From the Bookshelf of Catching up on Classics (and lots more!)…

Northanger Abbey

Jane Austen

Start date: August 1, 2020

Finish date: August 31, 2020

Why we're reading this: Revisit the Shelf Group Read August 2020

Revisit the Shelf Group Read, December 2013

Previous Group Reads:
O…more
[close] Revisit the Shelf Group Read August 2020

Revisit the Shelf Group Read, December 2013

Previous Group Reads:
Old School Classic, November 2011

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Aug 26, 2011 Franky rated it really liked it

Shelves: classics, gothic, humor

Northanger Abbey was one of Jane Austin’s earlier works, and, reading it , you can definitely see her gift of writing in its infancy. While this work is not perfect by any means, it is a fine-tuned effort that any Austin fan will enjoy and appreciate. Basically it works as part comedy/drama of manners and part parody of Gothic literature, taking many of the elements of Ann Radcliffe’s work The Mysteries of Udolfo, and slightly satirizing it. The ending's closure—where Austin ties everything toge Northanger Abbey was one of Jane Austin’s earlier works, and, reading it , you can definitely see her gift of writing in its infancy. While this work is not perfect by any means, it is a fine-tuned effort that any Austin fan will enjoy and appreciate. Basically it works as part comedy/drama of manners and part parody of Gothic literature, taking many of the elements of Ann Radcliffe’s work The Mysteries of Udolfo, and slightly satirizing it. The ending's closure—where Austin ties everything together nicely—is something seen in many of her other, more popular works, where all loose ends are tied and questions are answered.

The first part of the novel focuses on Catherine Morland, her family, and her acquaintances. Catherine goes away from her family and stays with the Allen family. While there, she meets the Thorpe family, and becomes an acquaintance and friend of Isabella Thorpe. She has to fight off the advances of Isabella’s brother. Later on, at a dance, she also meets Henry, a man who she will eventually fall in love with. She finally gets the opportunity to stay with the Tilney family at Northanger Abbey. Because of her love of novels, and her chance to become better acquainted with Henry and his sister, Catherine is excited to go. The second part of the novel begins with Catherine staying at Northanger Abbey.

One of the funnier aspects of the novel is the 2nd part, when Catherine goes to Northanger Abbey and immediately becomes entranced with the many Gothic elements she seems to have read about. This is when her knowledge and love of Gothic literature tales runs away with her imagination. At one point, she believes that Henry’s father has murdered or imprisoned Henry’s mother, or that he is keeping her stowed away and doing malicious and evil things. There is also a moment when Catherine is alone in her room late at night and sees a chest, and fears that it has something awful inside it—so naturally she goes to investigate. It seems that all her suppositions and fears are well-founded to her, but we see that she clearly has taken some things too far in her mind, and perhaps there is an anti-climax in her not finding anything noteworthy.

What makes Catherine a likeable heroine is that there are faults to her, so she is perfect by no means. For one thing, she is oblivious to many events that are seemingly obvious to others, namely the romance that begins with her brother and Isabella. She also has some trouble expressing herself in the earlier parts of the novel, but as time wears on she becomes more assertive and mature. Also, her love for novels can be seen as a weakness because she tends to over dramatize and fantasize about them—this seems to be Austin’s way of lightly poking fun at reading novels, something you have to admire from a great writer. Over all though, she is a character that is fun to read about and follow around in her adventures.

While the story does have moments where it may drag a little, it still is a fun and adventurous read and is a must for Austin fans. This review is in reference to the Dover books version of the novel.
...more

6 likes · Like · see review

May 01, 2020 Kacie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: i-own-a-copy

I closed the book and said, "Dang, Jane!"

Loved the snark, the asides from Austen within the book, the characters, the sarcasm. It had a lot going on and I want to read it again.

4.5 rounded uuuup ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jun 29, 2012 Barbara rated it liked it · review of another edition

an uninteresting book. Even thought we had a genre change halfway through. What made me give this book 3 stars is that some of the characters were great. I hated one of them so much I even cursed out loud when he did something I disagreed with.

Like · see review