Rating: 
Summary: Positivley splendourous and ecclectically amusing!
Review: This is the novel of young Catherine Morland, who comes into the unfortunate knowledge that reality does not consist of the fantastical realms literature represents it to be. This youung girl learns the value - but dissapointment of friends, the glorious tragedies of society and the ecstacy and agaony of love. Young Catherine takes us through her stay at the affluent city of Bath; with it's balls, theater and propietous atmosphere- her stay with friends at a mysterious, grand abbey and her trip back to her home. The precious, innocent young girl that leaves for Bath is not the same one that auspicioulsy makes the journey home alone and grandoisly changed. This book was funny, it was endearing, it was beutiful. I enjoyed every page. I came to know every character and inclusively feel like I was in Bath myself and aquaintances of these young, boisterous characters. My only complaint is that it is trifingly similar to other novels by the author; but it is exquisite none the less. I whole heartedly enjoyed this novel and will love keeping it for my daughters!
Rating:
Summary: Great Fun
Review: This book really is the story about a girl who lives in her books and learns to live outside of the imaginary world she creates. The book is a satire of the Gothic novel, but I think it is more than that. It's the story how the words one person says may be reflected onto someone else and how they can be interpreted to either enrich or ruin another's life. The way that John Thorpe, in order to make himself look better, "enriched" Catherine's story; the diverging opinions of James & Isabella; the general falseness of Isabella & John; and how the simplest statement can be misconstrued & almost ruin a friendship. Catherine, by living in her novels (aided by Henry, of course), sees things that aren't really there when she visits Northanger Abbey. She makes mountains out of mole-hills. Thankfully, Henry acknowledges the role he had in creating these fantasies and is able to help her laugh it off. This is a great Austen novel, and although you can tell that it was her first, I think it ranks right up there with the others.
Rating: 
Summary: Juliet's reading is wonderful
Review: If you've ever tried to read Northanger Abbey and failed, listen to this audio cassette. Juliet Stevenson is brilliant at portraying all the different characters - the naive, sweet, impressionable Catherine, the deceitful, ambitious, scheming Isabella, her equally odious brother John and the handsome, witty Henry. In fact all of the characters are done full justice to and the humour of the book just shines through. This is Jane Austen at her best, lively, witty, funny and observant and Juliet Stevenson does an absolutely wonderful job of bringing the story to life. When you have listened to the tape you will immediately want to read the book - which is even more brilliant.
Rating:
Summary: Hysterically funny... a wonderful debut novel
Review: While this was one of the last Jane Austen novels published, it was the first one to be written. I read this book before I was familiar with the conventions of the Gothic novel, but this book is a worthy send up of all of those conventions. Even if you are not especially familiar with the works of Anne Radcliffe or Monk Lewis, this novel is worth your time. The opening three pages which describe why Catherine Morland really isn't the heroine type are as funny as anything you'd read today. Other great passages are when Austen defends the reading of fiction in a passionate aside, and when Catherine becomes convinced that General Tilney is keeping his wife locked up in the dungeon of Northanger Abbey. In this book, we have the beginnings of Jane's devastating wit as she tears apart society. We also have the benefit of some witty one liners, flighty characters and hilarious situations. (Of special note is the fact that it would seem that college men have ALWAYS been drinking and swearing type guys... although Austen discretely blanks out the 'dirty' words so as not to offend her readers.) I used to rush home from work to read this book, and was not disappointed in it at all, from beginning to end. This is the best place to start with Austen (well, you could also read her juvenilia if you want... it is more silly than anything, but entertaining nonetheless), and it's definitely a fun read.
Rating:
Summary: I Quite Doat on Northanger Abbey!
