*looks up from book, nods, and regretfully closes book*
Hello, all my fellow bookish individuals!!
I’m here today to fangirl to you about this absolutely delightful series I just read. It was so perfect that I may be ruined for other books for a while now.
The series in question is thus: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, by the marvelous Beth Brower!!! There are currently eight volumes (supposedly there shall be twenty-four-ish. Be still my heart!!).
I was recommended this series by a lovely lady who frequents the library and whose taste I trust implicitly. It’s truly impeccable. I was skeptical to begin with, but this series has won my heart. It’s told exclusively through Emma’s journal entries. Not conventional, but delightful.
I shall give you the blurb from the first book.
“I’ve arrived in London without incident. There are few triumphs in my recent life, but I count this as one. My existence of the last three years has been nothing but incident.”
The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.
Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.
I know it doesn’t sound like much, but I’m here to tell you that this series is everything. If I just gave you a straight up list of my favorite things, it would be forever. So I think I’ll break it up into categories of some sort.
🥰 In Love With 🥰
- It’s kind of magical realism, just the tiniest bit, and that added touch of whimsy is amazing.
- St. Crispians (the neighborhood where Emma lives) is so cozy and aesthetic. The vibes, people.
- Emma is so funny, and she gets into the funniest scrapes. She hosted a funeral for a sweet pea that ended in a near proposal, I kid you not.
- ALCHEMY!!! Not really, but that’s what the friendship between Hawkes, Islington (the duke of), Pierce, and Emma is AND I’M HERE FOR IT.
- The backstories. The trauma. The mysteries…
- They’re all so heartwrenchingly REAL. My heart twists in my chest as I read.
- HAWKES. Objectively the best character. He’s a line of poetry. A flower in the concrete. A lamp on a foggy evening. All the Islington and/or Pierce shippers can just get out because Hawkes is the most precious.
- It’s so ridiculously quotable. I only had access to library books so wasn’t free to underline them, or I would dump oodles of quotes on you.
- Emma is so relatable. She has no idea what she’s doing. Book characters tend to have peak flirting skills, even with no experience, for example, but Emma is clueless and botches it every. single. time.
- Islington’s journal 😉 I want his version of the events chronicled in Emma’s journal…
- THE REPROBATES TEN. They’re such a lovable lot.
- Hawkes and his books 😘
- Tybalt is the epitome of all that a cat should be. Bravo.
- The literary references. I’m ashamed at my lack of Shakespeare exposure.
- Agnes and her S.S.C.S.S. 😂 And her portrait of Islington in the kitchen *dies laughing*
- Did I mention Hawkes??
- Emma’s humor never fails to make me laugh. Read in public at your own risk.
- Notes through the wall?? How cute can we be.
- Emma’s Cousin Archibald (we love to hate him) confesses her sins to Hawkes (he’s the vicar of the neighborhood), not his own, and Hawkes had to limit him to ten sins per visit 😂 They’re not even Catholic 😂
- Why do I love that scoundrel Jack so much…
- And on that matter, how am I in entirely in love with so many characters simultaneously???
- Emma’s titles for various individuals: The Accidental Wife. The Pirate. The Unintended Intended. Capitalized, of course 😉
- Hawkes and Islington and Emma and Pierce are so supportive and protective of each other. Oh for a friendship like theirs.
😐 This Stuff Also Exists 😐
- Why are Pierce and Hawkes’ first names so similar?? Niall and Nigel?? For real, Beth?? They’re never really referred to by those names, but it irks me nevertheless.
- The mysteries that are never revealed. When do we actually get to meet the Roman?? (he’s the neighborhood ghost). We’ve encountered something of Islington and Pierce’s backstories, but what about Hawkes?? I HAVE QUESTIONS!!!
- Pierce *sobs* needs help *sniffles* Can someone please get him some therapy or something?? I’m suffering.
- And on that note, I don’t like the Pierce x Emma ship anymore. It’s not like I hate it, because I don’t, but Pierce is not in a healthy place right now. He needs work through that; I don’t want him dragging Emma down. She has enough to deal with *sobs*
- And WATCH YOUR MOUTH, PIERCE. THERE ARE LADIES PRESENT.
- What unchaperoned young lady in 1884 would really be running around with so many eligible young men??
- Wait but what does the “m” in Emma M. Lion stand for??
- There are…a lot of characters. It’s a bit tricky to keep them straight in the beginning. I have faith in you though.
