#Northanger Abbey is an absolute treat

[bethanydelleman]

Hi!! (I do not write english so well so forgive me 😂)

My question is: I'm in love with pp since I was 13 years old, two days ago I finished the book (again lol) and now I'd like to continue reading others Austen's books. I've bought all of them, so I'd like some advice to continue. Which one should be the next one?

I love this question!

Northanger Abbey is the funniest. It's a quick read, light and fun, and very cute. Henry Tilney is basically a male Elizabeth Bennet if you like P&P for Elizabeth's wit.

Sense & Sensibility is kind of dark, but the sisters are in the forefront if what you liked from P&P is the strong relationship between Jane and Elizabeth.

Persuasion is the best for longing romance. There is a lot more to it, but it feels the most romantic. Also do you like vain fathers with 6 mirrors in their room? Because I do!

Mansfield Park, which is my personal favourite, is the most serious and religious. Everyone in the book except Fanny is a selfish jerk most of the time. It is written from the perspective of a very frightened shy girl. You will either love or hate this book, there is no middle ground.

Emma is a coming of age story, centred around a small town. Emma is probably best described as a female version of Darcy. If you haven't watched an adaptation, this novel is full of mystery! And it requires two reads at least to really appreciate all the little hints.

Enjoy! My personal favourites are Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park. I wish I could read MP for the first time again. I had no idea what was going to happen and it was griping!

[whenthegoldrays]

Northanger Abbey for the top 3 ask game 😊

Hi!!! Thanks for the ask! Sorry it got lost under some stuff while I went on hiatus 🫢

• favorite characters: Cathy, Henry, and Eleanor!

• least favorite characters: Isabella Thorpe, General Tilney, and John Thorpe (yes, Isabella is first because I can’t stand her fakeness, I just absolutely see red every time she speaks, and with General Tilney it’s like well the vibes are definitely off but he’s tolerable in moments. Thorpe is also freaking annoying but he’s at least kinda funny.)

• otps: obviously Cathy x Henry on top!! then Eleanor x Viscount Washingbill, and uhhh. uh. Cathy’s parents!

• notps: ejdhdhdhe I feel like there are so many. Cathy x Thorpe for sure, James x Isabella, and in a way, General x Mrs. Tilney?? Like, I know it’s important that they had Henry and Eleanor, and I wouldn’t want to prevent that, but one also wants to save her from that terrible man, you know?? She deserved better!

• brotps: I mean the sibling relationships here are on point! Henry and Eleanor, Cathy and James, and then Cathy and Eleanor to round it out nicely :)

• favorite chapters/scenes: I loveeee Henry’s introduction, I was full-on giggling and kicking my feet. I also love when he finds Cathy in his mom’s room, like it almost makes me wanna die of embarrassment but there’s also such a kindness and fondness in how he treats her in response! And it’s funny and I could picture it so vividly and it irks me that the adaptation decided to play it completely differently from the book because they literally had a perfect scene right there! I also enjoyed when Cathy visits Henry’s parsonage.

• other things u think ppl who like this thing should watch/read/play: hmmm cute fluffy romance with a generous serving of humor and just a piiinch of angst? The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery (woman who loves to dream x jaded but charming man), the kdrama Hometown Cha Cha Cha, and this is probably cheating but!! my original story which is still in the works, Hardwick House 😆

• my rating of this media out of 3: 3/3 😋

[thatscarletflycatcher]

So I finished Evelina! I definitely enjoyed it, although I think we both agree it could do with some trimming down. Now I had heard that Austen was a fan of Fanny Burney, but I kind of thought that the overly-sentimental language would have been something Austen would have mocked. That, and I feel like I saw quite a few parallels between Evelina and Northanger Abbey. What are your thoughts?

I think perhaps my problem was reading it for a book club, a few lettters a week. It felt UNENDING.

My favorite parts were

Everyone is related to everyone

A monkey shows up somehow

The Scottish poet who was going to commit double pistol wielding suicide

Evelina carrying two pistols (I think most Austen heroines would benefit from having two pistols to wield at some point, as a treat.)

