Charming and thought-provoking about imaginations
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Northanger Abbey is not Jane Austen's best known or read work which is really a shame, because it is quite charming. I love the way, Austen's work are as relevant, entertaining, and thought-provoking now as when they were written in the beginning of the 19th century.
Northanger Abbey is the story of a would-be heroine, Catherine Morland, who accompanies the Allens to Bath. Here she is thrushed into a world, the likes of which she has only read about in novels. There are parties, drama, charming young men, and her new friends Isabella and Eleanor. And the intrigues: Catherine's brother is engaged to Isabella, and Isabella's brother fancies Catherine. Catherine on the other hand has affection for Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey. Catherine is invited to Northanger Abbey and oh, you should read the story instead of me just relating it.
Norhtanger Abbey is also about storytelling and the recent popularity of Gothic novels. It is about the imaginations of Catherine and pretty much every other character in the book. Everyone has their own imaginative approach to the world they live in and these worlds collide.
Something I find very enjoyable in Northanger Abbey, is Austen's active narration. Once in while, she pops in, speaking of herself in the first person and subtly whispers in the ear of the reading. It is marvellous.
Louise.
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YAWN!
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I love Jane Austin and decided to buy the complete works and read the the less popular books.
I started with Persuasion, which I enjoyed and had sympathy and liking for the characters. I was glad when the main characters got together. I then moved onto Northanger Abbey. I'm afraid to admit, it's one of the worst and most boring books I've read for a long time. I perservered to the bitter end, at which point I slammed the book shut in disgust. I know this book is considered to be amongst her greatest and wittiest, but I thought it was shallow, and totally characterless. Her heroine was a complete drip and lived on a different planet. The 'hero' was sarcastic and unpleasant to the heroine, and I found him completely unattractive in his dialogue and his behaviour. From the moment he arrives on the scene it hadn't occured to me that it was him who was going to the main love interest. He behaviour is so odd, and effeminate! Certainly not a Mr Darcy!!! To be perfectly honest, if Jane Austin had suddenly decided to be a bit radical and have all her characters killed off by some crazy serial killer it would have been quite a relief.
It was just so ludicrous and unbelievable. for instance our hero and heroine are riding together towards Northanger Abbey for the first time, and Catherine is very excited about staying in a REAL abbey, and how romantic and exciting it will be. Then the hero spends the next couple of pages going into detail as to what is going to to happen to her, scaring her witless, with tales of a storm and a strange cupboard in the room etc. Anyway, as it turns out she experiences almost the exact same thing as he describes. Perhaps it was supposed to be funny, but I just found it tedious and I could not understand why the hero had said all those things to her in the first place to scare her, when he was so apparently ardently in love with her.
Or his weirdo Father.
Everyone else seems to love it, but boy, I thought it was a complete bore. It felt like a book that she had knocked out to get quick cash. Although I hear it was her first.
I didn't give up on Jane Austin, I then went on to read Mansfield Park, which I loved and liked most of the characters. Although her heros tend to be a bit blind and stupid to the manipulations of beautiful women, and that's somewhat frustrating. But a good yarn nonetheless.
In my opinion Northanger Abbey is the worst. In fact, way up in the most boring books I've ever read.
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A different Austen
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Northanger Abbey is the shortest of Austen's major novels, but like the others it is a delightful read.
Maybe the most ironic of the six and the one in which Austen reveals her opinions through the voice of the narrator the most clearly.
We are introduced to Catherine Morland, a young, innocent if slightly gullible heroine who like the Quixote has let books influence her imagination to an unreasonable degree.
We also meet Henry Tilney who is cultured, interesting and has a great sense of humor. Great hero material.
The secondary characters are, as usual, perfect.My favourite is the horrendous Mr. Thorpe:vulgar and totally detestable.
If you have never read this novel, I suggest you start just now. It's a must.
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Not Her Best
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This was the first novel she wrote but it was only published after her death. There are the usual sharp observations of middle-class types and the clown figure of Mrs Allen. We could have done with a few more laughs as it is a pretty dismal tale which gets bogged down once the scene shifts to Northanger. Maybe Ms Austen was just building up to the Big One!
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One of Austen's best in my opinion
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I'm completely shocked that many people regard 'Northanger Abbey' as the worst of Austen's books as I believe it is beautifully written and very easy to read. The characters are wonderful especially Catherine and Henry, and General Tilney is someone you love to hate. Now after seeing the recent ITV adaptation, my love for the book has been re-newed and I really want to read it again. N.A is so different to all of Austen's other novels but that's why I love it so much and the ending although very predictable, is very sweet and is what the reader hopes for throughout. An excellent read.
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