I’m entirely in love. I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to these four, broken up into separate characters. I need to own these books or I will perish. This is my fandom now. I’m never leaving.
A sneak peek of the Pinterest board, for I am feeling generous with my storage space and also am struggling to communicate the specific vibe this series has. A picture is worth a thousand words. Feast your eyes.
Emma
Hawkes
Islington
Pierce
Coda
Here’s hoping I’ve convinced someone to investigate this series with my half-baked ramblings. THIS SERIES IS GOLD PLEASE GO READ IT. For Emma!! For Hawkes!! For Pierce!! For Islington!! For the lovable Reprobates Ten!! For beauteous prose and the alchemy of friendship and aesthetic locales and too-real characters and mysterious backstories!! Onward!!
Always,
Ava 🫖
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34 Responses
I read a few of these on kindle and highlighted some quotes, and I meant to go through my clippings and add some, but I was really busy the last few days with work and school and vacation preparations. All that to say, you almost had quotes. But you don’t. Let there be weeping and great mourning.
*there is weeping and great mourning*
*as well as hesitant hope for future quotes*
*as well as a promised future comment from moi on the actual post when I get a few minutes*
All in all there is much that is mournful and much that is joyous. Let us take comfort in the joys and utterly disregard the. . .
(You know what, it is getting late here and I really just need to stop. I’m going to do that now.)
Oh yes, there is indeed hope for future quotes. Not sure how exactly I’m going to slip them in, but they’re too good not to. They’re also kind of exclusively from books six and seven *cringes at the unintentional reference to whatever that horrible trend is* *realizes that maybe you haven’t heard of said trend* *hopes this is true*
I find it amusing that we are in such different time zones. I have only just got up for the day, and it’s like…the middle of the day over there. Not even. Afternoon at this point. Insane.
I am just reading through your posts and stumbled across this comment. XD NOO DO NOT EVEN MENTION THAT AWFUL TREND. 😭 It has even made its way overseas to Thailand. *shudders*
Ah, perusing the archives, I see (I was also perusing yours, since I’ve been conspicuously absent for a while 😬 I went and read your Greenglass House review since I was reading the book yesterday, and *chef’s kiss* perfection).
Alas. ‘Tis terrible. And catching. I think it’s trying to die over here…
Oh my gosh!!! I LOVE these books! Literally they are some of the best novels I have ever read!!!💕
My mom and I both read these, and often when we walk our dog we will end up gushing to each other about how much we love these books and forming theories and rambling and laughing about all the wonderful things that fill up Emma’s journals!
It makes me so happy to read about someone else loving them!😊
Can’t wait for book 9!!!😁
~Lola
P.S. I love your blog! It’s lovely!☺️
YES A KINDRED SPIRIT!!! I feel like such a small group of people has read them, but also a larger group than it seems. An exclusive fan club, so to speak. But honestly they’re the best thing ever. So in love 🥰 I tried to get my mom to read them too, but I had to take them back to the library before she could finish. Alas. I would force them upon my friend, but suddenly there are ten holds on the first copy at the library and wow it’s going to be a long time before they’re all safely back in my–er, the library’s–possession. When they all return (literally none of them are currently on the shelf), she will read them and we will have conspiracies and inside jokes and I can start saying “Ah” around her and she will KNOW. It will be delightful.
So glad to have a fellow conspirator!! Book nine, here we come!! 🥳 😍
Thank you!! I need an upgrade…the ads are not aesthetic…but those aren’t up to me. We try and keep the content aesthetic 😉
Ohhhh yesss!!! Every time I say “Ah” I think of Islington!😂
(…and since reading them, I think I’ve started saying it more😅)
I strive to be more like Islington in my ah-ing. He’s inspiring. I honestly don’t think I ever said it before reading Emma, but now that I have, I’m tempted. Alas, no one would understand.
You have convinced me. I simply must read this book. It sounds simply delightful!! (Also, you should indeed read more Shakespeare!! Tis lovely. I recommend Macbeth, which is so far my favorite.)
I love the character boards too!!
Once I finish the book I shall give my verdict. Thanks for the recommendation!!
YAY!! It is absolutely delightful and once I find those quotes you will be completely sold. They’re the most bestest things and THEY’RE ON EVERY PAGE AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE ENTIRE BOOK!!! Alas…at some point I’m going to own them all because that is a need, not a want.
Ah, taking note of that…Julius Caesar is of particular importance in the world of St. Crispians…I just need to go read all of Shakespeare and come back to Emma. So many things will make sense.
