Rating: 
Summary: an unpolished first novel
Review: More lighthearted and less polished than Austen's other novels, "Northanger Abbey" is the chronicle of its heroine's adventures in turn-of-the-nineteenth-century British genteel society. Catherine, of marriageable age and reasonably attractive and well bred, goes on holiday to Bath, where she meets the gentlemanly Mr. Tilney and befriends the fickle Isabelle and her callow brother John. Her adventures in Bath and, later, in the home of her new acquaintances comprise the plot of Austen's mocking tale.As usual, Austen is mocking the meeting-and-mating customs of then-contemporary Britain. But she is also mocking the gothic novels of the day: Catherine, influenced by the lowbrow literature she reads, is forever attributing dark motives to her acquaintances and skeletons to their closets. "Northanger Abbey" is unusual among Austen's works in that it attacks not only the society in which its heroine operates, but the heroine herself. Catherine is easily manipulated and slow to learn from her mistakes, and she bumbles into her eventual happy ending completely by accident, none the wiser for her troubles. And Austen makes clear, at the book's opening, that she does not wish to attack the novelists who write the books from which Catherine derives many of her false ideas: the error is Catherine's misapplication of the stories' lessons. Although it was not published until after its author's death, "Northanger Abbey" is clearly a first novel. Its tone is different from the main body of Austen's work, and its quality is lower. While a pleasant read, the book is not particularly compelling and would probably be most enjoyable for Austen aficionados seeking a comprehensive study of her work.
Rating: 
Summary: Jane Austen blows her chance to be a great mystery writer
Review: This is a very amusing novel, and Cathereine Morland's adventures in Bath are very entertaining. But after she gets to Northanger Abbey it is a bit of a letdown. When she starts to suspect that General Tilney has done away with his wife, how much better it would have been if that had, in fact, been the case. naturally Catherine would find the proof to convict the General. It could have been the start of a gret mystery series, under the general title of the Morland Mysteries, or Miss Morland Investigates. Hnery Tilney could have been her amiable but obtuse sidekick, poor old henry, he never gets the murderer's identity right. Miss Austen missed a golden opportunity here. It's not that I don't like her novels, I do very much, it's just that I think they'd be better if there were more murders in them.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable ... for a first novel
Review: When Jane Austen sold her first book to her first publisher. He locked it up and did not intend to ever publish it. This was probably because it was entertaining but still the work of an amateur. Worth a read and not only because it can help you understand the growth of Jane Austen as an authoress. Catherine Morland, an unlikely heroine as Jane states herself,
is invited to go to Bath with her neighbors. Where she learns what society is all about and the difference between reality and imagination.
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely delightful
Review: I approached this book somewhat warily, knowing that Northanger Abbey was to some degree a satirical take on the immense popularity of Gothic romances such as Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho, a book I dearly love. Happily, Austen's means of poking fun at Gothic horror literature are far from mean-spirited and, as a matter of fact, can be delightfully humorous indeed. Her heroine, Catherine Morland, is by no means the type of heroine to be found in the giant tomes of Radcliffe and her indulgent imitators, as Austen tells her reading audience directly from the very start. "Almost attractive" on a good day, this unintellectual tomboy has reached her fifteenth year without inspiring a young man's fancy, nor would she be able to delight him with musical skill or even draw his profile in her secret notebooks if she had. Having encountered no strangers who would prove to be a lord or prince in disguise, her heroic ambitions seem stymied at best until fate steps in and grants her a stay of several weeks in the delightful town of Bath. Making her transition from naïve girl to equally naïve young lady, Catherine almost immediately falls quite in love with young Henry Tilney, while at the same time she becomes intimate friends with an older young lady named Isabella, whose inconstancy as both friend and intended beloved of Catherine's own brother eventually brings her much pain. To her intense delight, however, Catherine is invited by General Tilney, Henry's father, to spend some few weeks in his home, Northanger Abbey. Her joy at spending such private time in the company of her beloved and new best friend Eleanor Tilney is immense, but equally exciting to her is the chance to spend time in a mysterious former abbey of the sort she has read so much about. Such Gothic romances as Udolpho have been the source of her recent heroic training, and she is wildly desirous and fully expectant of discovering hidden passages, dark secrets, frightening circumstances, and possibly even incalcitrant perfidy in the halls of her beloved's family home. Her overactive imagination runs wild in Northanger Abbey, bringing her a fair share of embarrassment, but the very sweet and tender sensibilities that fuel her fire for Gothic mystery make her all the more endearing to me. Catherine is remarkably innocent, and as such she is absolutely delightful in my eyes. Much of the story does fit in with your typical Gothic novel, but the frightening and dismaying things Catherine eventually discovers are of a far from supernatural sort. Ever so gradually, a true monster slowly coalesces from the pages of this remarkable novel. I, like young Catherine, was somewhat overenthusiastic concerning the Gothic qualities of this adventure I feel I shared with her, and the truly despicable thoughts and actions of the book's villain did not immediately strike me as forcefully as they should have; the afterword by Elizabeth Hardwick included in my Signet Classic copy of the book, however, served to make me fully comprehend its import. Greed, selfishness, pride-these are the horrors of Northanger Abbey, and it does deeply hurt a reader of romantic sensitivity to stand idly by, unable to aid and assist a sweet young lady such as Catherine in her time of despair and emotional suffering. Lovers of Gothic horror or literature in general will surely find nothing but delight in the pages of Northanger Abbey. Austen's critique of Gothic literature is quite subdued, and I actually find immense pleasure in the overindulgence the author sometimes employs in her attempts to satirize it. Written by Austen at a tender age (though not published until the year following her death), Northanger Abbey features incredibly human, complex characters full of wit and charm. The hidden motives of seemingly delightful friends is brought to light, teaching young Catherine as well as the reader a painful lesson in real life, yet romance stands at the ready to right the wrongs of self-interest, deception, and greed. I absolutely adore this novel and everything about it.
