Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
- Ananya - the_food_and_book_life
- Feb 2
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 16
I am a self-confessed non-reader of classics. I have a pre-conceived notion that they have too much of descriptions to be quick paced. I am also not a a person who romanticizes the era. So imagine my surprise when I end up liking every classic that I read! I just need someone to motivate me to start reading a classic and then its smooth sailing.
When Binder’s Book Club decided to start 2021 with a Jane Austen, I decided to join them. I had read Pride and Prejudice just a year ago and loved it! So I wanted to see if I end up liking other Austen work too. I also thought that reading a classic would be a good way to start the year.The Blurb
The Blurb
“Jane Austen’s first novel—published posthumously in 1818—tells the story of Catherine Morland and her dangerously sweet nature, innocence, and sometime self-delusion. Though Austen’s fallible heroine is repeatedly drawn into scrapes while vacationing at Bath and during her subsequent visit to Northanger Abbey, Catherine eventually triumphs, blossoming into a discerning woman who learns truths about love, life, and the heady power of literature. The satirical novel pokes fun at the gothic novel while earnestly emphasizing caution to the female sex.“
The Book
What can be written about classics that has not been written before? I find that with books as old and as popular as these, I can only write about my thoughts and feelings on reading it rather than have a proper critique. Northanger Abbey was a book that did justice to the expectation that I started it with. While I loved Pride and Prejudice, it took me a while to warm up to the book. This wasn’t the case with Northanger Abbey. The story was catchy and humorous right from the first chapter.
The heroine, Catherine, is an innocent sixteen-year-old who is out in society for an extended period of time for the very first time. She must learn to recognise signs of selfishness quickly or risk getting used by her new friends. I loved the fact that she was very clear on what was right behaviour and what was not. It was refreshing to see a lady stand up for her beliefs in a book written in the 1800s. I despised all of the Thorpes and was hoped that they take their claws out of Catherine as quickly as possible.
Juxtaposed to this, the Tilnes are the best example of who you should be friends with. They are supportive and kind and make sure to see all sides of the story before making their decision.
The humorous take on gothic novels of that time was one of my favourite parts of the book. Without giving any spoilers. I believed that we actually would find something horrific by the end of Catherine’s investigations. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and could not stop reading it. I was very glad that I participated in this month’s reading club and am sure that I will be reading more of Jane Austen very soon.
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