Persuasion and Northanger Abbey

I think it is that time again.

School's back!



Yes, the holidays and over are the countless days of lying in bed, on sofas or chairs curled up with your latest book. Fortunately however the holidays could not come sooner for a certain someone (myself) because I had officially exhausted my supply of new books to read. I had better stop blabbering and get to my point!
A few weeks ago I posted a blog explaining that I, Captain Libeka, would vow to complete at least three Jane Austen books in the holidays. I am sad to inform you all that I failed. I only managed to read two- 'North anger Abbey' and 'Persuasion'.
So here is my review of my time reading both.

Persuasion
Just a quick word of warning, if you are not a strong reader don't even attempt to read Jane Austen. It would be a long and arduous process which would not at all be very fulfilling.
When I started this book I was very optimistic that I could be able to finish it. I have to admit, that it did take me quite a few months. Austen's style of writing is (obviously) old fashioned and complicated. There are lots of variations between her writing style and one used in modern day.
1. She hardly ever describes people or places. After the brief- "He was a tall, fair skinned man, very handsome"- Jane Austen then focuses on a more in depth description of their personality. While I do find this different but its is slightly boring, I don't really want a page and a half on one persons personality, I would rather a little more attention to their looks (just so that I can actually picture them in my mind) -this is purely personal preference though.
2. She spelt a lot of word differently than what we do these days. For exampled 'Stayed' was spelt 'staid', 'shown' was spelt 'shewn' etc. I noticed this commonly throughout the book and it took a while for me to really get into the book and just read past these differences.
3. Jane Austen didn't write many conversations. In storied these days, the majority of the story line is made up of dialogue. Instead she writes things like "We talked about blah and blah, he asked who I was acquainted with and I responded. He then continued "Oh! I know the Ladies of whom you speak of"; we continued a polite conversation about our similar acquaintances."
While she does write full conversations, I would have liked to seen more of the main characters side to the conversations, she only writes them for important parts of the novel.
The one thing about persuasion that I absolutely hated was the fact that in the ending was so unsatisfying. Although it was 'proper' in those days, I would have liked to hear personal conversations more.
When the pair in this book finally confess their mutual feelings for each other (Don't read if you don't want it too be spoiled for you), the author basically writes "they walk into the garden, where their feelings were shared and the promises for the future were made."
I mean really, this is supposed to be the pinnacle of the book- the point that the whole books had been leading up too, the part which you are dying to read-, where the lost lovers finally admit that they still love each other after 8 long years, and its just "They and exchanged feelings and promises". I would at least have liked a better insight into the conversation.
But for all my complaining this is a wonderful book. Its well written, original and all that jazz. BUT, the main character, Anne, annoys me all the time! You feel like just giving her a push and telling her to reveal her true feelings! Although this is not her fault, it is the propriety of the people of England in that era.
Summary:
Its basically a lady names Anne, who at the age of 19 falls in love with a man who is in the Navy. He, Captain Wentworth, proposes to her but her close friend persuades her out of accepting him because her family is of higher 'breeding' than his and he is not very wealthy. Eight years later however, Captain Wentworth comes back from war a rich man but they haven't spoken in years (even though she still loves him). He is now a very eligible bachelor and a suitable husband but he treats Anne as if they are strangers as he becomes very good acquaintances with her family and friends.
Its such a cute story line, if you can get through the complexity of it all. This book is guaranteed to extend your vocabulary and gives you a wonderful insight into the social world of England all those years ago.

Northanger Abbey
This is a pretty funny book. It's ironic and witty. I was by now used to reading Jane Austen (since plowing my way through Persuasion) and I could easily follow the dialogue. I think that this allowed me to see the book as a whole rather than just trying to understand each sentence in itself. The humor is subtle- the main character/ narrator always comparing life and people to that in adventure and gothic novels (haunted castles, evil villains, damsels in distress and hero's).
This is a story about a girl, Catherine, who moves to Bath with her families close friends. She wants something to happen to her, she wants to be a hero or fall in love or be captured by bandits but she is finding that life is quite different from her books. In Bath she meets Henry and Eleanor Tilney who invite her to stay at there father's mysterious home with them. Catherine runs into dangers, both that she imagines and that is real and she is forced to learn about life and true and false friendships.
Its a wonderful book, I think that somewhere in this you will be able to relate, if at any point in your life you have wished that you could be in a book (aka. Twilight, girls :p). I also liked this books better because the storyline and character development required a lot more dialogue. I also found that this book was a lot easier to read- weather that was because I had read another Jane Austen just days before, or that it was just less complex I am not sure.
Although Catherine's naivety may annoy some, I found it cute -but sometimes it just infuriated me- this is a book that is really worth reading. I found that I could relate to her character slightly (shes only 16) and Henry Tilney is my favourite Jane Austen man (even beats Mr. Darcey! Shock horror) -hes very funny.

Gosh I should have warned you all that I tend to babble. A lot.
Okay moving along, I think i am going to re-read Emma and buy Masfield park (also by Jane Austen-that last two that I want to read) and I will write about them, maybe if you guys can handle my phyco babble. But then that is it with the classics for a little while. I think my head may explode (the key word being may, don't be excited that I won't be here to clog the blog).
Caio, Captain Libeka.