Northanger Abbey was one of the last Jane Austen novels I had yet to read.  I immensely enjoyed each one of them, so I had high expectations.  Even so, I was blown away.

If I had to recommend only one Jane Austen novel, it would be this one.  It’s the most relatable, the most understandable, the most real.  And it’s funny.  Not only does Jane Austen’s comic wit shine through, but some scenes are quite difficult to not just laugh out loud: like when Catherine gets carried away by her gothic romance fantasies, or when there are misunderstandings between characters, and when poor Catherine gets a swallow of peer pressure.  Yet this laughter is more empathetic, for one fully understands what Catherine, Henry, or any of the characters are experiencing.

These characters and the situations they get themselves into are quite realistic.  They are a bit exaggerated from real life, and especially from modern times, but not that much.  Sometimes when I get a bit carried away by my imagination I feel just like Catherine, the heroine of the story.  The characters’ flaws prove they are human and make them more likeable, because they are no different from us, not like a perfect Fanny Price from Mansfield Park.  The predicaments they get into aren’t quite as black and white as they may seem, no different from our lives.

I feel that a lot of people are missing out on Jane Austen novels.  Whatever the negative mentality surrounding her novels is, it is unwarranted and undeserved.  Northanger Abbey is nearing its 200th birthday, yet is still as relatable as it was when it was published in 1817.  Hope to see you at Northanger Abbey soon!