Yay!! I sacrificed my storage for those…we’re up to five percent of my media storage. Not sure what I’ll do when I fill that up but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. And also I realized Emma’s teacup and Islington’s teacup are the same but with different filters. Whoops.
My pleasure to foist books upon you. I hope you enjoy!!
I am already sold!!! I have committed myself to finishing the Inheritance Games series, but once I am finished I shall most certainly start Emma. (Not Austen Emma. Brower Emma!)
I have Julius Caesar, but it is currently across the world from me. Alas! I had to bring Macbeth to reread though, because yesterday I went to an Opera of it! WHICH WAS DELIGHTFUL!!!
Oh my. I think I am up to fifteen or something by now. My Italy posts are going to take up SO much!! They have the same taste in teacups!!!
My pleasure to read them! You have not led me astray so far!
Okay… I really do need to read these. I think I read something recently where Roseanna M. White recommended these books, too! I’ve heard many, many good things.
I think you would enjoy them!! Once I actually read them, I started remembering that I’d seen them pop up here and there across the blogosphere. They seem very niche, and yet they’re gaining popularity. I would definitely recommend 😊
Oh lovely! I am so very glad. *Unfortunately knows about this from the complaints of her cousin* *has thankfully never actually heard anyone use it and hopes it remains this way*
I keep almost forgetting about that. (So did my dad, who called his dad at 3 in the morning one day! 😆) It’s weird to be eating dinner when other people I know are just getting up.
Alas. I weep for your brain cells. It has been roughly one month of knowledge of this horrible thing. Many of my own brain cells have perished before their time *weeps*
The furthest out of my time zone I’ve ever been is one hour either way (ahead or behind). Not very exotic.
I am most sorry for you. Such things are most annoying. (Especially because everyone who uses it finds themselves terribly clever, even though they’re not at all.) Hopefully it will blow over soon and it will be a while before they all find some new dingus thing to obsess over. (I will never understand schooligans. Perplexing creatures they are.)
It gets old after a while. (We don’t have much of a schedule, but it is still thrown off all the time!) Time change gives me a headache!
It does mean that I’m a time traveler though! 😉 So that’s pretty nifty.
AHHHH reading this has been delightful agony because I’ve only read the first book so far and I CANNOT FIND THE REST!!! At this point I’m just going to have to go broke buying them all new, because they’re just so good!! And yes I totally feel your book annotation desires!!! This post is perfection!!!
Ooh, I hope I didn’t spoil anything too terribly…but NOOOO!!! This series is a necessity!! Fortunately, my library bought all eight at one fell swoop, so I had access to all of them (but then word got out and there are like, ten holds on the first book). I’m going to end up buying them anyway. They’re too beautiful to only be able to read from the library. I do believe they’re also available from kindle unlimited?? if that’s the sort of thing you use?? Why thank you *bows* I tried, but words failed. There was too much to put in one little post, and besides that I waited far too long after reading them to actually write the post 😬
Oh don’t worry about spoilers, I’m one of those weird people who looks up spoilers on movies at least ;)! If anything, it’s whet my desire to read them even more and I’ve officially ordered the second book!
Uh yes, the hold list is no joke! I’ve been waiting like 3 months!!!
Heh, I know the feeling of waiting too long, but you did a wonderful job! And sometimes the subject won’t let you go till it gets out on paper! I have a lot of those stuck in my drafts!
AAAAAAHHH!! I READ IT AND I LOVE IT FOREVER GIVE ME THE REST I NEEED THEM THIS INSTANT!!!!!!! *Is beside herself with joy*
Alright. *Deep breaths* I must calm down and not write this entire comment in all caps. (On a side note, I am totally monopolizing your comment section and I refuse to feel guilty about this. Emma would be proud. 😉)
Emma is delightful. She is hilarious and clever and I love her to death!!! And the SETTINGs are glorious!!!! I am IN LOVE with everything about this book. I do not really laugh aloud at books, (a fact that constantly disappoints me,) but Emma was making me chuckle aloud, which I adored. There are so many good lines!! (The cannibal line!! The shakespeare quoting! The unending EMMAness of it all!!)
I am now obsessed. (Why must you always do this to me, Ava? How dare you recommend such good things that lead to chronic obsession? My poor heart cannot handle it.)
Anyway, Emma’s lack of books is truly tragic. (I would never have parted with so many books. That part was AGONY for me. HOW? Poor little conflicted thing she was.) And Archibald is a wicked wicked creature. The pathetic morning-robe buying kind of wicked though. He is too pathetic to properly detest.
