up), but I'm flat out going to give this a 3 now. Being 10 years older has made me more cold-hearted I guess ;) 

Challenge(s):
- #21 for Audiobook challenge

- #17 for Romance Reading Challenge - Re-Read

Tell Me Something Tuesday: When Everyone Loves The Book...Except You

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

5/3/2022 how do you feel when everyone loves a book except for you?

I am always happy for that person that they loved a book! I will never shame someone for loving a book even though I didn't like it. I'm just happy there is a fellow reader ;) Everyone has different tastes so it happens.   

Now....I will say that I do get jealous especially if it was a book I really, really wanted to love too hahaha! 

There are a couple of times...I do doubt the reviews on GR... especially if it is a brand new book. Sometimes people feel like they have to gush and LOVE a book even if it was just okay. I won't lie and say I haven't sweetened up a review a bit, but there are some who will flat out lie and say it was "the best book eva!" 

Best of April

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Happy May everyone!

Here are our best for last month!

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd - The Barbarian King's Assassin by Eve Langlais

"I enjoyed this one the most this month. Humou, action and romance."

Carole - Fair Game by Patricia Briggs

"The mystery and the romance...all tantalizing! Loving this world and these characters."

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole - The Batman (2022)

"Way better than I expected!"

Blodeuedd - Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

"Best movie. So good."

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Min Historiske Pojkvän

"I watched this hilarious Swedish humour series about a woman who went back in time to see if dating was better then. It was not. So she tried it 6 times."

Moon Knight

"I am also watching Moon Knight, it is amaaaazing."

Carole - Friends (season 1-5)

"Decided to try this show again now that I'm an adult...and I'm loving it!!!!!!!!!"

Best Cover of the Month:

Blodeuedd's fave!
"This random cover that has nothing at all to do with the book"

Carole's fave!
"It looks simple...but really looking at it there is a lot going on. The colors are fun too!"

2-in-1 Short Story Reviews: Plop by Samuel Small & Origins by S.M. Boyce

Author: Samuel Small

Title: Plop

Genre: Horror, Short Story, Paranormal

Format: ebook

Pages: 17

Published: March 23rd 2022

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Every hour, she takes a step.

Review:

Been itching for some spooky horror tales! Found a couple of freebies that fit what I needed! So yayy!

We follow a man that is being...well...haunted by the past and by something a little more sinister.

This was certainly short. We got RIGHT into it. Not a lot of back story or beating around the bush. 

This was def really creepy and def a good horror tale to tell around the fire. 

Some gruesome bits near the end! I would've liked some more backstory. 

4 stars from me overall. 

 

Author: S.M. Boyce

Title: Origins

(0.5 To Each His Ghost)

Genre: Horror, Short Story, Paranormal

Format: ebook

Pages: 25

Published: March 15th 2016

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Mel has a curse: she can see what’s invisible to most humans. We call them ghosts and demons. She calls them living nightmares.

When she was five, she had her own ghost. A good ghost. She swore to never leave his side, but over time, he scared her. She pushed him away. She broke her promise.

Now well into her twenties, Mel meets her old ghost again. And this time, he’s brought the darkness with him to prove his point…

…you don’t break a promise with a ghost.

Review:

Seen this one while randomly scrolling through the ebooks on Amazon and this fit perfectly for what I wanted. Short...horror-filled. 

We follow Mel has a curse that allows her to see ghosts and demons... which most humans cannot see. It has been a living nightmare. It all started when she was five and had her own ghost and has been a good ghost. She made a vow to never his side, but over time he started scaring her so she pushed him away and broke her promise. Time went by and Mel sees her ghost again, but this time he wants vengeance for her breaking her promise. 

This was short and def a prequel. Poor Mel. At first, I thought I would be on the ghost's side, but I don't blame her for pushing him away and not wanting to be on his side after he released something on her. *shudders* He released a creature that is literally a nightmare for me so that gave me the goosebumps. 

I am curious about the next book! I want more especially with the cliffhanger there. Ooooo!

In the end, I read this by the bonfire and I loved it. If you want a quick horror story that will give you goosebumps, I def recommend this. 5 stars.