The following COHS student reviews are on “Emma” by Jane Austen.
Genre: Novel/ romance
Pages: 370 (depending on edition)
Reviewer: Andria R.
Emma is an upper class lady that thinks of herself a great matchmaker to the people she knows. She sees nothing wrong in it. Even though she is told it is wrong she still insists that she is being helpful. Later on she learns that she was wrong and decides to stop. In this book there are romances between the characters in which you never learn if there ever going to work out. In the high upper society there are conflicts which Emma is always involved in.
In my opinion I really enjoyed reading Emma because it was different from the books I usually read. It showed me a look at how they used to behave back then. The different conflicts that might of happened.
1. Jane Austen’s purpose was to show the different romances in a high class society and how they can go wrong. It also showed many conflicts within that society.
2. The themes are marriage and social status. The thesis is the events that happen when marriage can be ruined when social status can come into the picture.
3. Jane Austen makes the development of marriage when everything goes wrong within the upper class society.
4. What main issue does the book raise and what stance does it take in addressing and solving the issue?The main issue is when Emma keeps on trying to be matchmaker and keeps her friend from being with the one she has interest in. In solving the issue Emma decides to stop being matchmaker.
School Library Lady 
I gotta say this was a pretty nice review. I haven’t read this book in forever. I think I’ll have to rent it soon – I feel like reading it now.
Whenever I read a novel based on British life in the 1800s, I am glad I grew up in the 20th century and am now part of the 21st century. Life choices, especially for women, were very limited in the 1800s. Your future was predicted by your family background and wealth. Emma caused a lot of misunderstandings with her matchmaking between social classes. We still see class conflicts in today’s society, but each person has a chance to improve himself and rise above his or her childhood circumstances.