And Hawkes seems delightful. There was not too much of him in volume one, but I am fully prepared to adore him forever. And . . . The Mysterious Boarder. (I do love me a mysterious boarder.) Her friends are delightful. (But Maxwell!! *Sobs*) And the fake cousin. I forsee him causing trouble at some point. I have theories, people!!!
Also, now I just want to talk like Emma for the entirety of my life. She is most witty and I don’t see why everyone doesn’t adore her instantly.
Alright, I shall stop before this becomes longer than the actual book. Suffice it to say that I am entirely hooked and must know more. (Thank you for being the cause of much delight on my end.)
Fare thee well!!!
AAAHHH YESSS I’M SO DELIGHTED RIGHT NOW!!! Actual reply to come when I’m not sitting at the library typing on this annoyingly small phone screen…
HELLO YES I AM ALIVEEEE!!! AND YAYYYY YOU LOVED IT I’M SO HAPPY!!! *is also beside herself with joy*
Y’know what, I don’t even care if you monopolize my comments. Keep talking to meeee!!! Keep reading my webcomics (speaking of webcomics, I can no longer comment, for I am not eighteen or older and Disqus demands I either disappear from the comments or lie *weeps*) and books and investigating artists I claim are absolutely necessaryyy!! Keep commenting even though I keep disappearing…let’s not talk about that missing post from Saturday…
Emma is absolutely delightful. She is the best FMC in the history of ever. She’s so witty but still not perfect (I know you haven’t gotten to the bits with bungled flirting–well, probably not–but that’s all I can think of right now to illustrate this point 😉) BUT SHE’S PERFECT. And she made you laugh!! A success!! I warned you lol. I have a nasty habit of reading humorous books while on the clock at the library and risk my coworkers’ good opinion of me by chuckling like a madwoman. And of course you’re in love!! What’s not to love!! THIS SERIES IS EVERYTHING!!! Ha, why am I yelling this to you; you already know this…
Oh the tragic parting of Emma and her books. Unnecessary, Beth. Whyyy would you torture our beloved Emma in such a way?? Especially because Cousin Archibald (on the topic of him, of all the ridiculous things to waste money on. MoRnInG rObEs??!!?) has so many. *weeps* At the end of each book, there’s a recap of the books currently in Emma’s library and from whence they came. I do like 😁
Hawkes 🥰😍 You have my permission to ship Emma with someone else, but be warned that I shall disagree with you. I shall die on this hill. In my humble opinion, there isn’t enough of Hawkes in any volume. I would say he’s adorable, but that’s not quite how that works, is it…he is worthy of…adoring?? *shrugs* The English language, ladies and gents. But the Mysterious Boarder!! Hard to believe Archibald orchestrated that…
*sobs with you over Maxwell* Literally all of them have ghosts. It’s wild. Why are so many people dead or…disappeared??
And the fake cousin lol. Love that guy. Jack does cause trouble…but he also is rather helpful from time to time. I love him despite his flaws. He isn’t on the same tier as Islington, Hawkes, and Pierce, but he’s still lovable in a I-know-you-could-do-better-and-I-love-you-despite-knowing-I’d-love-who-you-could-be-better type of way.
I too wish to talk like Emma. After watching Sense and Sensibility and reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time, I wrote in my journal about them and I was decidedly archaic in my phrases 😂 Similar situation.
I feel like your comment is better than my whole post 😂 YOU’RE WELCOME I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE OTHER BOOKS EVEN MORE!!!!
HUZZAH!!! HUZZAH FOR EMMA!! HUZZAH FOR ST. CRISPIANS!! HUZZAH FOR BETH BROWER!!!
Oh good. I shall keep yammering on then. (NOO!! Disquis is a horrid horrid platform!! We hates it forever. Good thing they have not asked me. Also, you are of far higher moral standing than I. I would have lied. . . . . . . . . . . . Then again I usually just pick a random year of birth when asked. Specifically 1984. A stand against oppression that literally no one will ever know/care about. You know.) Anyway, that is most sad. If there is anything specific you feel needs said, I would gladly speak in your stead. (I am most displeased with the rhyming quality of that sentence, in case you were wondering.) I shall. And as long as I am reassured that you are alive and well at least semi-often, then I do not mind. You do have a life, after all, regretful as it may be for us blog-readers. What missing post? There was no missing post. I don’t know what you’re talking about.
