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Friday, September 19, 2008

1001 Book Update - Northanger Abbey

What better way to get out of a reading slump than to read Jane Austen. And I still can't believe that I haven't read Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey until now.
Here's the synopsis:

While on vacation with friends in Bath, seventeen-year-old Catherine makes new friends and falls in love. Catherine also loves creepy, scary, Gothic novels. So when her crush, Henry Tilney, and his sister Elenore invite Catherine to stay with them at their renovated Northanger Abbey home, Catherine gladly accepts. Not only is she excited to be in proximity of Henry but she gets to explore a "Gothic" abbey house. But is the abbey haunted by the dead Mrs Tilney? Or did General Tilney kill his wife? Or is she still alive, hidden somewhere in the house? Does Henry love Catherine in return?


This is a cute novel which was an easy and fun read. I loved Catherine who's imagination was constantly getting the better of her. While reading it, I couldn't help but think that Catherine had quite a bit of Jane Austen...or what I imagine Jane Austen to have been like. At first I almost expected this to become my favorite Austen book...but by the end, while still an enjoyable read, my favorite is still Pride and Prejudice.

Oddly enough, while I had never read Northanger Abbey I had never seen a movie on it either. So I'm posting some pictures of the movie so I will remember to go rent this one.



Is Northanger Abbey your favorite Austen novel? Why?
Have you seen the movie and did you like it? Which version?

Also reviewed by:
Enchanted by Josephine
Ulat Buku in the City
The Novel World
Carla from My Little Corner
Things Mean A Lot
Shelf Love

Movie reviewed by:
A Striped Armchair


This is the first book completed for the R.I.P. III Challenge:

8 comments:

  1. I enjoyed this one. A lot. And I love, love, love the newest movie version of it!

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  2. It's one of my favourite Austens! I think I love it, because you can really see the young Jane's exuberence and playfulness coming through. :)

    I saw the adaptation you've taken pictures from, and it was the only one I didn't hate of the new series! It definitely took some liberties, but it was still fun. :) And Henry was HOT. I talked about it on my blog back in February.

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  3. Sadly, I'm in the same boat as you! I've never seen any adaptation of Northanger Abbey, nor have I read the book, though I'm familiar with the story. I'll definitely have to pick it up one of these days.

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  4. I've never seen any of the movie versions, and I'm reading it for the first time for RIP. I'm really looking forward to it!

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  5. I liked this book (it's only my second Austen), but I thought it was rougher than Pride and Prejudice in terms of development. Which I guess makes sense since it was her first. I will be reading Emma soon, but to be honest I've been kind of putting it off a little. Austen, for me, takes more work than reading other stuff. Is that just me?

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  6. This's my favourite Austen! I love how aware she is of Gothic storytelling techniques, and how she spoofs them. I laughed aloud more than once as I read through it!

    I've never seen a film adaptation. Someday.

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  7. I have not read nor seen the movie yet. I had the novel for years and always told myself..."I will read this someday." When we moved to Florida recently I left it at the local library for someone else to enjoy. Maybe I will have to buy another copy and give it a try, sounds great and the movie too.

    Have you seen "Becoming Jane"? That is the last Jane Austen movie I saw... very good, I especially like when she picks up Tom Jones to read (one of my all time favorites!).

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  8. Northanger Abbey is just pure fun and a bit spooky. I will be doing a group read in October on my blog and hope you can drop by and add your thoughts.

    http://austenprose.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/go-gothic-with-northanger-abbey-austen-preview/

    Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

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