Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
My review
4/5 stars
Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I adore all things Jane Austen; the books, the locations (Bath is beautiful), the TV adaptations, the fan fiction - ALL OF IT! That being said, there are a couple of her six books that do not make it on to me re-read list as often as some of the others. I average reading Pride and Prejudice once every 18 months or so, but this is only my second reading of Northanger Abbey.
On my first read, I didn't really connect with the gothic nature of it all, and the characters just seemed to float over my head a little. On this second attempt, I still wasn't overly keen on the gothic themes in the book, but I was able to appreciate the satiric approach to them a lot more, so they didn't seem as random or overdone.
What changed for me most with this re-read was the connection to the characters. Catherine felt more relatable, but I also found myself getting more invested in the relationships she had with the people around her. In particular, I found myself relating more to the friendship that turned sour between her and Isabella, and the flirtatious relationship she had with Henry Tilney.
I'm glad I decided to revisit this. It still won't be something I re-read regularly, but it improved with a second read, so a third might get me really into things in a few years time. It still gets 4 stars, because it's Austen and she's awesome no matter what she writes.
Book blurb
Northanger Abbey tells the story of a young girl, Catherine Morland who leaves her sheltered, rural home to enter the busy, sophisticated world of Bath in the late 1790s. Austen observes with insight and humour the interaction between Catherine and the various characters whom she meets there, and tracks her growing understanding of the world about her.
In this, her first full-length novel, Austen also fixes her sharp, ironic gaze on other kinds of contemporary novel, especially the Gothic school made famous by Ann Radcliffe. Catherine's reading becomes intertwined with her social and romantic adventures, adding to the uncertainties and embarrassments she must undergo before finding happiness.
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You can buy a copy of the book here.
For more on the author, you can head over to the Jane Austen's Centre's website.