She is indeed. Normally I do not really care much one way or the other about female characters. (I’m terrible, I know.) But Emma is THE BEST EVER!!!!!!
I have just started the second volume, by the way, because I was waiting for my cousin to read the first so we could read the second together but she is taking too long and so I am abandoning her for the rest of them. Onward I go!!!
Anyway, I adore Emma to death. The way she loves books is just the way I love books. (In that moment it felt like he was asking for my firstborn child. . .) Case in point. I have now lost a downright unhealthy amount of sleep because of these books, you know. (Which is entirely worth it.) The ‘chapters’ are far too short, and I blame this, because it is much too easy to read ‘one more’ (seventeen and a half Emma days later. . .)
Actually I love short chapters. Tis better than those long 100 page chapters that go on forever and ever.
HER BOOKS!! *Sobs* But she has. . . Three books now. So tis fine. She shall get more. . . Slowly . . . *Sobs some more* The desecration and loss of books is one of the things that really gets to me. (Ooh, working at the library must be fun! Who doesn’t want to get paid for doing things with books? I have always wanted to work at the library.)
I adore the book lists at the end. They are marvelous.
Also, the lucky-unlucky marble!!! I LOVE!!!!
Hawkes is just starting to be in it more and I love him to death. (With the way I keep loving characters to death there won’t be any left soon. . . 😬)
I also adore Pierce. I adore the both of them. (The notes through the wall!!! THEY ARE SO ADORABLE!!! And amusing. And splendid.)
Adorable is a multilayered but oft misinterpreted word and tis a great tragedy. (I feel like I keep repeating myself. My dearest apologies.)
Well, back in days of yore/war I suppose twas common to have dead friends/relatives. Which is terribly tragic. I have no explanation for the disappeared folks.
I often slip into my thees and thous when with people I am close to, but try to avoid them usually as not to alarm the General Populous. (Skittish things, some of them are.)
Emma has vastly improved my journaling. (Which is usually rather disjointed ramblings.) Speaking of. . . WHY IS SHE READING SOME RANDOM GUY’S JOURNAL??!!??!?!? This is not good conduct, Emma. . .
Also, this reminds me of the journal poem you wrote. Was this by any means an inspiration? I am genuinely curious.
Oh, surely not. Besides, your post sparked the whole affair. (Although I AM expecting quotes at some point. I myself have a notes folder I’m collecting some in, if you want ideas.) I AM SURE I SHALL!!!!!!!!!!
Your Newly Obsessed Friend,
Journey E. Bloomfield.
P.S. This comment is over 600 words. How absurd is that? I apologize for taking up so much of your precious time. It seems we are determined to stretch your free wordpress plan to its limits. 😬
Well, you’ve done your task thoroughly, because you can consider me quite intrigued…I just might end up adding these to my TBR 😉
Victory!!! How could you not add a series that is simultaneously endlessly whimsical and unmistakably realistic to your TBR??!?
HUZZAH!!! HUZZAH FOR EMMA!! HUZZAH FOR ST. CRISPIANS!! HUZZAH FOR BETH BROWER!!!
Oh good. I shall keep yammering on then. (NOO!! Disquis is a horrid horrid platform!! We hates it forever. Good thing they have not asked me. Also, you are of far higher moral standing than I. I would have lied. . . . . . . . . . . . Then again I usually just pick a random year of birth when asked. Specifically 1984. A stand against oppression that literally no one will ever know/care about. You know.) Anyway, that is most sad. If there is anything specific you feel needs said, I would gladly speak in your stead. (I am most displeased with the rhyming quality of that sentence, in case you were wondering.) I shall. And as long as I am reassured that you are alive and well at least semi-often, then I shall! What missing post? There was no missing post. I don’t know what you’re talking about.
She is indeed. Normally I do not really care much one way or the other about female characters. (I’m terrible, I know.) But Emma is THE BEST EVER!!!!!!
I have just started the second volume, by the way, because I was waiting for my cousin to read the first so we could read the second together but she is taking too long and so I am abandoning her for the rest of them. Onward I go!!!
Anyway, I adore Emma to death. The way she loves books is just the way I love books. (In that moment it felt like he was asking for my firstborn child. . .) Case in point. I have now lost a downright unhealthy amount of sleep because of these books, you know. (Which is entirely worth it.) The ‘chapters?’ are far too short, and I blame this, because it is much too easy to read ‘one more’ (seventeen and a half more.)
