Another Classic Checked off my list: My Review of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

    

                              

Another Classic Checked off my list: My Review of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Any of my friends can tell you that I am a Janeite. Absolutely in love with just about all things Austen. So a few weeks ago, I joined one of my fellow Book lovers and soul sister Charlotte; in reading Northanger Abbey. This was my first time reading the novel and I was excited because I had read that it was Austen's take on a gothic novel (though it ends up being a parody). Many of which were written and wildly popular in her lifetime. So I went into it expecting something very different from what I read. I was a bit disappointed at first. But - Jane never really ever disappoints. She gives you characters you can grow to love and cherish. Which was very much the case with Catherine Morland; the heroine of the novel. I found Catherine to be very relatable; then though she was a bit childish and naive at first.  Frankly, she reminded me a lot of myself in my late teens and early twenties. Catherine is a young woman who very much wants to forge her own path; she seems to want an adventure but also wants to be content with life as well. She is very different from some of the other characters written by Austen that I love. Unlike Lizzie Bennett, she not at all strong willed; she does not openly express her opinions - not even among close friends. She is also, not as dizzy, or nutty as Marianne. But definitely not as sensible as  Elinor. There is a perfect imperfection in Miss. Morland's character that I could not help but love. One of the things I love the most about this book was her slow and evolving friendship with Henry Tilney. When Henry first comes upon the scene (talking of women, letter writing, and bad grammar) I really found him annoying. But, like most of Austen's male characters he grows on you (like a fungus lol). Tilney is harmless and a bit odd. Which actually is what I loved the most about him. He seems almost from the start to be a good match for Catherine. 

Another thing that I loved about this book was the friendship between Catherine and Isabella Thorpe. Yes, Isabella is annoying, rude, and extremely selfish. But, she is a good example of what some "friends" can truly be in our lives. They can often use us for their own gains and shower is in a lot of fake affection. I know I have experienced it and honestly I believe most women may have experienced this as well. The only characters I could not stand in this book were Isabella's brother, John. As well as, Mrs. Allen. I did not like Allen because she did not seem all that interested in anything really going on with Catherine - she seemed okay with allowing Catherine to go about with the Thorpe's and their schemes without a thought of what impact it could have on Catherine. Especially since some things women and men did just NOT do together during that era because they could be seen as improper. I did not care for John Thorpe because he was a liar - and almost ruined Catherine's happiness with Tilney by selling the general a lie that Catherine is wealthy; when in fact she is not. Not to mention her tries to force her into an "understanding" by starting the rumor that the two are a couple. Which could not be further from the truth. Thank goodness for that. The book ends with everyone ending up right where they need to be...though Catherine's brother is heartbroken because of Isabella's behavior.

What I found odd at this book was the way in which Austen wrote it; the POV was a little odd. The work was also a bit more on the sarcastic side; though this is probably because the book is a  parody. I did find the book a little harder to read than most of her novels, and I got bored with it in places. I do not regret taking the time to read it however. I gave the book 4/5 stars on goodreads.

Quotes I loved:

"That no young lady can by justified in falling in love before the gentleman's love is declared, it must be very improper that a young lady should dream of a gentleman before the gentleman has first dreamt of her"

"Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love"

 

    

Selfishness, Cruelty, and Marriage for convince abounds: The Bookbabe Reviews Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

I started Sense and Sensibility some months ago; and I abandoned it. Mainly because Marianne's character and attitude drove me absolutely crazy. Not to mention the start of the book was rather slow. It is funny; however, that during my reading of this book I started and completed another of Austen's novels. So soon after finishing Pride and Prejudice I decided to finish off the reminder of Sense and Sensibility. The novel, published in 1811; the first of Austen's works to be published, was not unknown to me. Like many Janeites I have seen and owned a copy of the 1995 movie; staring Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant. So you can say that I knew what to expect upon reading the book. However, some of the impressions you may get from the characters of the book are often lost in the movie. For instance, the overall selfishness that seems to plague some of the characters does not necessarily come across on the screen. Nor is the silliness of some of the characters truly on display. It did not strike me until re-reading Pride and Prejudice that single men and single women would 1) not be alone together and 2) would never exchange private letters to one another. This, however, seemed to happen often in this book. The worst among them are Willoughby and Marianne. They carry on together in a very, very open and impertinent way. Which would and eventually does lead to a bit of ridicule and gossip. Mrs.Jennings seems to be the main culprit in this, along with her daughter. A lot of the gossip and silliness seems based primarily in boredom and a selfish need to "uplift" oneself. We see this with the other all behavior of Lucy to Elinor. A lot of her "gossip" is used to a means to rub her connections to The Ferrars in Elinor's face. Towards the end of the book Lucy is seen for what she is by her ex fiancé and by Elinor; both of whom had misgivings about her character for sometime.

Overall in this book we see how money and the need for "good fortune" shapes the relationships of the characters. Edward Ferrars, who was engaged to Lucy ends up losing his rightful inheritance because of the engagement. Mainly because Lucy is poor and marrying her could in no way uplift the Ferrars family. However, after losing everything and going back to Oxford; Lucy breaks off the engagement in favor of Edward's brother, Robert. Who has now become the eldest son and will inherit all the money that Edward lost. Of course Robert suffers because of his entanglement with Lucy, but, it does not last and Edward is treated with indifference. The same happens with Willoughby even though he losing his inheritance because he was a cad and left a young woman in the family way and alone. So he breaks off his relationship with Marianne in order to run and find wealthy wife. Upon Marianne's entering London and sending word to him that she had arrived he does everything in his power to avoid her. Willoughby, after seeing her at a party decides to break all ties with her and rather nastily. We later find out that he is not the real author of the letter in a long conversation in which he explains himself to Elinor. Its rather heartbreaking and even though Elinor has to check her emotions to help mend his sisters broken heart. She knows that concealing her heart break over Edward and Lucy is for the best and that expressing it will get her no where. In better words she is just giving into Marianne's self centeredness and need to hog the spotlight. 

What I really enjoyed about the book was that it showed how messy and unpredictable relationships can be. Austen crafted this one beautifully, perfectly and it pulled at the heart strings. What I did miss however were the direct declarations of love that we see in Pride and Prejudice. While they do happen in the novel, they happen in directly. Willoughby and Colonel Brandon declare their love for Marianne directly to Elinor. Who never really gets a declaration of love at all. The love between her and Edward is a lasting and true one none the less but I would have loved to see more. Also, I missed the wit of Pride and Prejudice. The characters are more ridiculous than funny. I honestly must say that I gave this book four stars. It will still be counted as one of my all time favorites.

Quotes that I loved:

"The unkindness of your own relations has made you astonished to find friendship anywhere"

"You ought not to speak in this way, either of Mrs. Willoughby or my sister. You have made your own choice. It was not forced on you. Your wife has a claim to your politeness, to your respect, at least. She must be attached to you, or she would not have married you. To treat her with unkindness, to speak of her slightingly is not atonement to Marianne - not can I suppose it a relief to your own conscience"

"Do not talk to me of my wife, said he with a heavy sigh. She does not deserve your compassion. She knew I had no regard for her when we married"

"The whole of his behavior, replied Elinor, from the beginning to the end of the affair, had been grounded on selfishness. It was selfishness which made him sport with your affections; which afterward, when his own were engaged, made him delay he confession of it, and which finally carried him from Barton...."

"At present, continued Elinor, he regrets what he has done. And why does he regret it? Because he finds it has not answered towards himself. It has no made him happy."

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