“Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever and rich”
Thus began Jane Austen’s classic, a light and lively tale set in an English village two hundred years ago. Yet every era has its share of Emmas: young women trying to find themselves in their own corners of the world. I Could Write a Book is the story of a self-proclaimed modern woman: Emma Katherine Woodhouse, a 1970s co-ed whose life is pleasant, ordered, and predictable, if a bit confining.
I am a huge fan of Jane Austen's. I’ve read a multitude of versions of Pride & Prejudice and watched variations of all of Jane Austen’s works on TV. This was the first time I knowingly got a rework of Emma so I was very curious. This didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed this story and this Emma. I highly recommend to anyone that’s a Jane Austen fan.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Sono sempre alla ricerca di un bel retelling moderno dei romanzi austeniani, e questo di Karen M. Cox è certamente uno dei migliori che abbia mai letto.

I could write a book è la riscrittura di Emma, ambientato questa volta negli anni '70 nel Kentucky, sud degli Stati Uniti.
Dopo un inizio un po' lento in cui ho dovuto abituarmi al nuovo background di cui non ho una conoscenza personale, sono stata catturata dalla storia e dallo stile dell'autrice.

La trama è piuttosto aderente al romanzo originale: Emma Woodhouse è una ragazza di buona famiglia, cresciuta tra lodi e complimenti; amici e parenti costituiscono tutto il suo mondo, che è invero piccolo. Emma, infatti, fatica ad allargare i propri orizzonti a causa della propria situazione familiare: dopo aver subito la morte della madre, il padre, in passato noto avvocato, necessita di cure per i reliquati di un ictus. Emma rinuncia così al college, scegliendo di restare a casa.
Suo amico da sempre è George Knightley, figlio del socio di Mr Woodhouse e anch'egli avvocato. Diversamente da Emma, ha potuto conoscere il mondo e sperimentare la vita, e rimprovera alla ragazza la sua inesperienza, nonché la convinzione di credere sempre di sapere cosa sia meglio per tutti. George è un uomo gentile, un gentiluomo, anzi, che intreccia di continuo relazioni fallimentari con donne sicure e di successo.

Come il suo corrispettivo austeniano, anche questa Emma è una ragazza piuttosto sola: sua sorella è ormai sposata e assorbita da marito e figli; la zia che si è presa cura di lei, Miss Taylor, ha trovato l'amore e la sua strada; il padre, che ha problemi di memoria, occupa tutto il suo tempo.
La trovo una protagonista molto coraggiosa: nonostante la vita potrebbe darle di più e nonostante i suoi sacrifici, non si lamenta mai, è sempre vivace, e non prova rancore nei confronti di quella famiglia che continua a tenerla legata a sé e a tirarla giù, quando lei potrebbe allontanarsi ed emergere dalla ristretta comunità in cui si ritrova a vivere.
Anche George è un personaggio adorabile, ed ho amato leggere della sua progressiva consapevolezza dei propri sentimenti verso Emma.

Come dicevo, l'autrice è riuscita a restare molto aderente al romanzo originale, non tralasciando nessun personaggio: c'è spazio per Frank e Jane Fairfax, per la storia tra Miss Taylor e il signor Weston, per gli odiosi Elton, per la semplice Mary Jo (Harriet), che, spinta dalle buone intenzioni di Emma, rischia di allontanarsi dalla propria felicità, credendosi innamorata ora dell'uno, ora dell'altro degli uomini che popolano il romanzo; più sottotono, invece, le apparizioni delle Bates (e forse è meglio così, trovo sempre penosi gli eventi di Box Hill).
Karen M. Cox ci regala anche delle toccanti scene con protagonista Emma e sua madre, che hanno fatto aumentare in me la tenerezza verso la protagonista e il suo buon cuore ferito.

Emma è la mia eroina austeniana preferita, protagonista di una storia profonda e divertente e di un processo di crescita doloroso e valido. Nonché di alcune delle scene più dolci con uno dei gentiluomini più amabili e affascinanti della letteratura.

I could write a book mantiene inalterate tutte queste caratteristiche e si rivela una lettura emozionante e piacevole anche per chi sia a digiuno dei romanzi di Jane Austen.

Come in Find wonder in all things, invece, non ho gradito del tutto l'epilogo con i protagonisti invecchiati, perché, come ho già ribadito altrove, a me piace pensarli giovani e felici per sempre.
Molto stimolante la sezione finale, contenente alcune domande su cui riflettere, tra cui un interessante confronto tra il personaggio di Emma e quello di Mr Darcy di Orgoglio e pregiudizio.

