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krobart's review
4.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2015/09/21/day-774-miss-emily/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2015/09/21/day-774-miss-emily/
ladyr's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
amycoles's review
4.0
***3.5/5 stars
Miss Emily is a story both beautifully simplistic and plainly genuine.
For a book that lacks in the epic action department, I found myself quite invested from the first page. The simple language in which it is written makes Miss Emily an easy read (for a story taking place in the 1800’s), and the shortness of it being 239 pages helps encourage binge reading. The alternating chapters written from Emily Dickenson’s point of view intrigued me the most. O’Connor did a beautiful job of recreating Emily Dickenson’s mind and bringing its innocence and marvel to life. Emily’s chapters look at the world in a very poetic way that I found fascinating to read about. Keeping in mind the fact that despite the many non-fictional characters, this is a fictional story, I loved how O’Connor was able to subtly display the inspirations for Emily’s poetry, and the mindset behind Emily’s choice to live secluded - among other seemingly queer decisions. I even found Emily to be very relatable to the point where I would pick up this book for consolation.
On the other hand, we have alternating chapters written from the Irish maid, Ada’s perspective. Ada’s story of travelling to a new country and facing the hardships of starting a new foreign life decently balanced out Emily’s chapters of living in her own head. Now, I didn’t find Ada nearly as poetic to read about, but the slowly developing, mild action of her story kept me just interested enough to want to know where her story was headed. I only wish that the friendship connecting Emily and Ada was emphasized more, because I found that for a decent portion of the book, I was reading two completely different stories.
The ending of Miss Emily was both satisfying and charming, but nothing extraordinary. This is the type of book where the journey is more important than the destination, and I was glad to have taken that journey. When reading this, don’t expect a lot of action (though there are a couple big events), but rather expect intriguing insight to the possible mindset of Emily Dickenson, friendship, romance, abuse, and even some poetry.
Miss Emily is a story both beautifully simplistic and plainly genuine.
For a book that lacks in the epic action department, I found myself quite invested from the first page. The simple language in which it is written makes Miss Emily an easy read (for a story taking place in the 1800’s), and the shortness of it being 239 pages helps encourage binge reading. The alternating chapters written from Emily Dickenson’s point of view intrigued me the most. O’Connor did a beautiful job of recreating Emily Dickenson’s mind and bringing its innocence and marvel to life. Emily’s chapters look at the world in a very poetic way that I found fascinating to read about. Keeping in mind the fact that despite the many non-fictional characters, this is a fictional story, I loved how O’Connor was able to subtly display the inspirations for Emily’s poetry, and the mindset behind Emily’s choice to live secluded - among other seemingly queer decisions. I even found Emily to be very relatable to the point where I would pick up this book for consolation.
On the other hand, we have alternating chapters written from the Irish maid, Ada’s perspective. Ada’s story of travelling to a new country and facing the hardships of starting a new foreign life decently balanced out Emily’s chapters of living in her own head. Now, I didn’t find Ada nearly as poetic to read about, but the slowly developing, mild action of her story kept me just interested enough to want to know where her story was headed. I only wish that the friendship connecting Emily and Ada was emphasized more, because I found that for a decent portion of the book, I was reading two completely different stories.
The ending of Miss Emily was both satisfying and charming, but nothing extraordinary. This is the type of book where the journey is more important than the destination, and I was glad to have taken that journey. When reading this, don’t expect a lot of action (though there are a couple big events), but rather expect intriguing insight to the possible mindset of Emily Dickenson, friendship, romance, abuse, and even some poetry.
kathleenww's review
4.0
This is a fictional story about the poet, Emily Dickinson, her family, and an Irish immigrant and servant in their home, Ada. Ada is a brave teenager, who travels to Amherst from her native home in Ireland. She does have family, a dear aunt and uncle there in Amherst, though. Ada is sharp, fast thinking, and a hard working young woman. Emily adores her, and despite their differences in societal standing, they becomes good friends. There is plenty of imagined conversation here between Ada and Emily and we get to hear Emily's thoughts as well. She is a strange and lovely character.
I'm not going to rehash this novel, since it was short and sweet, and in my opinion, TOO short! That would be my main complaint. I wish this novel had another 100 pages. This is a wonderful little book.
I'm not going to rehash this novel, since it was short and sweet, and in my opinion, TOO short! That would be my main complaint. I wish this novel had another 100 pages. This is a wonderful little book.
kymme's review
5.0
Quite a lovely little book, interspersing the voice of Emily Dickinson with that of her family's newly-arrived-from-Ireland maid, Ada. More Ada's story than Emily's, but their lives are intertwined in unexpected ways, and we get a glimpse into reclusive Emily's inner life. I rather loved imagining this life of a famous poet who has always seemed extremely removed to me. I also enjoyed seeing New Englanders of the era through Ada's eyes as well as Emily's--not a small amount of amusing judgment there. The writing is lyrical, spare, and affecting. Trigger warning for those who have experienced sexual assault.
Memorable quotes:
"I can feel the bars of annoyance threading through my spine, but I soften them because that way folly lies. I can hear my Mammy saying, 'God made time, Ada, but man made haste,' so I decide I will take my time and do everything slowly and get it all done, regardless of the chores piling up. (87).
"The hurt he caused to my body is one thing, but he has disordered my mind in a way I cannot make peace with" (150).
Memorable quotes:
"I can feel the bars of annoyance threading through my spine, but I soften them because that way folly lies. I can hear my Mammy saying, 'God made time, Ada, but man made haste,' so I decide I will take my time and do everything slowly and get it all done, regardless of the chores piling up. (87).
