Reviews

Northanger Abbey, Lady Susan, The Watsons, Sanditon by John Davie, Claudia L. Johnson, James Kinsley, Jane Austen

pkgonzales7's review

adventurous funny medium-paced

3.25

Northanger Abbey and Lady Susan are delightful (although Lady Susan wraps up too fast) but The Watsons and Sanditon is definitely Austen experimenting although interesting to read. 

abuginthewild's review against another edition

challenging funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

rose_celeste's review

informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

ewatson's review

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

3.5

krysm's review against another edition

5.0

First read, of course, many, many years ago.

mirasbooks's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

smudge1's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

abbygaelobrien's review against another edition

3.0

“…for she was often inattentive, and occasionally stupid.”


this book is the 1800s version of reality tv about rich people drama

dee9401's review against another edition

3.0

I was so torn by trying to rate this OWC edition of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey and several short stories (one complete, two fragments). If I rated it based on Northanger Abbey, I'd have to give it 1 star. I hated it. I also disliked The Watsons and Sandition, though as these were unfinished or discarded manuscripts, it's not fair to judge them too harshly.

But, were I to rate this collection solely on Lady Susan, I wouldn't hesitate to say 5 stars immediately. I am a huge fan of the epistolary format. Mary Shelley (Frankenstein) and Goethe (The Sorrows of Young Werther) introduced me to this style and I've been drawn to it ever since. Lady Susan was a fast-paced, exciting story that used letters between the various actors to explain and further the plot and show us the characters internal and external thoughts. This story saved the volume for me! I loved it and couldn't wait to read each succeeding letter.

I ended up choosing 3 stars for an overall rating. When I next pick up this book, maybe I'll boost it up another star, to recognize Lady Susan.

veeste's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75