Northanger Abbey Read-Along: Discussion 4

The Read-Along is hosted by Amber on her blog at Seasons of Humility. Head on over there and check out this weeks news, information and comments.

Week 4 Questions:

1. If you were Captain Tilney's sibling, would you say something to him about his behavior toward Isabella? Or if you were Isabella's friend, would you try to warn or correct her? What do you think of Henry's reaction to Catherine's concern about the situation?

I guess I might be a bit more bold than Catherine and probably would have chewed her Isabella out for flirting with Captain Tilney. Especially if it were my brother involved. But Catherine's eyes are starting to become open where Isabella and her brother are concerned so maybe if the relationship with Catherine's brother and Isabella breaks off there will be much relief? In these chapters there really isn't much to see of Isabella and her creepy brother though, so we don't know how that is progressing. 
2. After reading all about Northanger Abbey, what are your thoughts of the place? Is it anything like you were expecting? Would you ever want to visit or live there if you could?

I guess I was expecting more of the gothic look like Catherine was. But other than that I really had no expectations. I'm not very visual when I read so I don't tend to get caught up in the descriptions of places. My impression is that it has a lot of rooms though and kind of sprawly which I wouldn't really care for. I also guess if I were on a tour of the countryside it would be a nice stop to visit, but probably not live there. I'm more a cozy cottage kind of gal! But if it had a turret I might be interested...I've always wanted a turret! 
3. How do you feel about Catherine's thoughts and behavior in this section? Was it all harmless intrigue, or do you thinks it's possible to be too caught up in daydreams and fictional worlds?

I think Henry set her up for her imagination to run wild in this section. After all she is an impressionable 17 year old girl. She is totally into the gothic novels of the day that scare the pants off a person and then he adds his story to the pot...poor Catherine didn't have a chance upon arriving there! 

Favorite Quotes:

"And are you prepared to encounter all the horrors that a building such as 'what one reads about' may produce? Have you a stout heart? Nerves fit for sliding panels and tapestry?"

See the set up? Henry is egging her imagination on and she is too young to get that.

"But now you love a hyacinth. So much the better. You have gained a new source of enjoyment, and it is well to have as many holds upon happiness as possible. Besides, a taste for flowers is always desirable in your sex, as a means of getting you out of doors, and tempting you to more frequent exercise than you would otherwise take: and though the love of a hyacinth may be rather domestic, who can tell, the sentiment once raised, but you may in time come to love a rose?"

Tongue in cheek much? ha!

"At any rate, however, I am pleased that you have learnt to love a hyacinth. The mere habit of learning to love is the thing; and a teachableness of disposition in a young lady is a great blessing."

More like the gullibleness of a young lady...

"Catherine had read too much not to be perfectly aware of the case with which a waxen figure might be introduced, and supposititious funeral carried on."

Wow, she really had herself convinced that Henry's father was a dastardly dude capable of perpetrating such a devious ruse. She really needs to stop reading those "horrid" books! 

Thoughts on these chapters:

Is Catherine really heroine material? She seems so young and naive sometimes it makes me wonder if she is even old enough to have a "love" interest. Anyway, these chapters tend to just plod along, I honestly have to say I was more impressed with the beginning of the book rather than these last several chapters. I still love Austen's tongue-in-cheek wit and observation of human character that comes out sometimes unexpectedly. I then find myself snort-laughing as was the case with the hyacinth dialog. Sometimes I find that wit so subtle that I have to go back and re-read something to make sure I read it correctly the first time! 



One more week to go. I wonder what these last chapters will bring? I'm so curious to find out what happens with Isabella and also what seems to be the great "secret" at Northanger, if there is such a secret. Head over to Amber's blog and check out all of the information about the watch-along coming up on March 31. 

Until next week!