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A review by kjanie
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
funny
medium-paced
3.5
3.5/5 stars
This book was filled with so much joy and fun. While other Jane Austen books are often considered to be more thoughtful and lyrical in style, this was definitely the most outright humorous. I find all of the Austen novels that I have read so far to be entertaining and funny, but often in a more subtle way indicating wit rather than outright comedy. This book though didn't just make me chuckle occasionally but had me smiling throughout and feeling absolutely giddy. Austen was clearly parodying the gothic literature genre, which resulted in many humorous and even silly results. This book also felt so self-aware and just clever, making me marvel even more at the wit of Austen.
While I did really enjoy this book, especially the first half while our characters were in Bath, I found the second half to be much more lacking. I also think the pacing and story in general wasn't as tight and well-structured as Austen's other books. This felt more like a book that you read for the joy of it and the very 'on the nose' humour rather than the comedy of manners and society that I have come to expect from Austen's novels. While I don't like it as much as Persuasion or Pride and Prejudice, this is definitely a book that dispels any myths about the pure dullness of classics. This book just exudes happiness and delight, making it almost impossible to enjoy and cherish.
This book was filled with so much joy and fun. While other Jane Austen books are often considered to be more thoughtful and lyrical in style, this was definitely the most outright humorous. I find all of the Austen novels that I have read so far to be entertaining and funny, but often in a more subtle way indicating wit rather than outright comedy. This book though didn't just make me chuckle occasionally but had me smiling throughout and feeling absolutely giddy. Austen was clearly parodying the gothic literature genre, which resulted in many humorous and even silly results. This book also felt so self-aware and just clever, making me marvel even more at the wit of Austen.
While I did really enjoy this book, especially the first half while our characters were in Bath, I found the second half to be much more lacking. I also think the pacing and story in general wasn't as tight and well-structured as Austen's other books. This felt more like a book that you read for the joy of it and the very 'on the nose' humour rather than the comedy of manners and society that I have come to expect from Austen's novels. While I don't like it as much as Persuasion or Pride and Prejudice, this is definitely a book that dispels any myths about the pure dullness of classics. This book just exudes happiness and delight, making it almost impossible to enjoy and cherish.