Karen Cox did an excellent job re-imagining "Emma". Sometimes Emma's character is one that is not as well liked as some of Austen's other characters but being given an inside look into the "modern" Emma made her lovable and relate-able. Good job!

Every single time I read Emma (or the adaptations through film or re imagining) I cannot imagine why they don't see each other sooner. I know, I know, that is where the sweet story line we enjoy comes from... but, I want it for them. Especially in this story. Emma "laying" her life down to care for her father and trying to be a kind contribution to the community in which she lives and George, always looking out for her... because she is like a younger sister to him?

Well, I enjoyed this book immensely.

The original Emma...is not a likeable character and there's nothing wrong with that. I've said this many time, but Alice Munro and Margaret Atwood once discussed writing unlikeable characters and I love all of Munro's women. I was never a fan of the original. She was a bit annoying and over privileged. It wasn't a character that I was eager to every read again.

Karen Cox's Emma is...wonderful. Based in the 1970's and the old money of Kentucky, we follow the familiar story of Emma and the cast of character that surround her. There's the relationship meddling that make Emma Emma.

I read a lot of re-tellings and this one was really enjoyable. I felt like I was living alongside Emma, going to Derby parties and running around with her beloved Maude.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I haven't read a lot of variations on the book Emma but this one was very good. I would read it again.

I’m not typically the kind of person to read classics for leisure, but I did read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice this past summer and I really enjoyed it. I had also picked up Austen’s other novel Emma a few years back, although I never finished it. Presented with a chance to read Emma—but set in another era—I, of course, was excited to jump right into the book I Could Write a Book by Karen M. Cox.

Told in alternating narratives, it is a story set in a small Southern town. It tells the story of Emma Woodhouse and George Knightley. With their families business partners, they were destined to be friends. The story begins with Emma in her teen years and follows her all the way to her college graduation, highlighting snippets of her life. Although she means well, she has a tendency of getting involved in the lives of those around her. Over time, George develops a growing attraction to her, despite his frustration with her flaw.

This book is charming and certainly has that Jane Austen atmosphere. There is a sense of old-timey serenity in the dialogue and a hint of humor to the plot. I can definitely imagine the novel being the perfect beach or picnic read. However, despite still being set in the 1970s—a time away—I find myself able to relate to Emma. Whether it is shipping friends with cute guys or sharing career advice with your cousin, you’d be lying if you denied finding it sometimes difficult to interfere in the business of friends and family.

Although Jane Austen’s writing is known to be more light-hearted, I feel like there were great opportunities to write more emotionally-involved scenes in I Could Write a Book. Many of these scenes were skipped over instead, which is disappointing because there is that potential of a deeper connection to the characters, even if it goes out-of-character for a story based on Emma.

While the pacing is a bit misleading, it does a good job of pulling me into the story and building an undeniably chemistry between Emma and George. I’ve read a number of stories where a romance is artificial, but this one does a great job on its construction on all aspects: time, consciousness, and the stages of emotion. The same goes for Emma’s relationships with family, friends, and other potential love interests.

The lack of weight to scenes that would otherwise be tragic may dock a star and a half from its rating, but the book is still at a respectable 3.5 out of 5 and I definitely recommend it to those who enjoy reads that are on the lighter side.

I received this advanced reader copy from the publishing company in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Austen’s Emma is not an easy book to like, especially the protagonist who comes across as a little too full of herself. I also tried to read one modern adaptation of it before and abandoned it halfway because it was so boring. So, I am really not sure why I decided to read another adaptation. But I am really glad I did. This is a really well written book and the setting of 70s Kentucky horse country felt perfect for the plot.

All the major characters are obviously the same, just that some of them have professions suited to the time period. There is also diversity in the cast which was quite surprising but so subtly integrated that it didn’t feel forced at all. Emma is still trying to play matchmaker for her friends, but her character in this book is much more defined. We get a much better back story for her, she is shown as quite intellectual and smart and a little naive, and we see how confident she is of her choices and not just make them out of obligation. We also get to know much more about George, his string of girlfriends, his concern and affection for Emma and also his emotional side. All the other characters also have original plots which make them quite enjoyable and distinct from Austen’s Emma.

I especially loved reading the inner thoughts of Emma and George as it gave a special insight into their characters. I also thought their conversations were well written and reflected their true friendship. The ending had a modern twist which made me quite excited. Also, my eternal wish of knowing what happens to them after the original ending, was fulfilled and I loved it – especially Emma’s life story. On the whole, a thoroughly enjoyable read and I recommend it to all lovers of romance novels but especially Austen fans.

