Northanger Abbey in Classics Without All the Class

Aug 31, 2013 Staciel rated it really liked it

Shelves: classic-lit

Oh, Jane Austen, I do love you!!! As a result, giving this book only 4 stars is causing me a bit of pain..

This year being the 200th Anniversary of Pride & Prejudice, I decided to take on one or two of Austen's novels that I was unfamiliar with... Up until this year, I would have been only able to discuss P&P, Sense & Sensibility and to a degree, Emma...

Today, I can add Persuasion (my new favorite Austen novel), and now Northanger Abbey to that list.

The 'heroine' of the novel, Catherine Morland i ...more

Like · see review

Jan 24, 2012 Ebster Davis rated it really liked it · review of another edition

How Jane Austen is considered a writer of 'romance' I am not entirelly sure. It's not that romantic...but I'll get to that in a few.

I give this book a high rating because when I read these characters I feel like I've met them in real life under different names. I'm sure I'm not alone. Catherine is a girl comming of age and for some reason her parents think it's a cool to send her off to a party town with some of their wealthy friends in hope that she will mature and NOT get taken advantage of b How Jane Austen is considered a writer of 'romance' I am not entirelly sure. It's not that romantic...but I'll get to that in a few.

I give this book a high rating because when I read these characters I feel like I've met them in real life under different names. I'm sure I'm not alone. Catherine is a girl comming of age and for some reason her parents think it's a cool to send her off to a party town with some of their wealthy friends in hope that she will mature and NOT get taken advantage of by two faced, parasitic 'friends' who mistake her for a wealthy heiress.

Bravo Mom and Dad.

By sheer luck she happens to meet two of the Tilney siblings; Henry-a smart aleck guy (with a kind heart) who Cathrine crushes on, and Eleanor-sweet and sincere girl who Cathrine bonds with. Just as the friends are getting acquainted, the Tilney's parasitic father and older brother come in to play.

Because the main character is a bit ignorant as to the ways of the world. A lot of the drama of the story escapes her for almost the whole book. She doesn't understand she's being taken advantage of. Kind of makes you feel sorry for her when she's kicked out uncerimoneously. It was kind of awesome though, how Austen didn't straight out TELL you that Isabelle was a (LIZARD) you just pick up on it from the inconsistancy in what she says and what she does.

My main gripes have to do with the pacing of the story and the 'romance'. It kind of has a slow start. And in this big huge exponential explanation of the story at the end, Mr. Tilney basically says he LIKED Cathrine's temperment but he would have never been attracted to her if she wasn't really into him first. Kind of the opposite of P+P, but this time, because he is the one with the money it feels like: 'I'll get with you because I my dad was a jerk and feel sorry for you.' Which isn't romantic at all.

Awesomely enough, this story gave me a great idea. Which I will outline in november :) ...more

Like · see review