Northanger Abbey
Ratings292
Average rating3.8
Summary: When Catherine Moorland, a seventeen-year-old girl who is not yet wise to the ways of the world, accompanies some family friends to the town of Bath, he has the pleasure of making several new acquaintances, some of whom prove to be true friends and others of whom do not. An avid reader of Gothic novels, Catherine often imagines situations to be more dramatic than they really are, but, throughout the course of her interactions with her new friends, she learns that, while reality is often less frightful than she would imagine, it can sometimes be just as tumultuous.
The Romance book club picked a cowboy theme for August and I knew I wanted to read [b:Northranger 61896621 Northranger Rey Terciero https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1666198148l/61896621.SY75.jpg 74298178], so I figured I better read the source material first. I'm not a huge Austen fan, in fact, I'm the first one to admit I don't belong in a Romance Book Club, but it is what it is. I was very interested in Bath and how the Pump Room worked. You just sip and walk around?There is insta-love, manners, and yawning (from me). Then, it gets interesting. Catherine gets invited to visit Northanger Abbey and the story goes in two new directions: what happens when your beloved's family just doesn't like you and is this place haunted?Suddenly, I like this way more than I did when I started.
Northanger Abbey is one of Austen's earliest written works and it shows. Sometimes things happen a little conveniently, sometimes the pacing is a little off. But even at this young age, Austen's characteristic spark and wit shines through brilliantly. Even in this early work, we already see her astute observations about the foibles of humanity and the sharp delivery that accompanies them. Because this is written at a young age, we also see a playfulness in Austen's writing here that diminishes as she gets older. She doesn't take herself too seriously in this one, sometimes even calling out her own flaws, or those in her characters. I reread this one because I recently read The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe and wondered if it might give me any deeper insight into this book - it didn't, so I wouldn't at all call it recommended reading. Nevertheless, Northanger Abbey is still a delightful comfort read at any time.
The parts where Catherine was sneaking around and freaking out about chests and unopened doors were my favorite parts about this book. I didn't really care about her brother and her friend or anything else really. Just the possible mystery of the Tilneys.
My reaction to a lot of this was just like, nodding and thinking “That's clever, I get it” (or reading a footnote and then being like “now I get it”). Like I get what it's doing as a Gothic parody but because of that I wasn't particularly engaged with the characters. Like obviously Austen is an iconic writer but this just isn't my fav of hers.
Best male lead, with good sense and great charm.
Funny and mentally unstable heroine. Love her.
I was genuinely surprised, when I realized that I was breezing through this novel, as opposed to the uphill rocky climb that her other books are(looking at you, Mansfield Park.)
Either I have gotten used to her style of writing or this is unusually simple and would be a great first book for readers new to Austen. Also, it might have helped that the heroine herself is half the time clueless about whatever that's going on around her.
It's the early 19th century, there are no telephones, no internet. And our 18y/o heroine is naïve and has no idea about the ways of the world. She's a tomboy and has a penchant for ‘horrid' novels. She visits Bath with her friendly neighbors for 6 weeks, where she makes friends and finds love; only things get a little awkward, when she decides to incorporate a little of those novels into daily life; immersive experience you know. That plotline doesn't take much of space, though. It is a character driven, humor predominant novel leaving nothing much definitive in the way of a plot.
There is a general format that Austen follows, which I believe, the readers tend to expect, one they have read 3 or 4 of her books. All her novels depend heavily on characters. Once a character is introduced, there is a subconscious “ waiting” taking place, as we read through lines - waiting for the description of this character. She doesn't lightly introduce her characters, make them say/do things and leave. An elaborate description always follows, that sets the foundation. At the end of the book, there are no picturesque sceneries or incredible plot twists that remains in my mind. There are only people, talking.
There is a thin paste of humor, spread evenly throughout the novel. You know, the kind that's funny, but you aren't exactly rolling on the floor. Also the author chats with the reader. It's incredible if you think, it's actually communication transcending 2 centuries, and they are addressing you. Anyway, I think it makes the book more...loveable.
