In which Jane Austen pokes fun at everything, including herself

I am now reading Northanger Abbey. So far, I absolutely love this book. love love love

I have been amused from page 1. I have fallen in love with our heroine, Catherine Morland, who by all intents and purposes, is nothing like Marianne or Elenor Dashwood. Catherine enjoys playing Cricket with her brothers and this makes me love her.

What's more is I adore the way Austen is writing. It's satirical and I love satire. Jane Austen was a smart ass. I love it.

When Miss Morland grows up to be lovely, she's invited to Bath by some family friends. This is where she meets Mr. Tilney who, as of right now, I suspect is supposed to be a love interest but I think he's actually gay. Maybe. He knows way too much about women's fashions.

Miss Morland also befriends Miss Isabella Thorpe. We're talking they're BFF. And besides going on walks together or sitting in the Pump-Room (whatever that is. I will seriously research that at some point), they read novels. Not just any novels. They read Gothic novels. And apparently, reading novels made society look down on you, because Austen goes off on a rant about how just because it's not a book about English History, it doesn't mean it's any less worthy of being read.

Miss Morland is reading Udolpho and I love how she tries to bring up the book in any conversation she has. Because that's how I am when I'm reading a book. I think my husband might be slightly sick of hearing about Northanger Abbey at this point.

Miss Morland meets Miss Thorpe's brother and while talking with him, she brings up Udolpho.

"I think you must like Udolpho, if you were to read it; it is so very interesting." (Miss Morland)

"Not I, faith! No, if I read any, it shall be Mrs. Radcliffe's: her novels are amusing enough; they are worth reading; some fun and nature in them." (Mr. Thorpe)

"Udolpho was written by Mrs. Radcliffe," said Catherine, with some hesitation, from fear of humiliating him.

ahahahahahahahaha

Sorry, but that cracked me up. I wonder if Austen had a conversation with a man like that and this was her way of saying "ha ha! stupid man!" 

Northanger Abbey was written in 1799 or around there and was the first novel to be finished for publication, but wasn't published until after Austen's death. I just thought that was an interesting piece of information for you. 

I am on Chapter 8, page 51. I am loving this book!