Reviews

The Semi-Detached House by Emily Eden

sarahgracereads's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

bbpphd's review

5.0

It was great! I agree with Elizabeth Klett from librivox, if you like Jane Austen, you will like Emily Eden.

jersy's review

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

While this is pretty light on story, it's charming, funny and filled with lovable characters. Reading this, you're pretty much just watching some neighbors overcoming their predjudice against each over and growing very dear to one another. The characters are all very distinct and memorable, they're a bit like Dickens characters but in a Jane Austen inspired novel. Also, some of the lines delighted me way more than they probably should.

bibliophiliadk's review

3.0

SWEET AND FLUFFY - BUT IT'S NO AUSTEN

I keep hearing this book - this author - compared to Jane Austen and yes, I did see certain similarities in wit, social disdain and happy endings. But the execution was far from Austen-esque. Perhaps that what disappointed me most of all... Still, I was a short, enjoyable read.

"She is always sending for me, because she has nothing the matter with her, and I have not yet succeeded in curing her of her good health."
- Dr. Ayscough

mme_carton's review

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

melizzie's review

3.0

A very entertaining story, witty and charming. Not outstanding but lighthearted and enjoyable from beginning to end.

tt222's review

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism

abbymarinelli's review

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

psistillreadyou's review

3.0

Check out my mini-review on my July Wrap-Up: https://psistillreadyou.wordpress.com/2018/07/31/july-wrap-up-2018/

glyptodonsneeze's review

5.0

I've never read anything that could be so aptly described as a comedy of manners as The Semi-Detached House by Emily Eden. It's great but for one major flaw. Lady Chester and her twin sister moving to a semi-detached house in Dulham while Lord Chester is away on an assignment to Germany, and she complains to her Aunt Sarah that she can't be semi-detached, she will feel as if the house is not quite her own, and there is sure to be a fat lady in mittens next door with two daughters who are always at the pianoforte. She arrives in Dulham to meet plump Mrs. Hopkinson and her daughters Janet and Barbara. It's a comedy, so the book plays on widely held assumptions. The young men are dashing, the widower is dour, the curate is poor, the child is darling, the Jewish neighbors... I've never read anything so anti-Semitic in my life. The Jewish neighbors are avaricious money-grubbers. I felt guilty listening to this, and then the action would move to the Hopkinsons' and Mrs. Hopkinson would dowdy around being so jolly and helpful. When Lady Chester is taken ill (she's been in a "delicate condition"), Mrs. Hopkinson is so delighted to be woken in the middle of the night in the rain, it's so neighborly. Miss Hopkinson suffers a shock and "she would have fainted if she knew how." So fun, so funny, so anti-Semitic. Emily Eden wrote this around 1830, if that helps any.

http://surfeitofbooks.blogspot.com/2014/05/am-i-kissing-wrong.html