After setting the stage for their upscale equestrian community in Kentucky, Emma is choosing to leave her small women’s college and return home to care for her father after his stroke. Her sister is married with small children, her aunt has already sacrificed her young adulthood caring for Emma’s family when their mother unexpectedly died and it is up to Emma to fill the missing piece in their family home and community. She is beautiful, smart and beloved by all. This sweet mini saga turns into a love story “Jane Austen” style when George, the handsome catch of the town family friend watches Emma, who he has known all his life, grow into the woman he always dreamed she’d be. Obviously, a twist on an old tale, I found this new novel easy and adorable, especially if you love anything remotely Jane Austen. Its hard to imagine the characters with southern charm and accent instead of English one’s but it’s a quick read and if you can go with the flow - you’ll enjoy the ride.

RATING: 3.5 stars

I have read and watched so many retellings of Jane Austen novels that by now you'd think I'd be sick of them. However, you'd be wrong. There is something so classic about these stories and yet each retelling is like seeing it anew through a fresh pair of eyes. I Could Write a Book - Karen M. Cox's version of Austen's classic Emma was no different. It was both sweet and cute, with just the right amount of levity to keep it moving along. My only tiny dislike was the time period used in the book. While I understand how the sixties/seventies could lend to some of the plot lines and outlooks of the book, it made it just feel dated to me. I've seen plenty of people pull off these retellings in the modern age and do it with seamlessly. I would have liked to see George and Emma once again in the modern day.

I haven't read the original. I know that's a terrible admission but my English teachers preferred modern classics for novels and either Burns or Shakespeare for everything else. I've never either been tempted to read Emma for pleasure so I don't know how true to adaptation this version is. I do know that the original Emma was quite unlikable and often made poor decisions, which our heroine takes after. I think I lost a lot of potential enjoyment through not reading the original (my fault not the author's). I would recommend this book to anyone who liked the original but was frustrated with Emma. I hate to say it but I wasn't that keen on George either.

A retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma set in 1970’s Kentucky? Oh, now that did sound curious so I really wanted to read it. Karen Cox did not disappoint making Jane Austen’s version of the controversial ‘It’ girl engage the reader’s attention and then affection when paired with the noble and gentlemanly man about town George Knightley.

Couple the 1970’s period in mid-America with Jane Austen’s novel, Emma, which has one of Austen’s most forward-thinking ‘modern’ heroines and it was an engaging piece of women’s fiction. A young woman comes into her own between the tradition of the past and the promise of the future. The author settled her characters so that they were immersed in the times and felt authentic as a result.

I Could Write a Book‘s Emma was breezy and confident in her outlook. The world is her oyster and she’s got it all sorted. Until she doesn’t.

As the story unfolds at a gentle pace with an alternating narrative between heroine and hero, the reader sees what Emma does not. Because her nearest and dearest dote on her and she has never spent much time away from this atmosphere, she starts to believe what they all indulgently and proudly say- Emma is smart, sophisticated, skilled, and right. And they are not entirely wrong. Emma is all these things, but she is also untried, naive, and bases her triumphs on very little, as George Knightley attempts to point out to her. She senses this a little because she is uneasy around other superior women like George’s ladyfriend who is a doctor with her own successful career. She is more than uneasy around professional actress, dancer, and singer, Jane Fairfax.

I appreciated the writing skill that brought Emma along through her flaws and growth period in such a way that I could get behind her as a heroine I wanted to see succeed and triumph. Emma has it all with looks, status, and wealth so it can be tricky writing her as a sympathetic character. I felt a good balance was struck with the author’s George Knightley, too. He was perfect, but not too perfect. He doesn’t stumble around in the dark like Emma, but he has to learn to fathom his own heart, nonetheless.

The surrounding cast of characters resembled Austen’s characters, but also had originality. Kudos for the correlation of class difference through education and region, but also the inclusion of ethnic diversity. I was particularly taken with how Frank and Jane were described and their story played out. There was complexity and fun surprises with all the cast.

In summation, it was a faithful rendering of the classic tale, but engaged the reader with delightful originality from plot, to setting, and to characters. Fans of Austen are shoe-in for this, but I think fans of women’s fiction and romance should give it a go as well.

