northanger abbey j.austin

[eleanor2]

hello ladies anyone interested in joining in my new book review.northanger abbey by jane austin .is one of her most down to earth books she wrote in my point of view.it will be lovely if any of you can join me.it makes reading a book much more interesting if we review it together.

[buecherwurm]

Hello eleanor, had just written a note to you, but it disappeared. Just wanted to let you know that we can talk about Northanger Abbey on this site if nothing changes on the CL site.

[Oola]

eleanor I may have a copy of it hanging around somewhere, I think my siser studied it at school and somehow I inherited it from her. I'll have a look around, it's been ages since I read something of that genre.

[Healing Hands]

I am always seem to be reading another book when you start this up eleanor, never mind will try again when you start another one.

[Rustic Pumpkin]

Hello eleanor, had just written a note to you, but it disappeared. Just wanted to let you know that we can talk about Northanger Abbey on this site if nothing changes on the CL site.

Hi buecherwurm, another refugee! good to see you here. eleanor2, I've already said Hi in another thread!

I'd love to join in, but I will have to find my copy first, and it has been some years since I read Northanger Abbey. My copy is very old, a hardback red clothed one, with gold coloured lettering. Picked it up in a charity shop for £2.00 (quite a bit for a charity shop find) but it is such a delight to hold, so much eaiser on the hand than even a paperback.

[eleanor2]

it will be great if a few of us review it you get so views from so many different angles then.especially as this book takes a very normal girl and puts her into a world she doesn't fit into.then love wins the day against all the odds. hi ladies from c.l nice to see you here.buech we can review here and c.l for now if you are up to it. rustic i love the sound of your old book.i ave just noticed i have Adam bede by george elliot.looking inside it was a sunday school prize in 1903 to my husbands great gran.the old books do have character dont they.

[eleanor2]

right ladies hope you have started reading.this is something cultural we can participate in.rustic hope you'v found your old book.h.h you can join us next time.
for once jane austin has a main character who is plain,unlearned,no musical accomplishment and little wealth.cathereine is however nurtured with love and attention,and no false ambitions.right at the begining of the story she is taken to bath by wealthy family aquaintances mr and mrs allan.sadly in bath catherine differs from other main characters.neither mrs allan or herself no a soul there.they sit alone,walk alone and talk alone.after a few days a ray of light descends.she is partnered off in the lower dance room with a mr tilney.he flatters catherine with his friendship and conversation.the first special attentions as a young woman.she falls hoplessly for mr tilney.catherine has her dreams and hopes as well as a good dose of nievity.the next few chapters divulge much about a new friendship catherine makes with miss isobella thorpe.all seems well but is isobella using cathereine???

[Sarahc]

Hope you don't mind me joining in but I just finished a book and saw you were starting northanger abbey and its been a while since I read a classic so here I am. The first thing that strikes me is how easy to read it is. I always have this mental block that says classics are hard to read but its not. About Isobella, I'm not sure her motives are entirely innocent. Perhaps not intentionally but I get the impression, as with many beautiful accomplished young ladies (and I have met people like this in the real world), the company of someone less polished makes them feel all the more shiney.

[eleanor2]

great you can join us sarah.yes good point about isobella.in the next few chapters i think we find another reason isobella has gone out of her way to befriend catherine.i think we also see more of her totally self centredness .her brother john thorpe is such a disagreeable character to......catherine has her eyes opened i think to the selfishness of people when the courting game begins.

[eleanor2]

it is all happening in Bath. catherines brother james and his friend john thorpe are there now.isobella starts to show her true colours.her real interest is in james.cathereine is forever being pushed together with john thorpe.isobella and john are both very selfish.james is obviously in love with isobella.so not one of them has any consideration for catherines feelings.she desperately wants to spend time with the tilneys.she is falling in love with mr tilney.john thorpe is such a despicable character he lies and deceives catherine at is leisure to get his and isobellas own way.it is annoying how catherine puts up with them.at last she is pushed to the extreme at the thought of another day out on a drive with them.or a walk with the tilneys.we see some grit as she totally forstalls there plans and digs her heels in to honour her promise of a walk out with her beloved mr tilney and his sister.love is in the air.but oh what seeds has john thorpe sowed in the head of mr tilneys father.

