A fast, charming, suspenseful read.

[Mathis]

First and foremost, I finished this book within a few days which is record breaking for me. It usually takes me a couple of weeks to get through a Jane Austen novel. But this one was really breezy.

Now, I must admit I was a bit apprehensive diving into this one knowing that this was Jane Austen’s last relatively unclaimed novel. But once I got into it there was no stopping. There were no fillers at all. The plot moved very fast and the characters were easy to get into. However, the ending fell flat for me. It felt almost rushed. In some parts the reader was left to fill in the blanks. The author would say things like “ I leave it to my reader’s sagacity to determine how much of all this it was possible for Henry to communicate…etc” I am not quite certain if this novel was left unfinished or what. But I still enjoyed it for what it was. Catherine, the heroine, was quite silly and impressionable due to all the crazy gothic novels that she reads. I wouldn't say she was my favorite out of all Jane's heroines; a little bit to childish for my taste. But still likable and intriquing. I wish there was more description of Mr.Tilney. I wanted to know more about how he felt about Catherine and vice versa. I felt the romance got a little lost midway through the story where everything became a mystery hunt. But it was still engaging, none the less.

The story is about a wholesome young girl who enters high society clueless. She travels to Bath with friends of the family and gets involved with the wrong group of friends. She later falls in love with a handsome, wealthy, guy named Mr.Tilney. She then becomes acquainted with his sister, Eleanor, a well-mannered girl, who invites her to Northanger Abbey. At this place, Catherine expects the abbey to be gothic like the ones in her novels. Once there, Catherine’s falls into whimsical mischief, and secrets gets revealed which throws her world upside down leaving her feeling manipulated and despondent.

Northanger Abbey is a great book to follow up after Pride and Prejudice and Emma. And if you like Wuthering Heights, this one definitely mirrors some elements of it. I rank this slim gem three stars.

[Readingmom]

Oh-kay. But why are you posting this as a discussion instead of as a book review?

[Hayley]

I believe Austen actually wrote Northanger Abbey first but it was published last, which explains why it's so much lighter and less deep than her other novels. It's a fun read but doesn't have nearly the depth that her other novels have. Even the character development is weak, I'd say. Mr. Tilney's basic good points are simply that he's around and he's a gentleman, unlike her brother's friend, whose name I forget. Why they're attracted to each other is kind of glossed over I think.

[Readingmom]

Hayley wrote: "I believe Austen actually wrote Northanger Abbey first but it was published last, which explains why it's so much lighter and less deep than her other novels. It's a fun read but doesn't have near..."

Austen did write Northanger Abbey first. It was accepted by a publisher, but they never published it, and she had to fight to get it back after achieving fame. There's a preface to NA because it was published later than anticipated, and was thus a little late to be a parody of the gothic literature that predominated lit. when Austen initially wrote NA.

I don't think that the reasons why they're attracted to each other are glossed over, at all. I think it also has a parody element, while at the same time being fairly realistic. Catherine is bored, young, and Henry is young, attractive, and charming. It's not surprising that, in this new place where she doesn't know anyone, in addition to her propensity to dramatize things, she forms a rather large crush on Mr. Tilney. She likes him from their first meeting, which is before she meets Isabella's brother (Thorpe). Mr. Henry Tilney likes Catherine because she likes him; she flatters his ego, initially. Then, his father presses him to consider the idea of marrying her. The flattery, the fact that she's not unattractive herself, and the fact that his father approves of the match all lead Henry to seriously consider marrying Catherine.

Then, his father rescinds his approval for very ungentlemanly reasons, which cements Henry's decision that he should marry Catherine. Indignation, particularly with respect to one's parents' actions, can result in very strong commitment.

[Anna]

I enjoyed this one as well. It would have been nice for more insight into Henry and Catherine's romance. There seemed to be far too much time spent on Catherine's assumptions about the house and its residents. Oh well. Still a fun book! And Mathis, I was surprised how fast I read it as well. Maybe it was the suspense.

[Hayley]

Readingmom wrote: "Hayley wrote: "I believe Austen actually wrote Northanger Abbey first but it was published last, which explains why it's so much lighter and less deep than her other novels. It's a fun read but do..."

I guess that's kind of what I mean. I guess 'glossed over' isn't the right way to describe it. It's more like there isn't really anything in their personalities that's bringing them together - it's more circumstance, which I suppose is, as you say, realistic, but I guess it's just not as romantic somehow. You know what I mean? Anyway, I'm not sure I'm articulating how I really feel about it. I loved the book, but it just doesn't have something that her other books have...

[Readingmom]

Hayley wrote: "Readingmom wrote: "Hayley wrote: "I believe Austen actually wrote Northanger Abbey first but it was published last, which explains why it's so much lighter and less deep than her other novels. It'..."

Interesting - your opinion is much different from mine. I think Henry is charming and fun and a good guy, so can see why Catherine has such a crush. Reading Sense and Sensibility, on the other hand, it is not clear to me, at all, why Elinor likes Edward. Emma ends up marrying a guy she basically grew up thinking of as her older brother. I think Northanger Abbey has a much better romantic match, while cleverly making fun of romance at the same time. It would be like writing an erotica today where the female character stops the S&M sexcapade because she doesn't think sex should be so scary.

[Celia]

I liked it-I liked the parody of the gothic novel element. With the success the Twight series, the novel of a young girl who is too into romantic novels seemed timely.