Not my cup of tea. Liked the original better ( )

I always enjoy Alexander McCall Smith's books and this was no exception. I would have liked it more had he made his Emma a little less rude and given Knightly a larger part in the story. ( )

This just isn’t feeling like a successful re-telling to me and I’m not really enjoying it. DNF around 40%

A folly is an ornamental structure to no purpose. Also an action that reveals a lack of good sense. Good intentions often lie behind such buildings and acts. Surely Mr McCall Smith must be especially fond of Jane Austen’s Emma else why even bother attempting this retelling. Our loves sometimes betray us. Here the contrast between McCall Smith’s Emma and Austen’s Emma lays bare his limitations as a writer even as it dramatically increases one’s appreciation for Austen’s subtle mastery of style and content. The only risk, if it counts as a risk, is that someone might come to this work without a prior appreciation for its source and might thereby be dissuaded from turning to Austen herself. Do make that turn; you will not be disappointed.

McCall Smith’s Emma is transposed to modern day and to Norfolk. There are, however, many touchpoints shared by this retelling and its source. Sometimes there is an anxiousness to cram these points of sameness into a single chapter, which leads to a bit of telling rather than showing. Sometimes what ought to be a touchpoint just marks the difference between the two. Alas.
Almost as disappointing are the number of typos, missing words and worse in this edition, despite being in a series released by a major publisher, Knopf. Alas.

Not recommended. But don’t let that put you off of McCall Smith’s other writings which are just fine. ( )

I am as a rule very skeptical about Austen retellings, and I wouldn't have read this one had I not been given it as a gift, but I did end up enjoying it more than I expected to. Unlike most of the entries in this overcrowded genre, it realizes that Austen is just as much about poking gentle fun at society's and individuals' foibles as about romance. Some of the updates are clever, though others fall flat, and there are some witty observations here and there. The romance itself is actually the weakest point; there's not enough interaction between Emma and Knightley, and she, as the main viewpoint character, doesn't even seem to think about him much when he's not around. I feel their relationship in the original is also one of Austen's least convincing romances, to be honest, but it didn't feel quite this lackluster. ( )