The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion

Each is loosely themed with a book, but at a pretty surface level. Book 1 is Paradise Lost, and Emma falls from grace to become poor (sort of). Book 2 is Jane Eyre, we meet a brooding handsome man (and also a woman who lives in an attic). Book 3 is Julius Caesar, and involves the downfall of a tyrant (but confusingly just when we are starting to empathize with the bastard). I don't know if this continues through the series, but I think it's a kind-of-fun structure.

Noted on April 14, 2026

By book 3 I realized: it’s not just a TV show. It’s Gilmore Girls. The mom and daughter are collapsed into a single young woman, who is literary and more clever than everyone around them, except she’s actually kind of stupid about what other people are thinking and feeling. She collects handsome eligible men who become obsessed with her, without her trying to or ever pursuing anyone romantically. She’s poor, but she has a rich relative who provides her nice clothes and excuses to always be involved in rich-person society (and it constantly critical about our heroine’s nonconformance). She lives in a quirky, offbeat community that supplies funny neighborhood characters and charming B-plots.

Noted on April 14, 2026

By book 2 I realized: this is structured like a TV show. That explains the lack of plot; we’re just enjoying episodes here. That's fine!

Noted on April 14, 2026

A sweet, short novella? in faux victorian style. The first book has ... no plot. There are interesting characters, settings, and events… but is there a PLOT? A central conflict? Not really. Yes, there is some conflict, but the book doesn’t spend its time on it. Stuff happens.

Noted on April 14, 2026