Actually I love short chapters. Tis better than those long 100 page chapters that go on forever and ever.
HER BOOKS!! *Sobs* But she has. . . Three books now. So tis fine. She shall get more. I. . . *Sobs some more* The desecration and loss of books is one of the things that really gets to me. (Ooh, working at the library must be fun! Who doesn’t want to get paid for doing things with books? I have always wanted to work at the library.)
I adore the book lists at the end. They are marvelous.
Also, the lucky-unlucky marble!!! I LOVE!!!!
Hawkes is just starting to be in it more and I love him to death. (With the way I keep loving characters to death there won’t be any left soon. . .)
I also adore Nigel. I adore the both of them. (The notes through the wall!!! THEY ARE SO ADORABLE!!! And amusing. And splendid.)
Adorable is a multilayered but oft misinterpreted word and tis a great tragedy. (I feel like I keep repeating myself. My dearest apologies.)
Well, back in days of yore/war I suppose twas common to have dead friends/relatives. Which is terribly tragic. I have no explanation for the disappeared folks.
I often slip into my thees and thous when with people I am close to, but try to avoid them usually as not to alarm the General Populous. (Skittish things, some of them are.) Emma has vastly improved my journaling. (Which is usually rather disjointed ramblings.)
Speaking of. . . WHY IS SHE READING SOME RANDOM GUY’S JOURNAL??!!??!?!? This is not good conduct, Emma. . .
Also, this reminds me of the journal poem you wrote. Was this by any means an inspiration? I am genuinely curious.
Oh, surely not. Besides, your post sparked the whole affair. (Although I AM expecting quotes at some point. I myself have a notes folder I’m collecting some in, if you want ideas.) I AM SURE I SHALL!!!!!!!!!!
Your Newly Obsessed Friend,
Journey E. Bloomfield.
P.S. This comment is over 600 words. How absurd is that? I apologize for taking up so much of your precious time. It seems we are determined to stretch your free wordpress plan to its limits. 😬
I SECOND THOSE HUZZAHS!!! AND ADD SOME MORE!!! HUZZAH FOR ALCHEMY!! HUZZAH FOR THE REPROBATES TEN!!! HUZZAH FOR…TYBALT!!! HUZZAH FOR THE SPOILERY QUOTES POST I HAVE COMPOSED TODAY!!!
Indeed. I was nearing the end of transcribing quotes from the clippings on my kindle when I first received your reply to my much delayed comment!! And I was so happy!! I immediately stopped transcribing and went to read it. Whilst grinning madly.
Your cousin needs to hurry it up. TIME’S AWASTING, OH JOURNEY’S COUSIN!!! I wish you well in your continued journeys through Emma’s world!! You haven’t seen the half of it yet!! And I cannot for the life of me separate all the happenings into their proper volumes 😬 I can’t remember what you do and don’t know!! *sobs*
I know!! Sometimes it seems like we like the main character, but we don’t…fiercely love them. And I have such a fierce love for and desire to protect Emma. Beth really knew how to create a sympathetic character. It could be partly because we only ever get to see inside her head, since we’re reading her journal and not Islington’s. Also creates the mysteries of all their tragic backstories…
I knowwww. It’s so easy to read one more…and one more…my bookish standards are all over the place. I never know if “one more” will be two pages or like, fifteen. When Emma gets down to it, she can write a lot about an event…and I know it takes a while. My bestie and I had a sleepover last weekend (partly the reason for no post lol; blame that RangeroftheNorth2931 that you may or may not see hanging around here and there on my posts of late 😁) and it took an hour and nine pages to do what seemed like the barest of recaps. Of course. We were talking for…literal hours, so that didn’t help. But it’s so realistic when Emma says she stayed up all night writing.
I have the exact opposite problem Emma has. She has too few books for her shelf *sniffle* and I have too many. Well, not too many, for you can never have too many books, but not enough shelf space. We should really pool resources. I have another one coming soon–I preordered Sara Ella’s Glass Across the Sea. Her book predicament gets even funnier as the tale progresses. Have you gotten to where Roland tries desperately to give her a book?? Poor guy 😂 The book lists at the back AND the character lists at the front!! So good 😉
Aaahh!! I had forgotten the lucky-unlucky marble!! I need one!!
There is never enough Hawkes. He is too elusive. Alas. I hold out hope for the future.
