Northanger Abbey

I was genuinely surprised, when I realized that I was breezing through this novel, as opposed to the uphill rocky climb that her other books are(looking at you, Mansfield Park.)
Either I have gotten used to her style of writing or this is unusually simple and would be a great first book for readers new to Austen. Also, it might have helped that the heroine herself is half the time clueless about whatever that's going on around her.

It's the early 19th century, there are no telephones, no internet. And our 18y/o heroine is naïve and has no idea about the ways of the world. She's a tomboy and has a penchant for ‘horrid' novels. She visits Bath with her friendly neighbors for 6 weeks, where she makes friends and finds love; only things get a little awkward, when she decides to incorporate a little of those novels into daily life; immersive experience you know. That plotline doesn't take much of space, though. It is a character driven, humor predominant novel leaving nothing much definitive in the way of a plot.

There is a general format that Austen follows, which I believe, the readers tend to expect, one they have read 3 or 4 of her books. All her novels depend heavily on characters. Once a character is introduced, there is a subconscious “ waiting” taking place, as we read through lines - waiting for the description of this character. She doesn't lightly introduce her characters, make them say/do things and leave. An elaborate description always follows, that sets the foundation. At the end of the book, there are no picturesque sceneries or incredible plot twists that remains in my mind. There are only people, talking.

There is a thin paste of humor, spread evenly throughout the novel. You know, the kind that's funny, but you aren't exactly rolling on the floor. Also the author chats with the reader. It's incredible if you think, it's actually communication transcending 2 centuries, and they are addressing you. Anyway, I think it makes the book more...loveable.

If you have read other Austen novels and haven't read this yet, please do. If you'd like to start reading Austen, this would be a good first book, on a par with PP. Although having read that a long time back, it demands a second reading for a just comparison. If you have read the book and came just to read my review, hello. If you don't even plan on reading, what are you doing here?

ps mandatory quotes in review:
“Where people wish to attach, they should always be ignorant. To come with a well informed mind is to come with an inability of administering to the vanity of others , which a sensible person should always wish to avoid. A woman especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything , should conceal it as well as she can““It would be mortifying to the feelings of many ladies, could they be made to understand how little the heart of a man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire...Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone.“” No man is offended by another man's admiration of the woman he loves; it is the woman only who can make it a torment”Just so that the list doesn't look like dating tips out of an 18th century magazine, I'll add one more, “The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”