Emma

Rating - 8.5

Jane Austen's Emma was an excellent novel. Emma is about a young lady named Emma Woodhouse. Unlike many women in nineteenth-century English society, Emma actively participates in society with men. She is extremely clever and intelligent. Emma considers herself a talented matchmaker. However, she often runs into mischief when her attempted matches fail, causing grief for her friend Harriet. Austen's eloquent writing style makes Emma a great read. The characters and plot reveal satire and humor. Overall, it has great literary value. However, I failed to relate to the characters and felt the plot was lacking in suspense and depth. I felt that it was hard to keep track of the relationships between the characters and that the ending was too cliche. The book was also very long and in parts, I started wandering from the pages. Overall though, Emma was interesting and rewarding.

Jane Eyre

Rating - 9.5

I absolutely love Jane Eyre. It's one of my favorites. The main character Jane Eyre starts out as a 10 year old orphan surrounded by hostility in her Aunt Reed's house. Jane sets on a quest to achive independence, love and acceptance in society. Throughout the novel, the reader sees Jane matur into a young woman who breaks the standards of Nineteenth-Century english society to achieve her goals. Many people can relate to Jane's character and her determination. This novel is full of suspense and plot twists. Bronte uses a diverse vocabulary to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. Jane Eyre is unlike anything else I have ever read. It is very lengthly, but it is an enjoyable read.