"The hurt he caused to my body is one thing, but he has disordered my mind in a way I cannot make peace with" (150).
lorayne's review
4.0
If you love Emily Dickinson, you need to read this book. It's an easy read, and provides a possibility of her life. I love the suspenseful plot and the warm relationships between the women. I didn't look enough into Dickinson's history to see how true the whole plot line is, but it is endorsed by the Emily Dickinson Museum.
canadianbookaddict's review
3.0
A quick and easy read. I liked it but it isn't something I would read again in the future.
erin_oriordan_is_reading_again's review against another edition
5.0
First, a caveat: this will be a very difficult book to read for anyone who is sensitive to depictions of sexual assault. An incident of sexual violence is described in detail and becomes a key plot point for the second half of the novel.
That said, this novel is a winning depiction of a fictionalized Emily Dickinson, told in part in Dickinson's own voice and in part through the voice of her Irish-born housemaid, Ada Concannon. Emily sees Ada as a friend and an equal. Over the course of the novel, Emily will confront her own agoraphobia (if we may apply that late 19th-century word to a mid-19th-century woman) and put herself in danger for her new friend. My favorite thing about this novel is its beautiful depiction of female friendship.
My second-favorite thing about this novel is the fictional Dickinson's characterization. Personally, I believe Emily Dickinson is the English language's second-greatest genius after Mr. William Shakespeare. It's wonderful to spend time with the poet in her home environment, getting peeks into the origins of some of her best-known verse. If you read Seth Grahame-Smith's 'The Last American Vampire' (and I don't necessarily recommend that you do), you may remember a footnote that suggests Emily Dickinson's famous reclusiveness was a result of her being a vampire, and a not-heterosexual one at that. I liked that image, and although this novel has nothing to do with vampirism, it does make it clear that Emily's feelings toward her sister-in-law are of a romantic nature. This Emily may be married to words and to her homestead, but she's clearly neither asexual nor heterosexual. And it works as characterization in this context, whatever one may believe about the historical Emily Dickinson.
Nuala O'Connor is the Anglicized name of Irish author Nuala Ní Chonchúir (not to be confused with Northern Irish technology expert Nuala O'Connor). I'm not sure why, in the 21st century, an Irish name would need to be Anglicized, even for the American market. That the English tried to ban the speaking of the Irish language and cut my European cousins off from our ancestral tongue is a sad historical fact. Our indigenous language might well have died out if not for the systematic attempt in Irish public schools to reconnect the current generation with the mother tongue. So I say, at the risk of sounding like a Hyperbole and a Half comic: Irish language all the things!
But that's a bit beside the point unless you're a passionate Irish-American word nerd like me. Bottom line: this is a beautifully written novel about two amazing women and the people and things they care about. Whether you're a devoted American literature fan or simply a lover of authentically-told historical fiction, you will find much to appreciate here.
I received this book through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for this review.
That said, this novel is a winning depiction of a fictionalized Emily Dickinson, told in part in Dickinson's own voice and in part through the voice of her Irish-born housemaid, Ada Concannon. Emily sees Ada as a friend and an equal. Over the course of the novel, Emily will confront her own agoraphobia (if we may apply that late 19th-century word to a mid-19th-century woman) and put herself in danger for her new friend. My favorite thing about this novel is its beautiful depiction of female friendship.
My second-favorite thing about this novel is the fictional Dickinson's characterization. Personally, I believe Emily Dickinson is the English language's second-greatest genius after Mr. William Shakespeare. It's wonderful to spend time with the poet in her home environment, getting peeks into the origins of some of her best-known verse. If you read Seth Grahame-Smith's 'The Last American Vampire' (and I don't necessarily recommend that you do), you may remember a footnote that suggests Emily Dickinson's famous reclusiveness was a result of her being a vampire, and a not-heterosexual one at that. I liked that image, and although this novel has nothing to do with vampirism, it does make it clear that Emily's feelings toward her sister-in-law are of a romantic nature. This Emily may be married to words and to her homestead, but she's clearly neither asexual nor heterosexual. And it works as characterization in this context, whatever one may believe about the historical Emily Dickinson.
Nuala O'Connor is the Anglicized name of Irish author Nuala Ní Chonchúir (not to be confused with Northern Irish technology expert Nuala O'Connor). I'm not sure why, in the 21st century, an Irish name would need to be Anglicized, even for the American market. That the English tried to ban the speaking of the Irish language and cut my European cousins off from our ancestral tongue is a sad historical fact. Our indigenous language might well have died out if not for the systematic attempt in Irish public schools to reconnect the current generation with the mother tongue. So I say, at the risk of sounding like a Hyperbole and a Half comic: Irish language all the things!
But that's a bit beside the point unless you're a passionate Irish-American word nerd like me. Bottom line: this is a beautifully written novel about two amazing women and the people and things they care about. Whether you're a devoted American literature fan or simply a lover of authentically-told historical fiction, you will find much to appreciate here.
I received this book through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for this review.
shannen_m's review against another edition
4.0
This was lovely, and is definitely going to set off another Big Emily Dickinson Moment for me, but that's a zone I'm happy to occupy. It was such a love letter to her, but not in a worshipful, "oh the sainted poet" sort of way, but the truth of voice in it just seemed so full of respect for her. The way her narration distracted itself with word musing and selection, but never going too overblown with poetic grandeur. The sensory dimension was so strong as well - it walked that razor's edge of what, to me, is prime Dickinson; the effervescent joy of finding beauty in the world which the body/mind experiences painfully. Incred.
I liked Ada as well, she was a very grounded counterbalance to Emily, and without spoiling her parts of the plot I'll just say; g'wan Daniel Byrne, good man yourself.
I liked Ada as well, she was a very grounded counterbalance to Emily, and without spoiling her parts of the plot I'll just say; g'wan Daniel Byrne, good man yourself.