Northanger Abbey is an interesting take on the gothic genre. It's the story of a charming yet disillusioned girl, who finally gets the chance to escape the monotony of her everyday life, and experience the 'fantasies', both good and bad, about which she loves to read.. . The standout aspect of this novel is by far in a way what Austen has to say about books, reading and the gothic genre. All other aspects sort of just served to aid in its portrayal, and as a result, weren't overly exciting. . Catherine's character, and others that Austen places at the forefront of the story, were very well-written. They were interesting to read about individually, but also created great relationship dynamics when they interacted. Character motivations like Catherine's naivety, while annoying at times, did make sense in terms of the narrative, and did a lot to cement the credibility of the plot. . On that note, the book's plot was also well-written. The first half was very simple, following seemingly mundane events in Catherine's life like nature walks and balls. But the second half complicates things, accompanied by a change in scenery. This, I thought, was also well-written especially given the number of secrets and miscommunications amongst the characters, but I wish Austen had given us more gothic upon Catherine's arrival at Northanger Abbey, just to juxtapose it against what the readers actually know is happening by the end of the novel. . So yeah, I actually really enjoyed Northanger Abbey. Some aspects did seem rather simplistic, but I think in most cases it works in favour of the story. I'd recommend if you're interested in the frivolous lifestyles of 18/19th century, middle class people with a dash of supernatural gothic elements. . Rating; 3 ★'s #emdawgreviews