The absolutely bonkers anticlimactic drama of finally meeting sir John Belmont. Almost "the wizard of Oz was actually a man" vibes, but, like, "callous byron-like villain was actually a ridiculous dramatic diva all along".

Evelina is definitely a heavy influence in Northanger, specially the Evelina-Orville-Willoughby situation. I do think she actually liked and enjoyed these novels, the ribbing is so in good humor. It helps that most of the novels of the time are also overtly long and telenovelesque.

NOW WHERE IS OUR EVELINA MOVIE I ASK

Edit: one thing I really disliked about the novel, besides the repetitiveness, was this huff of 80s bodice ripper, where apparently horrified by men's universal irresistible attraction towards her Evelina, still keeps putting herself again and again in the same situations that get her harassed as if she actually wanted it, but keeping a veneer of modesty over it all. Which I find extremely jarring (unlike, say, Fanny Price, who is a soft character who learns from experience, and also, Catherine Morland)

[elcrivain]

Hi Ellis! I'm a literature student and I've been working on a school paper. I'm going to talk about Jane Austen on my paper. Sooo I wanna ask if what is a common factor that you’ve noticed in all six novels of Jane Austen? I will be waiting for your response!! Thank you so much

There are a few common factors across Austen’s novels:

1.) Bad parents - this one is in fact so common as to leave few good parents to write about.

Perhaps most famous is the silly Mrs. Bennet, who flusters and fidgets over her five girls, obsessing over marrying them and lending Pride and Prejudice its marvellous opening.

She is not alone. Whether it is:

Mr. Dashwood, failing to provide for Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret in Sense and Sensibility (or alternatively failing to foresee his son, John, will be so selfish)

Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram neglecting all of their children until it is too late for some in Mansfield Park

Mr. Woodhouse leaning too hard on Emma, fussy hypochondriac that he is, and expecting far too much from his daughters in Emma

General Tilney the warhorse and monstrously bad host in Northanger Abbey

Sir Walter spoiling Elizabeth, ignoring Mary, and sneering at Anne, in Persuasion; or

Mr. Bennet forgetting that having a silly wife is no excuse for not providing for and protecting his children in Pride and Prejudice

Austen stuffs her novels with bad parents.

2.) Hypocritical snobs - Austen loves to write about snobs, and loves far more to write about those with precarious positions in the social sphere.

Caroline Bingley is a great example of this, snubbing Jane’s relatives who are actually of higher social standing than her own grandparents’, but without the wealth of her father.

Mrs. Norris, the mere wife of a country parson, flouts her superiority over little Fanny. She is a distasteful fool.

Emma, ferociously proud of her own position, simultaneously raises Harriet Smith, a no one and likely illegitimate, and complains that the Coles do not invite her to their party when she would not be able to accept. Augusta Elton is worse still, not even realising that she is on rocky ground when she complains about the people who would set themselves above the Sucklings.

Willoughby is a hypocritical snob, not seeing that his own character is far lower than the “foolish” and “silly” people he mocks. Marianne gets the snob label, which she absolutely is, but not a hypocrite one.

3.) Scoundrels and bad boys - Every novel needs a villain and Austen’s rogues gallery is fairly complete:

P&P’s Wickham sets a high standard. He seduces, elopes, flirts, charms, and “makes love to us all.” Was there ever such a charming rotter?

Well of course, there’s Willoughby in S&S, seducing all of us before abandoning us pregnant with hope but, luckily, nothing else. He even shares the same W-initialed surname. While Wickham marries the girl he seduces. Willoughby leaves his teenage victim alone and pregnant, while he marries a young woman who is in for a bad time of it with him. Though her vicious nature possibly makes it a fair match.

Mr. Elliot in Persuasion is less obviously charming, and also less devastating. Poor Mrs Smith suffers through his inaction, but there are no pregnant teenagers in his wake. We also have him to thank for making Anne and Captain Wentworth aware of the other’s feelings, when he interrupts their tete a tete at the Assembly Rooms concert.

