193. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

I went into Northanger Abbey (Premier Classics, 1818; 241) with so much expectation coming from the back of my enjoyment of her novel Pride and Prejudice. However, I think I was somewhat let down. This disappointment could be the fault of my own poor predisposition towards the reading , especially my poor mental preparedness going into an English a typical classical whose language is overly refine and too 'polite'. Or it could be the subject matter, which wasn't agreeable to my constitution. Whatever it is, I left this book with a feeling of having let down Jane Austen though I knew that my singular let down wouldn't add or subtract anything from her fame and following.

Having said this, I enjoyed the way Jane Austen presented the issues of marriage and of getting married at the time; how, she, pretending to describe what pertains, mocks the system. This makes her book very sarcastic and a tongue-in-cheek sort of way. Also, when used as the baseline, it shows how far we have come as a people in terms of freedom, choice, and priorities.

I am prepared to revisit this book and not let this decide my interaction or literary romance with Austen. Kindly let me know, if you have read this book, what you think. Perhaps I read it wrongly.

Comments

  1. Amateur Reader (Tom)5 October 2012 at 13:49

    I know many people love this novel and claim it as their favorite Austen novel. I suppose some of these readers identify with the heroine in some strong way - she is an avid reader herself.

    But as a work of art, this book seems minor to me, far from the intricacy of Mansfield Park or the amazing character work of Pride and Prejudice.

    I do love that line about the skeleton: "I know it must be a skeleton, I am sure it is Laurentina's skeleton." It reminds me that I do not read at all like Catherine reads!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ImageNations5 October 2012 at 20:31

      I've got Mansfield Park and I will try and reread Northanger Abbey... perhaps next year. Not sure though.

      Delete
  2. Reading Pleasure8 October 2012 at 12:11

    Not read this Classic, Nana. Though I have P and P on my Classic reading list. A fine and fair review.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anna8 October 2012 at 14:08

    I enjoyed this book because of the humor, with Austen making fun of gothic novels and Regency society. However, it's not my favorite Austen. I enjoyed P&P, Persuasion, and Emma much more.

    ReplyDelete

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