Ha!! The other day I asked my coworker “From whence??” instead of “where??” 😂 I was immediately like, oh Ava, why did you do that *facepalm* I’m not even sure she heard me. I then rephrased my question to the vernacular. Emma inspires me to write better journal entries than uninformative one-liners or lists. My journal would make a poor novel, unfortunately (though my good friend Ranger etc. and I decided my life would make a great soap opera!!). No sense of plot. Too many characters that are never introduced properly. Weeks’ worth of stagnation. *shakes head disapprovingly* Too many thoughts, likely, and not enough events.
Haha, he may be some random guy to you, but that’s…ISLINGTON!!!!! I was also very concerned. It ends better than fine. Trust me. And…that’s a good question. I actually don’t recall. Allow me to consult my Goodreads account and blog archives to verify dates…*disappears into rabbit hole* Apparently not. I read volume two on September 3, while my journal poem was published on August 23 *realizes that it’s also the 23 today* *lights candle and places it in window for Emma* But I’m honestly astonished that those two events weren’t connected. My own creativity astounds me. Wonder where I got the inspiration then…
Glad to have ensnared you in another fandom *bows with flourishes* *nearly falls over* As already stated, your quotes post is forthcoming!! Imagine if I had quotes from the other six volumes…I already think it’s too long for basically being a list of quotes 😂 You should make your own with your quotes!! I want to see them!! There’s a holds list twelve people long for the first book at my library and it’ll be months before it’s mine again!! Save me from the withdrawals, Journey!! You’re my only hope!!!!
Your Delighted and Also Obsessed Friend,
Ava M. Ridley
P.S. (oh how I adore postscripts 😊) That is absolutely wild. My own comment is over seven hundred words. I’m astonished. I adore long comments, but then they take a while to respond to…thus limiting the number of long comments I receive. Likewise, I must apologize for taking up your precious time. You could be reading Emma M. Lion right now, and here you are reading my words again. My wordpress plan shall cope. I have plans to schedule a zoom meeting with my uncle soon to see about him hosting my blog instead of wordpress, so we shall see how much longer I have to put up with ads and nonsense.
HUZZAH FOR DUKE ISLINGTON! HUZZAH FOR HAWKES!!! HUZZAH FOR THE LUCKY-UNLUCKY MARBLE!!!
Oh good. I am glad to provide some procrastination fodder for you. I was utterly delighted to find a response in my inbox today!!! *Does a little leap* *somehow does not fall over*
I know. And now she is holding the rest ransom until I read this Agathe Christie book, which is most cruel. (Of volume one, that is. I am abandoning her there because I have about twelve books I need to finish and I cannot merely go about starting more like I did yesterday. . .) Anyway, eventually I shall read her Christie book and then we shall be partners-in-Emma. (She shall probably not be nearly as good of a Crispian as thou art, however. Few, if any, people would be. (What is the name of the fandom, by the by? Are we Crispians? Emma Lioners? Browerians? We must find something!)
Tis alright. I am well used to spoilers, as I am always stumbling upon them. (Also I am always flipping through books just to admire them and smell them and such and then I’ll flip to a random page and think, *GASP* THAT happens? Tis sort of my own fault, really.)
I shall just have to read them all and then there shall be no overlap and we can dissect them all properly.
Most main characters suffer from Frodo Syndrome to some extent or another. But Emma really does not and tis splendid. And her journal entries are lovely and don’t really feel like journal reading at some points, because you get so sucked in.
One more chapter is a subjective number, really. It differs from hour to hour. (Or from person to person.) But tis never really ‘just one more’.
I have to physically yank myself away sometimes. I do need at least a bit of sleep, after all, much as I would like to read the whole night through. (I actually did stay up through two whole days and a night on the flight across the pond, and after such a long time awake I felt miserably wretched. Tis not overly recommended. Although I suppose it might be different if one was not gallivanting about airports and such.)
How dare you, RangeroftheNorth2931!!! You have deprived us!! 😆 But we shall forgive you because you are a Friend of Ava. This time. . .
This is tragic. Since we live in a 300 square foot trailer, (most of the time, current situation excepted, of course.) we only have two little shelves!! I had to create a stack of books by my feet to make up for this, and it has been known to fall on me in the night. Totally worth it, however. And I managed to convince my brothers to get rid of some things so we could have three shelves instead.