A more understandable villain lurks in Mansfield Park. Henry Crawford is a selfish child in a man’s body. He takes what he wants, and he pays for it in the end. Pretty, shy Fanny would have made him a better man. Instead, she gets to prig-happily-ever after with Edmund. Sigh.

Northanger Abbey has more than one scoundrel, but it’s John Thorpe who does the most damage, in his limited way. Though Captain Frederick Tilney wreaks havoc as well.

Emma is restricted to the least bad men, Mr. Elton doesn’t really get the title as he’s just a bit mean. Frank Churchill is a bad boy however, as he spends the whole novel deceiving everyone and treating his love badly. I would argue that there is a hidden scoundrel in Mr. Woodhouse though, who is so selfish that it’s a miracle he doesn’t cause more damage.

4.) Wise young women - Austen is littered with young women who are usually wiser than their elders, though it doesn’t always do them much good.

P&P’s Charlotte Collins nee Lucas, for all that she may not ever love her husband, has far more foresight than Lizzie, eight years her junior.

MP’s Fanny Price sees what none of her cousins can, that while play acting is dangerous, Lovers’ Vows can only end in disaster and that Mariah and Henry are playing a very dangerous game. She is a Cassandra. No one listens to her, but she still sees.

S&S’s Elinor Dashwood is smart enough to see through Lucy, but that can’t save her from her machinations. She is trapped by her own goodness, but she also has all the wisdom her kindly but foolish mother lacks.

NA’s Eleanor Tilney manages to glide above the craziness occurring around her without falling for the novels bad boys, getting caught up in the nuttiness of her best friend’s imagination, or marrying beneath her. Quite a feat.

Emma’s Jane Fairfax is perhaps the least wise of the women in this list, but she has the maturity that Emma and Harriet both lack. She knows she’s facing a harsh future as a governess, but retains her dignity no matter what, even when her lover is flirting with another woman in front of her.

Persuasion’s Anne Elliot has hard-won wisdom and is the oldest of our young women. She is wise now because she has had time to reflect and reason to regret. She sees through her father and sisters, never falls in love with the scoundrel of her novel, and wins herself an excellent marriage and social position by staying true to herself.

Note, as much as I like her, Lizzie Bennet does not have a great deal of wisdom, though she’s getting there by the end.

I can think of more, but they don’t hold true across all six books.

Lizzie, Anne, Catherine, Fanny and Elinor are all book lovers, but Emma can barely finish one, despite good intentions.

Many heroines have bitchy friends or mean girl relatives, but their position and power are inconsistent.

The heroes vary in attractiveness, affluence, and affability.

The fates of the heroines vary as well - we all envy Lizzie marrying Darcy, but few of us feel like Fanny won a similarly sized prize in Edmund.

So a few other things, more about the society than anything else, bind the books:

5.) Humour - They are all funny. How funny varies by how much you know what Austen is satirising for Northanger Abbey, playing with Lovers’ Vows in Mansfield Park, or realise about the characters in Pride and Prejudice, which is really much funnier if you think of Mr Collins as only twenty-four, rather than his usual casting in his thirties.

Austen is consistently one of the funniest writers of any novels ever. Her books are full of crackers.

6.) Social satire - We don’t always realise what she’s satirising now as we lack some of the context her readers had, but Austen is always out with her embroidery needle to prick social pretensions and foolishness.

7.) Happy endings - All of our heroines get happy endings with desirable men, most of whom are at least tolerably handsome and kind. We believe that all of them will live happily ever after.

8.) Genius - All of Austen’s novels showcase her genius to varying levels. Whether it is in the perfect retelling of Cinderella for the Regency era for Pride and Prejudice, the quiet and very gentle subversion of the classic passive heroine’s arc in Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey’s clever gothic satire, a meditation on expectation vs reality in Sense and Sensibility, the depiction of a more mature, Sleeping Beauty love in Persuasion, or creating one of the most complex and difficult heroines in Emma, Austen lays down a gauntlet that no one has yet managed to pick up.

