Jane Austen discussion
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Northanger Abbey
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Just Some Advice!
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Anna
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Jan 22, 2012 12:53PM
I have always been enchanted by Emma and Pride and Prejudice but none of the rest of Jane Austen has really sparked my liking, maybe a little of Mansfield Park but today, I came across the first novel of Jane's to be published, it's called Northanger Abbey. It sounds like my type of book: a tomboy girl whose a lover of books, happy ending, a handsome gentleman and so on but before I can find it in my library, I want to have some advice. What's your option of it? Should I read the book first than watch the movie or do it the other way around? I need some advice and viewpoints.
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I enjoy all of Austen's novels(Emma the least).Northanger Abbey is differnet form all her novels and it doesn't have the depth of her other works but it is good book none the less.Northanger Abbey is Austen laughing at the gothic novels of her time.Catherine is a very loveable charactor IMO and I love the hero's humor.I would read the book before watching the movie.
The newer Masterpiece Classic one.I hear the old bbc one is a disaster.I recommend the barnes and noble classics version of the book.
Northanger Abbey is so funny. I really enjoyed it. If you like Jane's wit and humor in her other books, it really comes out in this one.
Thanks Marge and Nicole. I am dying to read it. Cliff notes or normal?
You have to read the full version to ... well to get the full experience.
I agree with Margaret you must read the full version to really enjoy it.
I read the book before reading and I only grabbed the gist of what was going on (I was a freshmen at the time), but I usually watch the movies beforehand. I liked the movie with Felicity Jones (I think that's the masterpiece one). It's not my favorite Jane Austen, but I hope you like it. I like profile picture, by the way.
Mod
Since you haven't read it, don't accidentally fall into a spoiler, but look through (carefully) some of the other threads in the group too for more Northanger information.
I think reading Jane's novels in her own words first is always worth a try. She has a rhythm and a touch that no other author has and the films are great but they don't necessarily capture that. I enjoy SO many of the films, but I always go back to her novels to really savor her work.
Enjoy!
Thanks SarahC for the advice about the spoilers and by the way the name isn't really Catherine...it's Anna. Thanks Maggie! It's Catherine Morland, I am most like her than any other heroine.
Mod
I have just started reading it :)LOVE IT!!!
I have a question for anyone who can help! I want to read a georgette Heyer book, which is the best or the one I should start with. I'm also thinking of subjecting my book club to this. hehehe We all get 1 book pick a year and I thought I would go with my regency obsession. (really Jane Austen)
Charlene I just found Miss Heyer and Love her.My favorite so far is Cotillion.It is so funny.I read somewhere Heyer is the next best thing to reading Jane Austen.I agree.
Thanks I had Cotillion at the top of my list I just wanted to know what others would recomend. Do you think it would be ok for a book club read?
I have never been in a book club sadly so I don't know.But even not for a book club it is just a great book.
Please focus on my discussion and don't wander off it.
To the original discussion, I don't think there has been a good filmed version of Northanger Abbey yet. I think part of the problem is budgeting for a proper film - because of the variety of settings, and recreation of the large Bath balls (sometimes there were as many as a thousand people crammed into them), I don't think any of the productions have had the necessary budget to recreate the book.I do think that, if properly taught, "Northanger Abbey" may be the most approachable of Austen's books for a young reader. You basically have a 17-year-old girl who is not the richest or prettiest or most popular and who is addicted to popular fiction - think "Twilight" fans - to the point where it begins to warp her world view. I think Catherine is a very "relatable" heroine.
Chiming in today because my recent blog post is about Jane Austen's rejection of the novel "Alphonsine" and moving on to "The Female Quixote" that was a direct influence on "Northanger Abbey", and possibly a minor influence on "Sense and Sensibility". Here is a link if you care to read it:
http://janetility.com/?p=866
I LOVE this BOOK and MOVIE! I think it is always better to read the book first as you are able to get a deeper understanding of the characters as the book includes more info that you can't get in the movie due to time restraints. The MOVIE is so amazing! Felicity Jones is a perfect Catherine. J.J. Feild is the PERFECT TILNEY. Not only is he extremely handsome, but he just IS the character. If you couldn't tell already this is my favorite Jane Austen book and film.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE!
Mod
I've just bought Fifty Shades of Grey in order to read it soon, and just by flipping through the pages a bit, I can tell that the amount and type of sexual content is probably too much. I mean there is a LOT and the kind of sexual interaction depicted is probably best left in that detail until you're a tiny bit older. Just my thoughts!
