I don't have a theme for this GR, but having read the book many times I decided to listen to it on audiobook. I've lately gotten into listening to audiobooks and have found that even with familiar books I often find myself noticing things that passed me by when I read them myself.

What I particularly noticed from chapter 1 was how strongly JA emphasizes the difficulty of Emma's situation now that Mrs. Weston has married and left the house.

it was a black morning's work for her. The want of Miss Taylor would be felt every hour of every day...

It had been a friend and companion such as few possessed... peculiarly interested in herself, in every pleasure, every scheme of her's; -- one to whom she could speak every thought as it arose, and who had such an affection for her as could never find fault...

How was she to bear the change?... with all her advantages, natural and domestic, she was now in great danger of suffering from intellectual solitude. She dearly loved her father, but he was no companion for her. He could not meet her in conversation, rational or playful...

She had many acquaintance in the place, for her father was universally civil, but not one among them who could be accepted in lieu of Miss Taylor for even half a day...

It was a melancholy change; and Emma could not but sigh over it and wish for impossible things, till her father awoke, and made it necessary to be cheerful. His spirits required support. He was a nervous man, easily depressed...

It had not struck me before, but there is something more like repetition in these passages than one usually finds in JA -- undoubtedly for the purpose of really hammering home just what an uncomfortable life Emma might lead cooped up almost all the time (especially in winter) with no companionship but an elderly and not very intelligent or interesting father, who requires constant attention to be kept reasonably cheerful. No TV or radio or internet to entertain her, no telephone to call Mrs. Weston or her sister for a chat. Just day after day of gloomy tedium.