Mori Kaoru's Emma, Vol.08-10 act as a fun and heartwarming set of short-story denouement to the main series plot. Acting as an ex post-facto story arc, many of the minor characters we come to know from the main series are given treated to one of the following: a much deserved and fleshed out ending (as in the case of Eleanor *swoon*), an exposition that leads up to where we met them in the main series (as in Aurelia), a side-story that follows immediately after we we left off with them but doesn't act as an ending (as in Tasha). Discordant? Perhaps but the non-linear disjointed accounts fit together nonlinearly in much the same way as an any good set of Monogatari.

Specific to Vol.09: We get an omake story having nothing at all do with any character introduced in Emma but feels like it belongs here somehow by virtue of its art style and setting... and it's cute so whatever--I liked it.

Dorothea is Dorothea yet again.

Mori-sensei becomes too lazy to write dialogue and each short story has an extended sequence of voiceless panels.

Also, Theo the Chipmunk (I bet you didn't realize he was a real character! Like any good manga, if they have a name, they're a character) goes off on an adventure to be free and live in the wild as a chipmunk should once more! *cue the Vivaldi* Except... Theo is domesticated kitten (see earlier scene: Theo Takes a Bath?) who manages to narrowly escape a horrific death. Beautiful. ( )

そのうち２つは本編とあまりというか、ほとんど関係ないものでした。でも楽しかったです。

「三人の歌手」でアレンに声をかけてきた女の子。気さくでいい娘だ。しかし初対面ですぐに劇場に来るっていうのも凄い行動力だ（笑）。それと意外なところで文盲率のことを認識させられるとは思わなかった。 ( )

This volume continues to present side stories of the peripheral characters of Emma, among them Erich and his squirrel, the Merediths and their maids, and a trio of opera singers, as well as the story of how William met Hakim.
I almost rated this a 4, simply because it's harder to absolutely love a series of side stories instead of the orig. chronicles of Emma. But the fact is, I love this world. Kaoru Mori is so attuned to her characters and the details. She can tell a story with no words for many panels (sometimes pages) and still keep it clear and entertaining. Her attention to detail amazes me, and her ability to inject subtle humor and outright cuteness. She could manga-up the phonebook and make it intricate and fun for me. And of course, her silly afterword manga is perfect as always. Sometimes I think, as much as I love the books, I love her afterword manga more.
I was very disappointed to find out that there is only one more volume and then she's done with Emma. Don't know what I'll do with myself. Think I'm going to have to move on to Shirley Volume 1. ( )

Wow... another beautiful, fun, thoughtful collection of short stories from the world of Emma. There's a strong focus on Dorothea and Wilhelm's family/household in this collection, but we also find out how Hakim and William became friends, and we get a two-chapter story about a love triangle featuring some very minor side characters. The art work is absolutely amazing, and my only complaint was I wanted some resolution with the actors' story. I can't wait for the next volume! What a great series! ( )