After watching a few of the film versions on
PBS' Masterpiece Theatre, I've discovered Northanger Abbey, Persuasion & Mansfield Park. Great stories, and now I have to read the novels. Darcy from P&P has always been my fav leading man, now I can add Edmund Bertram from Mansfield Park & Henry Tilney from Northanger Abby to my favorites too.
I really enjoyed Northanger Abbey most because it has that sense of mystery to it.
The leading lady Catherine Morland is a 17-year-old who loves reading Gothic Romance novels...I think these were kind of the equivalent to trashy romance novels. And she is told often that she reads too much. Catherine ends up going to stay at the Tilney's home, which is rumored to be haunted. In the end she becomes a real heroine herself.
I like Henry's character because he is sarcastic, funny and flirty. He's fun right from the start.
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Mansfield Park was also a great story.
The main character is Fanny Price. She is a young girl from a poor family who is raised by her rich uncle and aunt and comes to live with Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram at Mansfield Park. Among her cousins Edmund, is the only one who treats her kindly.
She is in love with him from the start. I liked this story line. Fanny is shy, quiet and modest. Edmund doesn't realize he loves her till the end of the story.
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Persuasion is about lost love and bad choices. Anne Elliot fell in love with a poor naval officer, Frederick Wentworth. When her family found out, they persuaded her to break it off, and she did. Years later, Anne is still in love with Frederick. She ends up meeting him again 8 years later...*sigh*
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This review is part of Becky's Book Reviews Mini-Austen Challenge.
