Northanger Abbey

Jane Austen is one author that I have never read until now and by reading Northanger Abbey, I can not say that I have any desire to read another one of her works. This may be a novel defending "the novel," but so what. I found myself angry at the characters for having nothing better to worry about than the dance that was supposed to take place that evening or for missing a walk with some friends. There are so many bigger problems in life than this. Catherine needed to step it up a notch if she truly was concerned for her future and to whom she would be married. She did not work all that hard at finding her future husband. She had her nose stuck in her Gothic novels through the entire novel and lived life by the books. She was not sure where to draw the line between reality and her imagination. She lived life through her imagination. I really do not think that anyone is actually this naive. The unimportance and simplicity of their problems was irritating to me. True this novel followed the general theme of the individual becoming a little more important, but their entire life was spent trying to insure their status in society much like that of the 18th century. I just really did not enjoy Austen's ramblings about the Gothic novel and the importance of the novel and the importance of finding a husband..yada ...yada...yada.