Emma

"If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more." ---Mr. Knightley

There is a new Mr. Darcy in town, girls, and his name is George Knightley.

After re-reading Pride and Prejudice in March (see previous posts about character research), I had the brilliant idea to re-read all the Jane Austen novels. Things went along swimmingly until I hit Emma.

I've been reading (or rather: not-reading)Emma since May.

I'm not kidding.

Let's not judge, shall we?

Anyhow, I finished it last night, and I have to admit-it's probably now one of my favorite Jane Austens! Although, come to think of it, the only Jane Austen that I've re-read that I haven't fallen head over heels in love with is:
*whispers*

Northanger Abbey.

Please don't kill me, Cecilia!

*hides*

Anyhow. Emma. One of my favorite lines is this:

"It darted through her with the speed of an arrow that Mr. Knightley must marry no one but herself!"

The slow growth of her love, and then it's sudden realization is so truthful, beautiful and touching. It reminds me of my favorite Pride and Prejudice quote:
"I was in the middle before I knew I had begun."--Darcy. Love comes softly, as my sister would say. Mr. Knightley tells Emma, "I could not think about you so much without doating on you, faults and all; and by dint of fancying so many errors, have been in love with you ever since you were thirteen at least." C.S. Lewis would say that love, like Heaven, works backwards. It shines a new, clear light on all our past thoughts, emotions, and actions. Love sneaks up on Emma-she has been distracting herself and in total oblivion, completely ignoring it. But, then, she realizes in a heartbeat that she's been disregarding what she should have embraced.

It's a beautiful love story-I definitely recommend reading it, or re-reading it soon!

And hopefully, it won't take you 6 months.