I really wanted to preorder Glass Across the Sea, but alas. I am, currently, across the sea, and so it is not feasible. I shall have to wait until I’m back stateside, I suppose. Also I only brought five American dollars. Alas. You shall have to let me know how it is! (Do we really have any doubts though? This IS Sara Ella we’re talking about.) I believe so? And then he gets her the ONE book she already has!!! (Good old Emma to see the bright side of this.) Hopefully there will be more books to come. Roland is most excellent. And YES the character lists!! Which I usually find as dull as a sack of hair, but THIS ONE IS SO BRILLIANT!!! I love.
I WANT MORE HAWKES!!!! GIVE ME MORE HAWKES!! I suppose I still have plenty of volumes, so hopefully. . . Someday. . . There will be more Hawkes. Also, the fact that Archibald is confessing EMMA’s sins is hilarious. Poor Emma. At least tis to a trustworthy fellow.
That is the most splendid thing I’ve heard all day. (Also reminds me of our dear Gandalf. Whence is a glorious word.) Anyway, if she works at a library she ought to understand, right? One would hope. My journals tend to veer between absurd ramblings about books/movies/Owl City or else odd philosophical musings that I am sure I shall look back on with alarm someday and wonder what in the dickens was wrong with me. (That phrase actually did not come from Charles Dickens, interestingly enough. Shakespeare used it ages and ages before. But, I digress.) My life is somewhat interesting, but not in a let’s-film-a-movie-about-it kind of way. There is not much plot. And my journal would be utterly perplexing to the unwary who did not get my random references to myself of other fandoms. (To fully understand my journal one would have to read about 7000 pages worth of material first.) I also tend to write about things about five years after they actually happen, so there is a complete lack of cohesion. Great fun all round.
WHAT??? IT’S ISLINGTON’S JOURNAL????? *Mind begins to whir rapidly* MUST KNOW MORE!!!! *Decides to bribe herself with Emma so she actually gets things done today* Oh good. My mine has been put at ease. Oh yes, *peers down rabbit hole after you and is nearly swept away* How fascinating. Perhaps you were inspired by your future self. 😉 *Would also light a candle for Emma if not for previously stated Candle Incident that ought not to be repeated. Actually there are quite a few candles in the house, but they appear to be purely decorative and I do not believe the landlady would be too pleased should we go about lighting them and dripping wax everywhere. Alas.)
Glad to be ensnared!! *Throws you bouquet of roses and cheers* I would read this. I am not sure if the average blog-goer would. Some people do not have properly long attention spans. They need more Lord of the Rings in their lives.
This is a good plan. *Glances at the metaphorical stack of Other Posts she keeps meaning to post* *heaves a long-suffering sigh* I shall add it to the rotation. I would not want you to suffer too much withdrawals. I shall rescue you from your despair!!! (Although most of the quotes shall probably make absolutely zero sense to those not immersed in the World of All Things Emma. Ah well.)
Your Still Wholly Obsessed and Likely to be For Ages to Come Friend,
Journey E. Bloomfield
P.S. (They really are the best, aren’t they?) Oh goody! I see your 700 word comment and up it a. . . Oh my good gravy. A 1067 word comment!!! Sakes alive that is really absurd. Hopefully it shall let me post it. Otherwise I shall have to split it in twain.
Well, I am counting this towards my daily word count. So this makes me seem far more productive than I actually am. Huzzah! Tis fine! My precious time would probably be taken up by something else anyway. And I must have SOMEONE to obsess over books with. No one else I know is properly equipped to handle my rambling. Oh yes. My parents have a website for our travels, and they have a plan that lets them have three domains. So if I wasn’t too lazy to even think about such a thing, I could probably put mine on there and have a not-free plan. Which I really ought to do. Luckily I don’t think it counts comments towards your space limit. At least, I hope not. . . The ads are most wretched. And totally unrelated. (Why are online gambling ads on MY website, of all places? Do they have no sense of targeted marketing? Whyyyy?????? I shall never understand wordpress. It seems a most counterproductive company. (Which I once kindly informed them once. They did not seem to appreciate this, but they did fix my problem, so I suppose it worked.)
Anywho, seeing as this is now a LONGER THAN 100 word comment, I bid my farewell. For now. *Bows and exits*
*I mean 1000. I really ought to have reread this before posting it. Ah well. You shall have to suffer through possible typos. *Offers you some sturdy boots*
This morning I walked to the very top of Primrose Hill, took my lucky unlucky marble from my pocket, and threw it as far as I could. Lucky indeed.
NOO!! NOT THE LUCKY UNLUCKY MARBLE!!
ooh…I had forgotten about that… *weeps*