[misscrawfords]

I think people really underestimate what Henry Tilney did for Catherine. It’s popular at the moment to look down on Henry for his sometimes condescending attitude towards Catherine and feel that she should stand up to him more (she DOES stand up to him - she says maybe her problem was not reading gothic novels but listening to Henry Tilney too much!).

But at the end of the novel, Henry, who has basically spent his life laughing at life and being perfectly aware of his father and brother’s failings but doing absolutely nothing about it, jeopardises his relationship with his father and his own possible future inheritance, leaving him reliant only on his income as a country clergyman possibly without patronage. He stands up to his father, chooses a side and comes down thoroughly and openly on Catherine’s side without a shadow of hesitation. And this after he has decent reason to think ill of her. The fact that he says he considers himself duty and honour bound to Catherine is not a douchey unromantic way of proposing but Henry’s way of saying that he’s decided to stop being a mocking observer of life and fully participate in it and do the right and moral thing. Which Henry has always been capable of. We love him because he’s snarky and clever but also incredibly humane and understanding. And that’s why Catherine likes him. She’s surrounded by hypocrites and manipulators and Henry is one of the good guys, which is very important to her. He’s seen her at her worst and he still wants her. (And can we please stop treating Catherine as if she’s a naive idiot with no character who will just be walked over by Henry. This is such a massive misinterpretation of her character and their relationship that it makes my blood boil!)

ANYWAY I just have loads of Northanger Abbey feelings atm. Must be going to visit @janeite06 soon. :P

[swiftsnowmane]

You have such great taste, so I'm coming to you for advice. What are your recommendations for art house Halloween movies?

Oh, what an excellent ask! I absolutely love artistic horror films, but I’m by no means an expert on them. Since I wasn’t sure if I had enough to recommend, I decided to just make a compilation that best exemplifies my personaltastes. Many do not have anything to do with Halloween, and some are not eventechnically ‘horror’ films at all, but are simply films and/or series that Ienjoy watching at this time of year.  :)

Below you will find a widevariety of recommendations, including silent film, film noir, gothic horror,sci-fi and dark fantasy, vampire films, zombie movies, tv series, comedies, parodies, mockumentaries,and my greatest love….folk horror.

Silent film:

- The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari (1920), dir. Robert Wiene – Iconic and a highly-influential silentGerman expressionist film about a creepy ‘doctor’ who hypnotizes a sleep-walker(a ‘sonambulist’) to do his bidding.

- The Phantom Carriage (1921), dir. Victor Sjöström–  On New Year’s Eve, the driver of a ghostly carriage forces a drunken man to look back at his wasted life.

- Häxan (1922),dir. Benjamin Christensen – Fictionalized Swedish-Danish documentary aboutwitches and witchcraft through the ages. Often categorized as folk horror, thisfilm contains evocative visuals and some memorable dramatizations, including a (literally) hysterical ‘nuns gone wild’ sequence. Despite its sensationalism, it is actually quite a sympathetic take on thetragedy of witch hunts, from the medieval era to the contemporary (1920s)treatment of women with mental illnesses.

- The Lodger(1927), dir. Alfred Hitchcock – Considered by critics to be the first true‘Hitchcock’ movie, this silent film is suspenseful, visually entrancing, and surprisingly moving. One of my personal favourites.

Other old movie classics:

- Double Indemnity (1944),dir. Billy Wilder – An insurance man falls for a married woman, and togetherthey begin to plan the murder of her husband. A noir classic, the first tocontain all the elements that would come to define the genre. A favourite ofmine.

- Laura (1944),dir. Otto Preminger – Another filmnoir fave, this time a murder mystery starring the mesmerizing Gene Tierney. Oneof the (many) inspirations for Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks. ‘Not just anotherdead girl,’ indeed.

