Hello friends! I always love when we read Jane Austen together and this month was of course, no exception! This was my first time reading the delightful Northanger Abbey which was so witty it had me laughing out loud. Find our discussion questions below and feel free to share your overall thoughts via the comment box at the bottom of this page ❤️
Discussion Questions:
1. Northanger Abbey was the first book Jane Austen sold, but one of the last published. Did you feel that there was any evidence that this was an early work of Jane’s?
2. At the beginning of the book, Jane Austen explains that Catherine Morland isn’t much of a heroine. Do you agree? What makes her different from the typical female lead character?
3. Readers often have mixed feelings about Henry Tinley. What do you think of him?
4. The reader is told immediately that Catherine does not object to books so long as “nothing like useful knowledge could be gained from them” and they are “all story and no reflection.” What do you think of this statement? Do you prefer to use literature for escapism vs. gaining knowledge?
5. Do you have a favorite quote from the book?
6. Feel free to share any other thoughts you have!
2. At the beginning of the book, Jane Austen explains that Catherine Morland isn’t much of a heroine. Do you agree? What makes her different from the typical female lead character?
3. Readers often have mixed feelings about Henry Tinley. What do you think of him?
4. The reader is told immediately that Catherine does not object to books so long as “nothing like useful knowledge could be gained from them” and they are “all story and no reflection.” What do you think of this statement? Do you prefer to use literature for escapism vs. gaining knowledge?
5. Do you have a favorite quote from the book?
6. Feel free to share any other thoughts you have!
Mary Beth Gale says
This was my second time reading Northanger Abbey and I liked it better than the first time. I remembered that Catherine was a bit of a ninny, but she seemed much funnier to me in the second reading. Her idea that books should be for entertainment, not learning seemed in keeping with many a 17-year-old. I also loved to laugh at some of the characters. Like dimwitted Mrs. Allen, selfish Isabella, and her blow-hard brother John Thorpe. the book ends rather abruptly. I would have liked to read just a bit more. I watched the movie with Felicity Jones on Youtube and found it delightful. The acting is excellent and the casting of all the actors is great. And the costumes!!! I loved JJ Feild in the role of Henry Tilney and thought Felicity Jones was perfect as Catherine.
Ambra says
I haven’t read the movie the book this month but I also watched the movie on YouTube! The setting is wonderful and I liked how Catherine was portrayed. One of the thing I like most about Jane Austen is how she is able to show all the characters’ flows without any sense of arrogance or superiority but with plenty of compassion.
Jessica says
I’d never read Northanger Abbey before and found it a bit more difficult to settle into as opposed to other Austen works. Once I did, however, I found it utterly charming – and as a parent of a 13 year old, somewhat familiar with the insidious peer pressure from Isabela and wild imaginations of Catherine.
Karen Werth says
It was my first time reading Northanger Abbey, but I had seen the movie which I thought delightful. I enjoyed the book and reading it, knowing it was her first novel, led me to appreciate how we see her grow as a novelist and in character development as she wrote more novels. I always enjoy the way she makes you laugh at the absurdities that women had to endure during that time period. In this story it’s the character of Mr. Thorpe and the way he looks at women and their roll in life and how it’s obvious he has to control their relationship. Granted that Catherine is young and lacking in knowledge of society when she arrives in Bath, but it doesn’t take her long to find him annoying. Her view of books is probably typical for women at that time also. Then we have Henry who comes to care for her over time. I felt he was a kind of Mr. Darcy figure, there is one of him in every book, one of my favorites being Captain Wentworth in Persuasion. It was a good read and a nice addition to my collection of Austen’s books. Thank you for including this on your reading list for us. Karen
Ronda Kelley says
Wow! I am surprised at the number of people reading Northanger Abbey for the first time. I thought I had read it before, but once I started I didn’t recall reading it before so I think it was my first time too! Perhaps I had started it before but never finished. I found it utterly charming and laughed numerous times throughout. I really liked it! I am planning on watching the movie too as others have done, and I don’t believe I have ever seen the movie either. I absolutely adored the friendship between Catherine and Eleanor! And oh my, what a tyrant Isabella turned out to be! The story absolutely engrossed me and I could barely turn away as I wanted to know if Henry would finally declare his feelings and intentions towards Catherine. I’m so glad it had a happy ending!! I agree with Mary Beth’s comment that she found it end abruptly, as I did too! One of my favorite quotes was this (yes I had to stop & write it down after I read it because I loved it so much!) “There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not in my nature. My attachments are always excessively strong” There is so much beauty in those words, and I can relate! 🙂
Megan says
1. I can sort of see how Northanger Abbey was an early work on Austen’s. I felt as though Catherine wasn’t a fully developed character and seemed a bit immature at times. But, while it isn’t my favorite Austen work, I feel it was very well-written.
2. I agree that Catherine isn’t much of a heroine. She doesn’t stand up for herself until the very last second. She follows Isabella around and lets her call the shots.
3. I thought Henry was just ok as a character. He seemed similar to Catharine…not a very strong or well-developed character.
4. I don’t completely agree with Catherine in that you can still reflect on a book that is all story and gain something from it. I prefer escapism over gaining knowledge. But sometimes you can still gain knowledge while escaping.
5. I had many favorite quotes…
“Oh! I am delighted with the book! I should like to spend my whole life in reading it.”
“Beware how you give your heart.”
“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”