Rating:
Summary: More fun than a Harlequin Romance!
Review: Northanger Abbey is a lighthearted, sweet, satire....
This is only my second Jane Austen novel, I read Pride and Prejudice before this, and while NA doesn't have the substance of P&P, it is no less entertaining. The story deals with the familiar Austen themes of social mores and the pursuit of a suitable husband, but in this novel it receives a fun and lively treatment which will keep you turning the pages, by turns rooting for and laughing at Catherine, swooning over Henry, and cheering when Isabella gets her just desserts! I maybe the only woman to read Jane Austen for the first time at the age of forty, but I can't wait to read everything else she's written.....I've already bought them all. She's that much fun!
Rating:
Summary: Not What I Expected
Review: This was my first Jane Austen novel, very much against the recommendation of others. The novel does not paint detailed pictures, but the cleverness of Austen's wit is worth the read in itself. I was disturbed in a one place where Austen broke the continuity of the story for a personal rant, but overall the subtly and intricacy of the plot was much more than I expected, and in the later half of the book I was particularly on edge. I also think that this would be a good book for young people trying to understand relationships. Austen very powerfully demonstrates the underlying manipulation and frivolity that so often accompanies young men and women.
Rating:
Summary: KES Evenstar
Review: The herione is Catherine Morland. This novel talks of her entering society. But then she's invited to a spooky old abbey like in her gothic novels and daydreams, she begins to suspect her friends wrongly and not suspicious enough of her enemies. She eventually sees reality without dark-colored glasses, and realizes that she is not living in a book. And in life, actions come with humiliation.
Rating:
Summary: A biting satire, with comedy and Gothic romance
Review: "Northanger Abbey" is a wandering book that doesn't really know where it is going. The first half is typical Austin fare, a heroin at Bath questing for a dear friend and a dearer husband. The cast of characters is complete; a nutty, vacant aunt, a dear best friend, a handsome but intolerable man... Then, it evolves into a biting pastiche of Gothic romance. It appears a little bit like she got bored with the novel halfway through, and decided to write something more interesting. The setting changes from society-haunted, frivolous Bath to the dark, shadow-haunted stone walls of Northanger Abbey. While not as charming as Austin's other books, "Northanger Abbey" is enjoyable for all it quirks. The dialog has that spark of wit necessary for enjoyment, and the writing, while not fully evolved, still evokes the same satisfaction that one gets from later Austin books. By no means should this be your first Jane Austin novel, but neither should it remain unread.
Rating:
Summary: My least favorite of Austen's novels, hence the 5 stars!
Review: I now want to explain myself: Jane Austen is the world's greatest author and everything she writes is wonderful. I just think her other books deserve 10 or more stars. NORTHANGER ABBEY compared to most books is just fabulous. I read this book every few years and am amazed at how much more I dislike General Tilney. Maybe I am imagining how angry I would be if he did to my daughter what he does to Catherine. But I did enjoy reading about the terrible Thorpe siblings. They are deliciously atrocious! Catherine Moreland, the heroine of this delightful novel is a seventeen year old who has the marvelous good luck of accompanying a wealthy couple to Bath. The people she meets in Bath all shape the next year of her life. And, as in all of Austen's books, there are villains; but, as usual, the girl always gets her guy (or visa-versa) in the end! This is why I love Austen!
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: Northanger Abbey was a good novel to read. It's not too long or short. It is very funny. Catherine, the main character, in the first is described fabulously as what you could call in these days as a ruff and tumble girl. However, Northanger Abbey's ending is disapointing. Nothing really is solved (opposite to other Austen novels)Catherine's marriage just brings in more upcoming problems. So the ending is like a cliff hanger. Some of it is rather spooky like when they actaully get to Northanger Abbey. But, if you expect this to be a horror novel; it is definetely not. Some parts maybe might be called scary, but its not a scary book as a whole. It may be a bit creepy in some parts but mostly not. Moreover, I liked this book.
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