Northanger Abbey

Chapter 31

What an unsatisfactory way to end a book?!!!!!

Quick Rundown

Eleanor gets married

Begs her father to allow Henry and Catherine to marry

as Catherine's parents would ony give their consent if the General did

THEN

they DO get married

NO wedding details

and the book ends with

"I leave it to be settled, by whomsoever it may concern, whether the tendency of this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny, or regard filial disobedience."

What kind of ending is THAT???

Stay tuned for the conclusion

♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 30

Finally some action!! Henry Tilney arrives, oh how I like his character! We finally get to see/hear the Generals Secrets! Now we know what he is all about. Mr Thorpe told crazy lies to General Tilney. He did it because he thought HE would be marrying Catherine. General Tilney didn't do his own research, assumed Catherine was rich! Then once General Tilney left; he met up with Thorpe again (accidental) and Thorpe told him the exact opposite! You would think the General would look more carefully into things! Anyways long story short Henry is outraged by his father's actions, and has come to offer his hand to our dear Catherine.

Finally a WEDDING

♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 29

And now she is home I love her arrival at home she is surrounded by people who truly love her and she feels that love! Their love is temporary happiness though, Catherine seems to be moping. I think she is very much in love with Henry Tilney.

Again we met Mrs Allen who continues to love her her clothes more than anything.

♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 28

General Tilney leaves and finally Catherine, Eleanor, and Henry are free to laugh and chat! THey have a grand time, enjoying each others company. Even when Henry, has to leave the two girls have fun!

And then disaster strikes (I love disasters!!) and Captain Tilney arrives, just after Catherine talks herself into being civil to him. Eleanor opens the door and delivers more bad news. They are leaving (aka the Tilneys)!! And they are sending Catherine away, unaccompanied!! Unaccompanied, is something you don't hear of in those days.

She has to leave ht next morning at 7! The manner is which she is kicked out is horrible. I can not believe that Captain Tilney AND General Tilney (who has requested Catherine to leave, through Captain Tilney) left it up to poor Eleanor to till Catherine.

I am super curious as to why she is being kicked out, but I bet Miss Isabella Thorpe has something to do with it.

♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 27

Isabella writes! How Ironic, to believe Isabella had the guts to make such claims or even the guts to write! She of course claims to hate Captain Tilney (though her letter is full of him) and she claims to not understand why James left and desperately wants wants Catherine to write to him on her behalf.

But this time Catherine isn't a fool (about time she grew up some) and she is disgusted with Isabella. Though Catherine still has a strong dislike for Captain Tilney she is happy that he is not engaged to Isabella. Eleanor and Henry too are happy to hear their brother is safe.

♥ Namine ♥

Inspiration Quote - Jane

How perfect is this inspirational quote written by Jane Austen from the book Emma? "One cannot have too large a party-"

found on Under the Sheets-Shhh
♥ Namine ♥

The Movies

Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Elhe made in 1995. I LOVED IT!! It was so wonderful and it totally didn't matter to me that it was 300 mins, which turns into 5 hours. I have to say, I am keeping the version on my computer and will probably play through my favorite parts. The ending was my favorite, I was trying not to 'jump' off my sit while watching, I just wanted to know how it ended.

Emma (1996) with Gwyneth Paltrow. Was not a fan of this movie. As I haven't read the book, I do not know how to compares. But I was not a fan of the main character Emma. She acted like a selfish spoiled child and it was rather annoying. The end she kinda grew up, but in general I wasn't impressed with the movie.

More Jane Austen Movies Later

♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 26

And now they visit Woodston, which is Henry Tilney's home. He doesn't like at Northanger Abbey, just visits. Woodston is actually a full town! It's spoked of as if he owes the whole place. Though I suppose in that day and age he probably did own the whole town and everything in it (if I remember my English history well enough, the rich owed everything and the poor 'rented' and worked for the rich)

Catherine in a way has layed claim to the house, stating how she would decorate a room!! Do they ever get married?!?! The book is almost over!!

♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 25

Well after being caught poor Catherine gives into quite the pity party. She thinks Henry no longer likes her! But she realizes how crazy her little fantasys were. I am a little disappointed by the fact that so far there has been no hidden secrets to be found. However Catherine still thinks something is up with Generally Tilney and that's what keeps my interest.

I find it interesting how Catherine waits for aa letter from Isabella. though I suppose we, the readers, know more about Isabella that Catherine does.

Anyways we finally have a letter 10 days into Catherine's stay (wonder how long mail took back then??), it's from James though Cahterine's older brother. He is the fool who got engaged to Isabella. The letter bears bad news, stating that Isabella and James engagement is now off and Isabella is now engaged to Captian Tilney.

Catherine tells Eleanor and Henry, even though she originally had planned not too. They are confused as to why such a thing would happen. They wonder what type of girl Isabella is. Oh, and Catherine finally sees Isabella's true Character. Hopefully things will get interesting.

♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 24

Catherine and Eleanor start to explore!! But then they sorta get caught, Catherine's reaction is hilarious, does she ever have an imagination!! She doesn't want to get Eleanor in trouble, so decideds to explore on her own only to be caught by Henry Tilney!! Of course, he lectures her, all he seems to do is lecture her. Catherine's reaction is to room to her room 'with tears of shame'

It is strange now, Jane has changed the names. At the beginning of the book everyone was Miss, or Mr or something formal like that. But now we have Henry or Eleanor. I suppose that means that Catherine's relationship has changed with them. She doesn't know them just formally anymore.

♥ Namine ♥

Jane Austen Quiz

Take the Quiz here!

♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 23
Dishabille means the state of being dressed in a careless, disheveled, or disorderly style or manner, undress. Sentence used in "Whenever they went, some pattened girl stopped to curtsy or some footman in dishabille sneaked off.
General Tilney is rather annoying, he should leave the girls alone and allow them tp explore on their own. Mrs Tilney has been dead for 9 years (that would make Eleanor 22 years old) and yet her chambers are still exactly as they were.
What is meant by this statement
"It was the air and attitude of a Montoni!"
Okay what! Catherine thinks Mrs Tilney is alive and locked up!! She does have quite the imagination that's for sure.
♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 22
Hyacinth Sentence used in "What beautiful hyacinths, I have just learnt to love a hyacinth."So Catherine doens't like Gerneal Tilneys and she thinks he was abusive. Of course that's not the words that Jane Austen used, but that's the feeling I get from the chapter. She feels pained to hang out with him now. I wonder what kind of secret the Tilneys are hiding. Oh and finally we hear about Mrs Tilney. Appartently she died when Eleanor was 13. Not sure how old Eleanor is now. I wish Catherine and Eleanor would talk alone. I am tired of General Tilney. Though he is better than Isabella in some ways at least Isabella's dialoge was interesting.
♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 21
Very unexpected of Catherine! Snooping!! Even if it was in her own rooms, it's still funny, especially when she gets caught!! Generally Tilney is very strange he hates it when people aren't prompt or delay HIS schedule, but than scolds his daughter for rushing their guest double standards. His thoughts on Mrs Allens house are rather funny as he has never seen them. And I love this sentence.
"Mrs Allens house, he was sure, must be exactly of the true size, for rational happiness."
Hilarious, Catherine in this chapter is so funny. Her exploring and worrying I don't think I could live without my electricity. THis is most definitely my favorite chapter and the most exciting too.

♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 20 - this one is small
Genreal Tilney is overbearing and almost stifling. Plus he does all the talking, it's almost like his children don't exist.

Tilney, Oh Henry Tilney tells thrilling stories so much so it made me wish to read a book by him instead of reading about innocent Catherine, she is so different from my personality that it's hard to stand simple Catherine. It also makes reading difficult.

Poor Catherine is excited to see the Abbey, is now very disappointed. She was expecting small and dingy (thought why she would stay at a small dingy place is beyond me), and here she gets modern furniture (wonder what 'modern' furniture looks like in that day and age) and big windows!!

Progress

20 out of 31 Chapters!!

♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 19

Languid means lacking in spirit or interest Sentence used in "A something of a languid indifference or of that boasted absence of mind which Catherine had never heard before..."

So Catherine has noticed the flirtation! Yet has done almost nothing about it. And then we have Captian Tilney, who knows about the engagement. It's not a secret engagement like I thought. Little Miss Isabella is quite the charmer.

AND Captian Tilney's first name is Fredrick!

But Catherine leaves Bath and hopefully that will be the end of Isabella's stupidity for a while. I am not a fan of silly flirts.

♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 18

Isabella received a letter from John claiming that he basically proposed and that Catherine readily agreed!! The NERVE of the man!! I did expect this, but I did not expect him to assume their engagement because of the conversation Catherine and him had ONCE in Chapter 15! And really its not appropriate for Isabella to be bring such things up. Or for her to even assume that Catherine once said yes and feeling have now changed. Most people's feelings don't change like that, except I suppose that Isahella's did/have changed, so she probably assumes it's like that for everyone. It's like she's trying to justify the fact that she is no longer wishes to marry Catherine's brother by saying Catherine's feelings that changed. And why does she keep mentioned Tilney! Captian Tilney it's almost appalling. The more we see of Isabella the less I like her.

Egregious means extraordinary in some bad way Sentence used in "...and his assertion of the offer and of her encouragement convinced her that his mistakes could sometimes be very egregious."

Catherine 'but Isabella said many things which she hoped had been spoke in haste and would never be said again." Well she doesn't realize yet that Isabella has no intention of marrying James Morland and the reason, of course, being money. She also hasn't figured out that Captian Tilney is the new target.

Sucks to be James Morland, though he is a bit arrogant.

♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 17!
OMG
NORTHANGER ADDEY BELONGS TO THE TILNEYS!!! I thought the selfish Thorpes resided there. And to top it all off the Tilney's invited Catherine to Northanger Abbey!! This is such good news I thought I would have to put up with the Thorpes for the rest of the book. But the Tilney's are so much nicer. No deception yet on their side yet.