If you have read other Austen novels and haven't read this yet, please do. If you'd like to start reading Austen, this would be a good first book, on a par with PP. Although having read that a long time back, it demands a second reading for a just comparison. If you have read the book and came just to read my review, hello. If you don't even plan on reading, what are you doing here?
ps mandatory quotes in review:
“Where people wish to attach, they should always be ignorant. To come with a well informed mind is to come with an inability of administering to the vanity of others , which a sensible person should always wish to avoid. A woman especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything , should conceal it as well as she can““It would be mortifying to the feelings of many ladies, could they be made to understand how little the heart of a man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire...Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone.“” No man is offended by another man's admiration of the woman he loves; it is the woman only who can make it a torment”Just so that the list doesn't look like dating tips out of an 18th century magazine, I'll add one more, “The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
Billing Northanger Abbey as a gothic parody overstates the case. It does not parody gothic romances in anything like the same sense that Don Quixote parodies chivalric romances. At best, the device of constantly shooting down the naive heroine's gothic fantasies lifts the book to the level of sufferably puerile.
(Actual edition read was that contained in the Complete Works of Jane Austen published by Delphi Classics.)
Enjoyed this immensely even though the plot was mundane and had 3 different story arcs.
Small review:
This book is just Catherine having a field trip alone with different people. She just bounces from one place to another without a care. Ahh living the dream.Even though I saw the Isabella plot coming from miles away (like it was intended), it was so much fun to read it
I listened to this book because it was a selection for a gothic book club I belong to. Overall I was very underwhelmed. Austen's work is at times delightfully satirical, but some of the humor and nuances of the book may be lost on those not familiar with gothic classics such as the works of Radcliffe. Those who are familiar with such works may find themselves wishing they were listening to one of works instead of this one. It took FOREVER for Catherine, the book's “heroine” to actually go to the title location, and much of the book was simply a story about love and English society. Austen fans may enjoy this work, though some of her better known works are probably superior to this, her debut novel. Fans of gothic literature are advised to pass on this one in favor of one of the “horrid novels” this book references. Anne Massey's narration was solid and was included in the Audible Plus Catalogue.
Tenía abandonada, por motivos que ni yo misma entiendo, a la buena de Jane y me decidí a estrenar 2021 con esta novela que casi todo el mundo tiende a llamar de “las obras menores de Austen”.
Mis expectativas no estaban muy altas para ser una novela de Jane, pero me he encontrado una novela muy divertida, crítica, entretenida y ligera.
Está claro que no pretende ser la historia con más profundidad del mundo, la trama y su desarrollo es más bien sencilla, pero honesta, igual que su protagonista, Catherine, ni se esconde, ni te oculta nada en ningún momento.
Me ha tenido enganchada en todas sus páginas, sus personajes principales me encantan y los villanos acabas odiándolos, como debe ser. Las incógnitas que van apareciendo te mantienen en vilo y me gusta sus resoluciones.
Voto a bríos, el momento en el que la propia Jane Austen toma la palabra y comienza a defender la lectura de novelas, frente a las corrientes intelectuales que las menosprecian por ser algo menor y dedicado a entretener (sobre todo a mujeres), que sensaciones me provocó, de verdad. Que visionaria era y cuantas ganas tenía de reivindicar lo que ella sabía que era cierto.
Me encontraba a nivel personal en una etapa de bajón emocional y la novela llegó a mí en el momento adecuado. Todo lo contrario que me pasó con Emma, de la cual me esperaba la novela de vida y me dejó un poco chafada.
Ya solo me quedan por leer de Jane Austen Mansfield Park y Sentido y Sensibilidad. Probablemente el año que viene. Hasta entonces.
My first Jane Austen book. I really liked the narrator and the main character. I enjoyed the first half of the book, but after they went to Northanger Abbey, I started to lose interest.
I was not expecting the ending. Since the narrator describes our main character as a heroine, I was expecting more of a adventure book (and forgot that this was a Jane Austen book, so a romance), but what the narrator meant was that she was the main character of her romance story. So when she got engaged, I was surprised and not expecting that at all.
I guess this was supposed to be somewhat of a parody of her predecessors' work. While I enjoyed parts of it, I found the scenes in Bath to be drawn out and frustrating. The ending did not satisfy me because the relationships between each of the characters were never fully explored, and as such, I never connected with anyone.
There are a bunch of reasons to recommend this book.