[eleanor2]

oh dear james moreland and isobella thorpe are unofficially engaged .but james rides home for his parents permission.he gets it and is quite pleased that his father has promised him £400 a year.the thing is he cannot start receiving it for another two years.the full of herself isobella is not happy with the wait or the amount.even tho she has no money of her own.she is now flirting with captain tilney the brother of cathereines beloved mr tilney.it is sad to see the ficklness of isobella and the slow demise of her love for james.who is truely in love with her.it is all change for cathereine.she is off to stay at northanger abbey with the tilneys.but i think we are in for some upset.

[buecherwurm]

Hi eleanor, just a short note to let you know that I'm back. Managed to finish Northanger Abbey. Will post about that later; but only on this site and not on the old CL site, too sad there.

[eleanor2]

great buech look forward to hearing your review.i love seeing how other people interpret different situations.i agree about c.l.i will persevere there just for this last book.i havn't heard off hott at all.i know she is a very busy mum.hope she finds r.m eventually.

[buecherwurm]

Hi, I think Northanger Abbey is a nice little story and as Sarahc says, so easy to read, especially after just having read "Middlemarch".
After being bored with just Mrs. Allen to talk to, Catherine Morland meets Mr. Tilney at the dance. They manage to chat quite easily. He is teasing her quite a bit though. Shortly Mrs. Allen meets an old aquaintance, Mrs. Thorpe, and thus Catherine meets Isabella. Not surprisingly Isabella and Catherine become great friends (Isabella is quite pushy and kind of forces herself on Catherine). I didn't really like Isabella from the beginning. She is very fickle and the expression:"to float with the tide" popped into my mind. I liked John Thorpe even less when he appeared on the scene. He is rude and obnoxious, and a liar and a cheat. And from the beginning I had the feeling he was after Catherine, not so much for herself but for the money he thinks her family posesses or might get through the Allens. Same goes for Isabella. As soon as James Morland comes to Bath she tries to lure him into her "web". He being flattered by her attentions falls for her, goes home to get consent for getting engaged. He can go back with the promise of a living of 400 a year in about 2 years time. And as soon as Isabella hears the amount her love cools down instantanously and she starts flirting with Captain Tilney who has in the meantime arrived in Bath in order to visit with his father General Tilney, his sister Eleanor and his brother Henry. Eleanor and Henry are Catherine's new friends (she realized that Isabella has a strange character, but still sees in her a friend); only the General seems to have something against Catherine at the beginning. When she gets invited to visit with the Tilneys their home Northanger Abbey she is thrilled. She is a fan of novels and spins her own yarn about Northanger Abbey. And here Jane Austen plays with the reader, or at least with simpletons like me. I also was expecting something sinister to happen. But through the comment of Henry Tilney when he drives with Catherine to the Abbey she kind of laughs at us. But the General behaves very strangely and I must admit that I thought he wanted Catherine for his wife (remember I just read Middlemarch and there old Mr. Casaubon marries young Dorothea). But, I will not tell you, how it ends. Just this much greed, false pride and listening to gossip even nowadays spell for disaster. Hope you all enjoy this book!

[eleanor2]

hi beuch glad you finished i am not far off.catherine is now living at northanger abbey.as she is an avid thriller book reader (for the times) her imagination is forever in overdrive.she imagines secret rooms and compartments.the worst of all she imagines general tilney the old dad as either murdered his wife or has her locked up somewhere.she spends many days allowing this thought line get into deeper and deeper affray.at last mr henry tilney(her man) catches her snooping on the stairs.she blurts out that she has concerns about his mothers death.he tells her off his mothers long slow demise through illness.all the physicians that caled and sat with her for hours.he is a bit upset she has made a mystery of his mothers and fathers marraige.but whe he sees cathereine becomes embarrassed and upset.he goes out of his way to be kind.i think this is where the love starts blossoming.then cathereine has a letter off her brother.the shameful isobella has dumped him for a richer lined pocket.she is expecting captain tilney to marry her.he is elder brother and heir to the tilney fortune.both tilney children dont think their father will allow him to marry isobela as she has no wealth.then catherine has to face will they see her in the same light as she has no wealth either.we will have to wait and see.

