Reviews

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

leosaki's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Would have probably rated this higher if she wasn't 17 and he 24😅

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Content Warnings

Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic friendship, Classism, Death of parent, and Adult/minor relationship

linguisticali's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

This remains one of my favourite books. It's so funny and self-aware. Catherine is a relatably young, awkward heroine, and the constant undermining of her gothic novel expectations is very funny. 

emcsweeney1's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

christian_faith_and_fiction's review against another edition

5.0

Another great reread. I love Catherine and Henry.

harpsrawx's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

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

3.5

it’s interesting this is austen’s first actual finished novel (even though was published posthumously) because it feels like a satirical look at her other work. while romance is still present, it mainly describes catherine’s developing emotional maturity through her choice of friendships and handling of conflict. the mystery/murder novel within the novel was a fun respite from the usual austen-y coming of age plot. 

nomiclature's review against another edition

funny relaxing medium-paced

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

4.25

fhammond_36's review against another edition

4.0

Lovely audio book version read by Emma Thompson. So many things I mispronounced in my earlier reading including the title. Don’t like John Thorp - what a twit. Or General Tilney either. But that’s part of the charm - you can just imagine people exactly like that- vain and pompous and toadying.

seadeepy's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

This is Austen's first book, and it shows, but not exactly in a bad way. I really enjoyed the strongly opinionated authorial interjections, including her whole commentary on how heroines in novels never read novels.

I really love Jane Austen and her satire, and that's where this book shines. She isn't writing a dramatic alluring romance, she's laughingly mocking Gothic literature and making witty observations about the society around her. And Catherine is just a sweet, relatable protagonist for that satire to focus around.  

mrs_wojo's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

_haleykristen's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

2.5