First, the moment when Austen breaks the proverbial fourth wall and rails against those who decry the merits of reading novels was so satisfying. Despite being a traditional faux pas for the narrator's voice to come through at all, Jane Austen does so with impunity and—at least in my eyes—should be applauded for it.
Additionally, this book was the closest thing we'll probably ever get to what a Jane Austen mystery/thriller. Seeing her use her formidable language capabilities in such whimsical and uncommon a way was beyond fun. She was flippant in showing off and I loved it.
Henry Tilney is one of the Austen's best heroes, by far, and it's a crime we didn't get more time with him. I don't believe he's one of the most romantic. He loses out in every way. But he's the most fun and filled with such bridled personality, it's a shame we don't develop our appreciation for him further.
I'm sorry to say the ending was a bit rough in terms of pacing but, because it's Jane, she gets a free pass. I'm going to chalk that up to my being distracted by the circumstances of life, rather than freely admitting she did anything wrong.
There, you have it. My bias revealed. Don't judge me. You're not my cole mine supervisor.
The more I read of Jane Austen, the more I like her.
That is the mark of a good writer, I think.
This is the fourth book of Austen's that I have read and the second this summer. In the process of reading it and Persuasion, I've spent a lot of time reading books about Austen and about Austen's work, and that can't help but enrich the entire reading experience.
The plot is simple: Catherine Morland goes with some rich patrons to Bath. She meets a group of young people who she befriends. Some of the young people turn out to be more worthy of friendship and affection than others.
This story has elements of the gothic tale that my mother loved so much, so Catherine's time at the abbey filled me with nostalgia for the books my mother shared with me as a young adult.
The book has everything I'm coming to love about Austen: complex characters, clever conversations, and witty asides.
Oh dear. I think I am becoming a Jane Austen fan.
A witty first few chapters gives into a plodding pace for the rest of the book.
Dit boek was de enige van Austen's romans die in mijn geestesoog nog niet bezoedeld was door één of andere adaptatie. Niet dat ik niet van de adaptaties hou, in tegendeel (x1000), maar het beïnvloedt toch in een zekere mate hoe je een boek leest.
Met Northanger Abbey heb ik dan toch eens Jane Austen's stem kunnen ervaren zonder andere invloeden, en man, wat een zalig boek. En grappig, jong. Dat had ik niet verwacht.
Het boek is volgens mij echt een venstertje recht in het hoofd van Jane en ik heb het gevoel dat ik haar leerde kennen door haar tekst te lezen (en luisteren). En man, ik denk dat wij wreed goed overeen zouden zijn gekomen.
Northanger Abbey is luchtig, grappig en een hulde aan romans met een licht kritische vingerwijzing naar de gewoontes en tradities van toen (Jane was toch duidelijk echt geen fan van Bath).
“No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine.”
“And what are you reading, Miss—?” “Oh! it is only a novel!” replies the young lady...in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humor are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language.”
“The person, be it a gentleman or a lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
“I leave it to be settled, by whomsoever it may concern, whether the tendency of this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny, or reward filial disobedience.”
I must say I liked this novel. This classic novel is Austen's Gothic parody. Catherine's love for reading the genre and over active imagination adds humor to the novel. There is a great scene where Catherine is snooping and unlocks the mysterious cabinet. Expecting to find something horrible, and finds only laundry bills. You feel embarrass for her but she has to fall a few more times before she learns to control her imagination. Northanger Abbey also deals with situations common to teenagers today. Catherine learns lessons of peer pressure, bullying, and reading people. I was angry by the Thorpe's manipulative, and ambitious ways but, by the end of the novel, Catherine learns to read people.
Favorite Quote: “The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not the pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
The book is exceedingly funny. It is difficult to imagine a teenage girl writing such a delightful satire with such intentionally odd dialog that many hundreds of years ago. And how easily the story slips from the cute and self-aware satire of gothic and romance stories into a good romance story!
This is my first Jane Austen foray, but it shan't be my last.
I rather enjoyed the story, but it was extremely slow. I'm pretty sure the story could have succinctly been told in five chapters or less. Or maybe I just didn't appreciate this novel, I really don't know.
Full of lulz until they left Bath, then it's all downhill to perfect felicity.
Very juvenile. It almost hurt sometimes how naive the character is and seeing the world through her eyes.