[buecherwurm]

I have had the video Northanger Abbey (BBC Production) in the cupboard for several years. I had only watched it once and didn't really like it and therefore never ever watched it again until last week, that is. I still didn't like is. A lot of things are mixed up and some people appear that we don't find in the book. Also some characters are played very creepy. And I think the people in the story don't appear weird at first sight; well, that would make for a very short story anyway. O.k. has anybody else seen the film and how did you like it?

[eleanor2]

hi buech i havn't ever seen the film.would like to just to see the costumes and how they portray bath and northanger abbey.was in harrogate last week.the royal baths were shut,but the pump room is now a museum.i found it to late in the day.next year however i will definately so i can get an understanding of the old pump rooms.still havn't had time to finish the last few chapters.got to where catherine really does not like General tilney.his childrem seem frightened of him to.there is definately love in the air between catherine and henry tho.theres i think will be a real love.they have taken there time.to become friends.share interests and deep thoughts. will general tilney let them marry tho.

[buecherwurm]

Oh, the costumes are great. And they are actually in the Roman bath (it looks like the real one anyway) in Bath in one scene. So that is allright. It's just the portrayal of the people and the weird addition of others as well as doing or saying things in the wrong sequence that I don't like.

[eleanor2]

the last few chapters are the best.it is all action.i think its best to categorize all the people.isobella thorpe what a fickle selfish self centred person she is.she sends catherine a letter that is priceless in the two faced legue.captain tilney has flirted with her untill she gave up james thorpe.she looking for richer pickings.then when the captain had her he dumped her for another woman.then she has the cheek to ask cathereine to write to her brother and tell him she loves him really and he was mistaken if she upset him.john thorpe is even more dispicable.miffed that catherine is not interested in him and that she didn't write to her brother to beg for his sisters re-union.this john thorpe meets the wealthy father general tilney and completely defaces catherine and her familys good name.so much so that the general rides back to northanger abbey and has catherine virtually evicted.talk about snobbery.but through it all love wins and so do good people...got to go finish i wil finish later.

[Treehugger]

Can you guys give me a shout when you start a new book as I would love to join in now that I have some time after the dreaded exams have finished.

[eleanor2]

sure treehugger.....
now we come to general tilney.he needs a mention.an utter snob and so fickle.when he thinks cathereine is wealthy.he is all sweetness and light to her.nothing is to much trouble.when he finds out she is not wealthy he is a rude cad.turning her out of the house at 7 a.m the very next morning.no escort no fare no chance for her to write to her parents.
catherine on the other hand shows stout character.she is terribly upset and embarrassed to turn up home turfed out from northanger abbey.but she puts her best foot forward.gets home safe alone and head held hight.her family greet her with love and excitement which helps her to feel less embarrased.the thing is she is love sick.she realises she loves henry tilney so much.she misses him and just mopes around day after day.yearning to hear off him or see him.what do you think of henry tilney....... is he a snob or a cad.no bless him.as soon as he hears that cathereine has left under such circumstances.he openly defies his father and rides off into the sunset to find her. he calls at her home even if her family would be angry with him because of his father.his love obviously drives him.they get time alone and he straight away asks for her hand in marraige.oh what a happy day.can you imagine cathereines heart being elated.LOVE...
eventually henrys sister eleanor meets a baronet or duke.she makes it clear to her father that he must put things right with henry and cathereine before she will marry her duke. they all live happily ever after........

[eleanor2]

beuch and treehugger put some suggestions forward when you have time.do you both want to stick to the classics or read a modern book.i have jane eyre which i have seen and read but these reviews bring out so much more of the story.i have chocalat by joanne harris, acopuple of wilbur smith maeve binchy nights of rain and stars(which i think wil be good) i have kate moss sepulchre bought brand new safely packed in my case to take to france in july.to read in the sunshine in the french countryside mmmmmm.or any you 2 might suggest.no rush.

[Sarahc]

I finally finished reading northanger abbey, have been avoiding looking to closely at what you've been writing as I didn't want spoil any surprises! So what did you all think of the book? I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. My copy had the byline on the cover a classic romance - and it really was the classic plot. Does mean there are not too many surprises but I think the lack of twists and turns made me feel much more connected with the characters. I got really drawn in to all the speculation in the same way the characters do, especially the young girls who really have no other distraction than finding a husband to start their work as a wife and mother. I saw all sorts of conspiracies going on, for a start I saw those Tilney children plotting to ruin James and Isabellas engagement. Then I too suspected General Tilney was after Catherine. The ending seemed a bit of a rush, was almost of the 'then they woke up and it was all a dream' style ending.