By the way isn't an abbey like a church or something??

Edifices means a building, especially one of large size or imposing appearance.
"Her passion for ancient edifices was next in her degree to her passion for Henry Tilney..."

I wonder are the Tilneys worse than the Thorpes. I am sooo worried they might be. I wand Catherine to have a happy time there and to fall in love with Tilney. But he's brooding manner in the last few chapters have me worried.

The description of Northanger feels odd. It sounds like they are living in a half-destroyed chruch where Nuns died (in not pleasant ways)! and it also seems to be like a secret hidden fortress or something.

Curiosity!!

♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapters 16
Superciliousness (what a word!!) means haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression Sentence used in "To behave to her guest with such superciliousness!"

Contemptible, Inconstancy and Aversion. Sentence used in "How contemptible! Of all things in the world inconstancy in my aversion."
Contemptible means deserving of or held in contempt; despicable
Inconstancy means not constant, changeable, fickle, variable
Aversion means a strong feeling of dislike, opposition, repugnance, or antipathy

Malevolent means wishing evil or harm to another or others; showing ill will; ill-disposed; malicious. Sentence used in "... that Captain Tilney must have heard some malevolent misrepresentation of her..."

Inducement means the act of inducing. Inducing means to lead or move by persuasion or influence, as to some action or state of mind. Sentence used in " 'With you, it is not, How is such a one likely to be influenced? What is the inducement most likely to act upon such a person's feelings, age, situation, and probable habits of like considered? But, How should I be Influenced? What would be my inducement in acting so and so?' "

OH MY GOODNESS!!
TOOO MANY TILNEYS!!
Now we have General Tilney, the father. His two son's Captian Tilney, introduced in this chapter and our dear (apparently brooding, in this chapter anyways) Mr Tilney, who's first name is Henry. And of course, their sister Miss Eleanor Tilney! Who in the family next will show up? All these Tilneys are getting confusing.

And now we have James Morlands letter stating he will get 400 pounds a year (which at the current Canadian rate 400 pounds equals $704.75! That's a whole 58.73 a MONTH!! And I thought I had financial issues!). Isabella looks grace indeed!! But she passes it off as grief overf the fact that they can not marry for another two and a half years. Wonder how long this secret engagement will last.
Catherine needs to learn to trust her intuition better. That would make things easier.

♥ Namine ♥

Northanger Abbey

Chapter 15
effusion means the act of effusing or pouring forth. Effusing means to pour out or forth, shed. Sentence used in "Maria's intelligence concluded that a tender effusion of pity for her sister Anne..."

penetration (have never heard it used this way before) means mental acuteness, discernemnt, or insight. Sentence used in " 'Yes, my dear Catherine, it is so indeed, your penetration has not deceived you.' "

connexion meaning the act of state of connecting. Connexion Isabella and James union, is how I would understand that. Sentence used in "Delighting, however, as Catherine sincerely did in the prospect of the connexion it must be acknowledged that Isabella far surpassed her in tender anticipations."

sarsenet and puce Sentence used in
" 'I remember too, Miss Andrews drank tea with us that evening, and wore her puce-coloured sarsenet.' "
Sarsenet means a fine, soft fabric, often of silk, made in a plain or twill wearve and used especially for linings. (found this fun site Accessing Austen when I was searching for an image of Sarsenet)
Puce a dark or brownish purple

eloquence means the practice or art of using language with fluency and aptness. Sentence used in "Catherine wished to congratulate him, but knew not what to say, and her eloquence was only in her eyes."

sagacity means acuteness of mental discernment and soundness of judgement Sentence used in "but Anne and Maria soon set her heart at ease by the sagacity of their "I know what.' ..."

OMG Isabella and James ENGAGED!!
It's dreadfull though I suppose they deserve each other after the way they treated Catherine in the previous chapter. I am confused by the need of secrecy for their engagement, but maybe he just wanted to tell his parents before the news spread around.
Then there's the boldness of stupid Thorpe! I know your suppose to hate him as a character, but... he's so arragont!! makes me want to stomp my foot! It's almost like he was about to propose to Catherine! Though she had no idea and I think she totally misunderstood his mention of an old song "Going to One Wedding brings on Another"
How stupidly naive she is! Does she ever grow up?? I suppose technically all 15 chapter have taken place in two or three weeks time. A girl can't grow up that fast!

Appartently Chatper 15 also marks the end of volumn 1!!
Who knows what happens in Volumn 2!

Predictions
lets see how good I am at guessing (probably not good at all!)

1. Mr Thorpe will eventually proprose to Catherine
2. Also I think Mr Tilney will proprose
(though I have no idea who she will marry)
3. Cather will feel very forced into marrying Thorpe. By everyone except Mr Allen. I think even her parents will pressure her.
4. Miss Tilney will fade from the book
5. Isabella really doesn't love James, but wants money. They Thorpe family seem to think the Morlands have money.
6. We will see more of Isabellas sisters Anne and Marie.

Now to read on!!

♥ Namine ♥