Austen Quote by Becky Albertalli
“From a plot perspective, what I finally found for my touchstone was that I consider 'Upside' to be a loose telling of Jane Austen's 'Emma,' or 'Clueless.'”
About This Quote
The author likens their narrative to a modern, loose adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma” and the film “Clueless,” suggesting similar themes of social matchmaking and self‑discovery.
In simple terms: The story is a contemporary take on Emma and Clueless.
Key Takeaway
Embrace classic social dynamics in modern storytelling.
Themes
literature
film adaptation
social dynamics
identity
friendship
Mood
playful
nostalgic
Type
comparative
creative
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- creative brainstorming
- story analysis
Key Concepts
character archetypes
coming‑of‑age
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your work differentiate from the originals?
- What fresh perspective does it offer?
A Different Perspective
The comparison may limit originality by relying heavily on known tropes.
![“I think I made a mistake with [Jane] Austen by reading all six in a row. There are similarities to the plots so by the time I got to the last one I could anticipate what was happening too easily. But her characterizations are amazing.” quote by Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb6/stephen-dobyns-13599_anticipate_i-think-i-made-a-mistake-with-jane-auste_3185180.jpg)
![“[Jane] Austen was not a novelist for nothing: she knew that our stories are what make us human, and that listening to someone else's stories -- entering into their feelings, validating their experiences -- is the highest way of acknowledging their humanity, the sweetest form of usefulness.” quote by William Deresiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2bb/william-deresiewicz-15471_jane-austen_jane-austen-was-not-a-novelist-for-nothi_62623.jpg)