- The Innocents (1961), dir. - [summary forthcoming]

- The Seventh Seal(1957), dir. Ingmar Bergman – This Swedish existentialist meditation on deathand mortality needs no introduction from me. Not a horror movie per se, but dueto its themes and visuals, it is very haunting all the same.

- Hour of the Wolf(1968), dir. Ingmar Bergman – Another Bergman classic, this time a surrealistpsychological horror-drama. A man lives with his pregnant wife on a remoteisland, and suffers from insomnia. He begins to be plagued by visions of‘demons’ and haunted by images from his past.

- Hitchcock films– Some of my personal faves include TheLady Vanishes (1938), Notorious (1946– noir classic), Spellbound (1945 -worth watching for the stunning surrealist dream sequence designed by SalvadorDali), Rear Window (perhaps not asvisually interesting as my usual picks, but a nostalgic fave that I used towatch with my dad), Psycho (1960 -cliché to list this  one, I know, but Ido  legitimately enjoy this film), Vertigo (1958 - another I used to watchwith my dad), and two of my absolute faves, Rebecca (1940 – see below) and the aforementioned The Lodger (1927).

-Hammer horror (aka British horror of the ‘50s-70s) - you can’t go wrong with the Hammer Dracula series, and/or anything starring Sir Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. -  [summaries forthcoming]

Halloween films:

- Sleepy Hollow(1999), dir. Tim Burton – Fave Tim Burton film. Fave Johnny Depp film. FaveHalloween film. Just fave.

- Trick ‘r Treat(2007), dir. Michael Dougherty  –  Of all the quintessential, straight up‘Halloween’ movies, this anthology horror film is another top pick. It’s justsuch good fun.

- The Crow(1994), dir. Alex Proyas - A list of my personal faves could not be completewithout this fantastical, noir-ish tale of lost love and revenge. A nostalgicclassic.

Other ‘scary movies’:

- Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006 mockumentary), dir. Scott Glosserman  - I’m not all that into *actual* slasher flicks (other than the original Halloween, which still to this day scares the shit out of me), but I’ve always greatly enjoyed this satirical take on the subject. :D

- Return of the Living Dead (1985), dir. Dan O’Bannon – While zombie films aren’t necessarily my fave horror sub-genre either, I can’t help but adore this one. Early Greg Nicotero visual effects on full display. Not to mention the iconic naked dancing in the graveyard scene.

- The Crazies (2010), dir. Breck Eisner – Probably my fave ‘zombie’ film. I use that term loosely as it’s not really about zombies, but it has a similar vibe. This movie immediately pre-dated The W@lking Dead, and now that I can no longer stand to watch that awful show, it has sort of become my preferred ‘version’ of this type of scenario.

Vampire films:

- Vampire Hunter D:Bloodlust (2000), dir. Yoshiaki Kawajiri – With its incredibly rich anddetailed visual design, based on the art of Yoshitaka Amano, and an evocativepost-apocalyptic western/ gothic setting, this classic anime film is along-time fave. When I was younger I wanted to live (and die) inside the aestheticof this film, and to this day it remains my favourite vampire movie. Alsocontains one of my all-time favourite vampire/human romances, the Hades andPersephone-esque Charlotte and Meier.

- Let the Right OneIn (2008), dir. Thomas Alfredson  - Swedishvampire movie. Not the sort of thing you’re probably expecting, either.

- 30 Days of Night(2007), dir. David Slade – One of the few vampire films in which the vampires actually terrified me.