Am on holiday next week and planning to read the sequel to chocolat, title is something about lollipops, but i will check an see what you pick next.

[eleanor2]

sarah glad you read northanger .you sound a bit like catherine with your overactive imagination.wich helps make reading more fun.i like northanger because i think jane austin portrays her heroine catherine as a more average female.all her other heroines are wealthy and accomplished.with pushy parents.i think catherines family sound like a family we can empathise with.catherine gets her wealthy dashing young man even tho she is not rich,musical, artistic,or exceptionally beautiful.her interesting and caring genuine nature makes her attractive as a woman.wheras isobella pretty and vain shows the fickle side of femininity and she ends up with no man on her arm.

[buecherwurm]

Hi everybody, like I said before, the story is very nice and since I have quite a vivid imagination I expected all kinds of things to happen just like Sarahc. Now about the next book. I don't really care. After Northanger Abbey I read a Quintine Jardine and Round Ireland with a fridge (quite interesting and funny at times) and at the moment I'm reading Gulliver's travels.
We could stick to classics because talking about them here I just know I will finish the book and not put it aside because it's too difficult. I have Jane Eyre and also Nights of Rain and Stars. Read both of them already. I went to a booksale last Friday and bought Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. I don't think I've ever read anything by her. So that might be another possibility. 2 other possibilities: The way we live now by Anthony Trollope or The portrait of a Lady. Have both books at home but have so far not really read in them. O.k. let me know.
By the way, have any of the others (I think Rusticpumpkin and Oola were also thinking of reading Northanger) finished the book, yet?

[buecherwurm]

The portrait of a Lady is by Henry James

[eleanor2]

beuch i am just reading a barbera erskine for a bit of light trivial reading.so how about next week. we read jane eyre.sarahc and treehugger what do you think . as a challenge.you see i have read it and seen the film.but doing a review i reckon we will get a lot more out of it.. i think we have read so many different love stories from the era.that jane eyre will be another different perspective of love form that time.i bet you if we read it for a review.we will see things we have not seen before about the story.this is only a suggestion.as i chose northanger abbey.i will just as happily read the maeve binchy or even another book.what do you think.....

[buecherwurm]

Let's wait what the others think. I don't mind Jane Eyre. Can't find it at the moment, though. It's not on the bookshelf next to the other Brontes. So have to hunt around if we should decide on it....
At least the Jane Eyre will keep us occupied for a while. A Maeve Binchy I can read in a week-end. I love most of her books, except maybe the last one (Whitethorn Woods).

[eleanor2]

o.k beuch we will see what sarah and treehugger think.i am reading a barbera erskine i had bad dreams last night.maeve is a good bit of light reading.i think she does portray her characters quite well.she always adds people from different backgrounds doesn't she.i think jane eyre will be quite deep.

[Treehugger]

Jane Eyre is fine by me. Give me a shout when we are to begin reading. It's ages since I read it. I hated the last BBC adaptation of it. Thought that Jane was a bit of an ugly thing really when my understanding of her is that she is supposed to be plain which in no way suggests ugliness. Mr Rochester on the other hand...

Has anyone read 'Wide Sargasso Sea' by Jean Rhys? It is a sort of prequel to Jane Eyre and follows the life of Bertha Mason who was Mr Rochester's 'mad' wife. Very interesting

[eleanor2]

hi treehugger i have never even heard of wide sargassos sea..sounds interesting. if o.k with others shall we start jane eyre on monday coming.i really fancy dissecting the story.always keeping in my mind that charlotte bronte wrote it.that they had some experience s of these schools and and hardships of losing their mother and sisters to consumption etc.the barbera erskine book i am reading was in a subtle way likening the brontes upbringing with mathew hopkins the witchfinder generals upbringing.

[buecherwurm]

So I go looking for my "Jane Eyre". If it can't find it I'll just order me another one. Hope there is a Penguin Classic; they are so reasonably priced.

[eleanor2]

buech what about lending one from the library.thats what i did when we read persuasion a while back.i had to go and renew it even cus it took me so long to read.go on look for yours its got to be somewhere.mondays the day then if that o.k with you all.

[Treehugger]

OK, see you on Monday!