Based on Jane Austen's Emma this Emma has also got the match making gene along with a Knightley in the background and a Weston who likes a bit of dalliance. There are lots of other characters in this charming Southern background book and the old fashioned style of story despite its modern setting echoes the Emma of Jane Austen.

What I really liked is that our Emma here had all the faults of the original character and more! she was not a good two shoes but someone who liked to have her own way and who thought she knew it all and was superior to lots of those around her. This characterization made her much more easier to like in the book.

The setting in the US I thought could detract from the rural village setting of England but it was not so. It seamlessly blended into the story and worked out very well.

Goodreads review posted on 8/9/2017. Could not post on Amazon as not available. Posted on my blog 11/9/2017. Also linked to my fb page.

Modern take on Jane Austen's classic, Emma. [If this Adaptations genre appeals to you, please enjoy this book! There's really no point in continuing to read my review, since I'm not a fan of chick-lit in general]. Much like the movie Clueless, where Emma's story and lessons were aptly delivered to a new era (the 90s) and locale (Beverly Hills); Karen M. Cox uses a horserace, sweet tea, and a local term for a winter hat in an attempt to relocate the story to Kentucky, in the 70s. However I did come across a couple inaccuracies; for example Emma's niece is named Taylor which didn't gain popularity as a female baby name until the 80s (BabyCenter shows only 28 Taylor baby girls per 1 million births in 1974), and Elvis impersonators officiating at Vegas weddings didn't become a thing until after 1999. At one point Emma, George Knightley and Mary Jo (the modernized Harriet Smith) are referenced as looking "like the Mod Squad," which made no sense to me, because they're all caucasian.

While in Jane Austen's 1815 it made sense for a 20-yr old girl to not have career goals; in Cox's 1976 I see no reason for her to present Emma as an intelligent young woman, one whom name partner George Knightley considers his "intellectual equal," and yet grant this character no post-graduation plan whatsoever. I found it rather ironic that Emma boasts to her friend Mary Jo about what a "modern woman" she is, because it was Mary Jo who actually proved to be the progressive - working in a law office, and pursuing a biracial relationship.

I Could Write a Book by Karen M. Cox
I Could Write a Book
by Karen M. Cox (Goodreads Author)
108416
Nancy Cunningham's review Aug 30, 2017 · edit
liked it

Karen Cox is one of the very brave, perhaps audacious, contemporary authors who has accepted the challenge of writing a contemporary version of a Jane Austen classic. I COULD WRITE A BOOK presents the reader with a 20th Century Emma Woodhouse.

Emma is my favorite Austen novel, so this reader has set the bar very high for Ms. Cox. Her novel is very entertaining and eminently readable. It is also exceedingly faithful to the original book and that is, perhaps, my primary criticism of this adaptation. The author diligently and faithfully brought the plot and characters in to the 20th Century, but it was not a fresh book inspired by EMMA, it was closer to a translation of EMMA.

I really appreciated Ms. Cox's descriptions of Kentucky society, with its traditions, prejudices, and charm. She brought Kentucky "horse country" to life and Emma fit in perfectly as a young Society woman. The idea to set the novel in this region, at this time, was well-conceived and I enjoyed Emma's struggle to be a modern woman in a region that has so much respect for traditional roles and responsibilities.

This book could be a great introduction to Austen for young readers who are not inclined to pick up "old books." An initial experience reading I COULD WRITE A BOOK could easily be followed by EMMA---and stimulate a discussion on the two books, the two Emma's, and what has changed and what remains the same in our society.

NET GALLEY provided me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Austen said she was going to write Emma as a character that only she might like. But I think you will come to adore Karen M Cox’s modernized interpretation. It really translates well to 20th century. And her Emma, who ends up getting an undergrad degree in psychology, seems to gain just enough education in the program to think she knows people… But just like in Austen’s masterpiece, boy, does she get it wrong.

I believe this is Karen M Cox's best work yet! Jane Austen said she was going to write a character no one would like as Emma--despite all Emma's faults, I believe Cox has written a contemporary Emma that you not only will like but maybe even understand her actions better.

Some have compared Emma as the female Darcy. Never have I seen that clearer than in Cox's "I Could Write a Book". And her Mr Knightley... Swoonworthy. Set in the 1970s and the horse country of Kentucky, this novel is a smart, emotive, and thoughtful interpretation of Austen's masterpiece. I hope readers will give this nonP&P novel a chance. I LOVED IT!

I loved this sweet and light retelling of the Jane Austen classic, Emma. I found the authors portrayal of the characters lovable and engaging and was excited by the various relationships!