Review: Every time I read another Jane Austen novel, I get the insanely anachronistic urge to write her a letter, and tell her how I adore her work. I quite doat on Jane Austen! On a winter holiday in the fashionable resort town of Bath, 17-year old Catherine Morland welcomes everyone she meets into her impressionable, if somewhat dense heart. The refreshingly honest Tilneys (Henry and Eleanor) and the unapologetically vain Thorpes (John and Isabella) form her central acquaintances. "Northanger Abbey" is a charming metafiction in which Catherine, living in a prototypical small village, goes innocently into the world, and cannot help but have her perceptions altered. Catherine's obsession with gothic fiction and Austen's 'cliff notes' narrative technique work together to achieve a briskly-paced, and highly amusing story, unlike anything else of hers that I am familiar with. She does indeed satirize gothic fiction, but also uses this forum to poke gentle fun at the very people who read her own novels, and others like them. To that end, the novel is split between two different ways of reading and understanding - that of Catherine and that of her accidental lover, Henry Tilney. Catherine is the all-believing, undiscerning method, willing to equate the superficial with the real. Henry is the more sophisticated intellect, with a view to the underlying realities of situation and personality. One notable result of these competing epistemologies, is Austen's insistence on acknowledging and legitimizing the literary merit of female authors, and the earnest call for female scholastic and social education beyond knitting, dancing, and romance. To have the fullest understanding of "Northanger Abbey," it is advisable to take some time to first read Radcliffe's "The Mysteries of Udolpho," then compare Catherine to Radcliffe's Emily St. Aubert. Those who dislike "Northanger Abbey" because it is not like "Pride and Prejudice" or "Emma" would place too severe of a limit on the range and depth of Austen's authorial skill. This novel purposely stands on its own as a challenge to the comfort of traditional romance, and is a welcome change of pace.
Rating:
Summary: No skeletons in these closets
Review: In this novel Jane Austen lampoons the gothic romance -- the type of story in which weird things occur with accepted regularity, and nobody has anything but the most intense of emotions. Catherine, the heroine, longs to fall madly in love, so she does so. She visits the house of a friend, coincidentally the sister of her beloved. Northanger Abbey, with its medieval architecture and labyrinthine corridors, inspires Catherine to envision ghostly presences, long-hidden secrets, and hideous crimes kept locked behind closed doors. Of course, Catherine learns that reality is quite different from her grim imaginings. There are no mysteries inside the walls of Northanger Abbey. At the same time as she learns the truth about the abbey, Catherine discovers some realities of love. One is the realization that "true love" is less enigmatic than she had previously believed -- it springs from friendship and the belief that one will be loved in return. A readable, funny, and wise tale from the always practical, delightful Austen.
Rating:
Summary: Northanger Abbey- just wonderful!
Review: I've already read Pride and Prejudice and am now reading Emma. I really like Northanger Abbey though because it's not as serious as the others. Being only 14, I can't always stand a very serious book. It's more relaxing to read. It's not stressful... for the most part. It does have it's suspicious sections, but that's just what keeps it interesting for the people who read for dramas. Still it is pleasent enough for the people who read for simplicities. This one of Jane Austen's books is one that is easyer for anyone to read and requires less of a certain taste.
Rating: 
Summary: A sad, sad attempt...even for my dear Jane
Review: Ok...now I've loved every word of every one of Jane Austen's novels. Except for this one. What was she trying to do? Was this supposed to be a mystery story or a love story ... or, perhaps, it was meant to be a warning poster for how NOT to choose your friends. I'm still not sure, but whatever the "point" may have been...I didn't like this book. I suppose that my largest frustration with this book is that - from the same woman who created incredible, vibrant heroines like Lizzie Bennett and Emma Woodhouse - we get an insipid and easy-to-walk-all-over girl like Catherine. This made no sense to me. I spent the whole book trying desperately to figure out what there was to like about my main character. When I came up empty-handed...it was sorely disappointing. My second problem with this novel was the completely ridiculous attempt to achieve a Jane Eyre-esque suspense. The big, old spooky house and the mean father cliches can only take a reader so far without a little plot behind them to beef it up and make it original. I think that the reason I was so let down by this novel is because I read it last. I read all of Jane Austen's other novels before I got to Northanger Abbey...and I think that in the wake of Sense & Sensibility's greatness, Northanger Abbey just got blown out of the water. Jane Austen die-hard's like myself should not miss this book. If for no other reason than to KNOW why they don't like it. So...read it...just don't go in with high expectations.
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent and definately a classic.
Review: This was excellent! I would recommend this book to any young person who is able to follow sometimes, difficult reading. Jane Austen told the tale wonderfully and explained every thought and feeling vividly and emotionally.
Rating:
Summary: Not consistently interesting
Review: Though it started off with charm and piqued my interest, I raced to finish this book. However, on the whole, I found _Northanger Abbey_ to be a dull story, since it's an obvious imitation of more interesting gothic novels, such as Ann Radcliffe's _The Mysteries of Udolpho_ and _The Italian_, which I also just read. From an intellectual standpoint, I'd read this book again, and recommend it on that basis(probably because I read it for a course). But if you want a good and consistent gothic tale with an ending as strong as the introduction, turn to Radcliffe for starters. Austen's book will give you other references worthy of checking out. Three-and-a-half stars.
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