Well I just finished Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen and well I didn’t love it *covers eyes and squirms*. I know I know it’s Austen in August and I shouldn’t be throwing out some non-Jane love but I can’t help it. I really, really wanted to L.O.V.E this book like really. Let me just lay down some of my Jane Austen story so you can see why. When I was around 15 I was having a really tough time.. My father had just left us and was showing signs of the mental illness we don’t even really have a grasp on now 16 years later. My mom was working 2 jobs and going to school and dealing with breast cancer. Money was scarce and school was not going so well either. One weekend a good friend of my moms invited me, my mom and my sister over for dinner and a movie. I can’t remember what we had for dinner but the movie was the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. Now I believe that I would have loved it no matter what but, the timing of it was such that I fell head over hills in love with it. I escaped into this world and it just took me away to Regency England for a while. My moms friend sent us home with a copy of it on VHS! I wore those tapes out literally the tape was worn out from me watching and rewinding so often. It would be years before I would actually read any Austen books but I would go on to watch a bunch of adaptations. When I finally read P&P I loved it just as much as the movie and I quickly followed it up with Sense and Sensibility which I loved too. So going into Northanger Abbey I wanted that feeling I had when I first met P&P but alas it was not to be. Perhaps my expectations were way too high? I don’t know exactly what happened but I could never get into it. I actually started the book months ago I believe in April,after a few chapters I put it down and didn’t pick it up again for a while. I went through this pick up put down thing until I decided to listen to the audiobook. I think the audio version really helped mostly because I loved the voice of the reader. I would listen to some when I could and then read a little and then back to the audiobook. Maybe my problem was Catherine I just didn’t connect with her and I found her to be very naive which got annoying. I know she only 17 but and kind of sheltered but it was something that I couldn’t get past. Also there weren’t any couples to really fall in love with which is kind of a thing I look for in Austen’s work. Over all I liked but did not love the book I just couldn’t get engaged. Next up Mansfield Park which I hear is almost always the least favorite of her works . i am however attempting to read along with The Book Rat so maybe this will help me get through it. I plan to start by reading the physical book but I also have it on audio just in case. Well wish me luck and I will be back with some more Jane Austeny goodness soon. Also head over to Misty at The Book Rat for some more Awesome Austen in August love.
Until Next Time
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