- From Dusk till Dawn(1996), dir. Quentin Tarantino – Over the top action-horror ridiculousness. Myfavourite thing about this film is that it includes a scene of a young girlgetting her white t-shirt splattered with blood. Bethyl fans will understandwhat I mean. ;D

- What We Do In theShadows (2014), dir. Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi – Mockumentary aboutvampires in New Zealand. Probably my fave thing I’ve seen in years. HIGHLYrecommended. :D

Dark fantasy/sci-fi:

- The Company ofWolves (1984), dir. Neil Jordan – A young girl in present day has a feverishdream in which she and her family live in a fairytale forest. After her oldersister is killed by a wolf, she repeatedly dares the dangers of ‘the wood’ tovisit her grandmother. Based on Angela Carter’s tale from The Bloody Chamber, with a screenplay co-written by Carter herself,this film is a must-see for anyone who enjoys a blend of eroticism and horrorin their Little Red Riding Hood tales. Despite the low-budget and cheesy qualityof some of the effects, I totally love this movie. :D

- Brotherhood of theWolf (2001), dir. Christophe Gans – Perhaps not the greatest film evermade, but I have an eternal soft spot for the legend of the Beast of Gévaudan.Not to mention my girl-crush on Monica Bellucci, lol.

- Angel’s Egg (1985) - [summary forthcoming]

- Pitch Black (2000),dir. David Twohy – The other films in this franchise might be more famous, butthe first entry is, imo, a sci-fi horror classic. My favourite part is thedynamic between the ‘boy’ Jack and the notorious criminal, Riddick.

- Pan’s Labyrinth (2006),dir. Guillermo del Toro - In 1940s Spain, a young girl finds escape from thebrutal fascist regime by visiting a labyrinthine underworld full of strange andmagical creatures.

- The Prestige(2006), dir. Christopher Nolan – In late 19th c. London, rival stagemagicians obsessively compete to find the best stage illusion, with strange,and often tragic, results. Not a horror film, but an intense and suspenseful thrillerall the same.

- Solomon Kane(2009), dir. Michael J. Bassett – Based loosely on the classic pulp-fiction stories ofRobert E. Howard (aka, creator of Conan the Barbarian), this film is a mix ofdark fantasy and horror elements. JamesPurefoy and Rachel Hurd-Wood in a SanSan-esque type dynamic. Super cheesy, yes,but such a guilty pleasure, OMG.

Gothic romance/horror (aka, ‘young woman goes to live at manor house and creepy things ensue’ ):

- Jane Eyre (2006BBC miniseries), dir. Susanna White – There are countless adaptations of thisclassic, and all have their merits. While the 2011 Hollywood movie has a higherbudget and some very lovely visuals, for me, nothing tops the version with TobyStephens as Rochester!!

- Northanger Abbey(2007), dir. Jon Jones – My personal fave adaptation of Jane Austen’s gothic horror satire, starring an adorable young Felicity Jones as thewide-eyed, imaginative heroine.

- Rebecca (1940),dir.  Alfred Hitchcock – A self-consciousyoung bride is tormented by the memory of her husband’s late wife. LawrenceOlivier and Joan Fontaine in a visually haunting Hitchcock classic.

- Dragonwyck (1946), dir. Joseph L.Mankiewicz – In the 1840s, a young women from a Connecticut farming community isinvited to the estate of a wealthy patroon.Worth watching for the ever gorgeous Gene Tierney and an extremely attractiveyoung Vincent Price. Such good chemistry!

- The Crimson Petaland the White (2011 BBC miniseries) – Based on the novel by Michael Faber,this is the story of Sugar, a prostitute in 1870s London, and what happens whenshe becomes the mistress of a wealthy soapmaker. At once sensual and deeplyunsettling. Plays heavily on the Victorian theme of ‘the angel in thehouse’.  Highly recommended.

- Crimson Peak(2015), dir. Guillermo del Toro – A culmination of all of the tropes andplotlines from the classics mentioned above (with the most direct nods to Dragonwyck).Guillermo del Toro takes the horror elements that are generally only present asundercurrent in these gothic romance stories and brings them, in all theirgrotesque and terrifying glory, to the surface.

Folk horror:

- The VVitch (2015), dir. Robert Eggers – In 1600’s New England, a puritan family must move from the safety of a settlement to the edge of the wilderness. One of my top favourite folk horror films, ever.  

- A Field in England (2013), dir. Ben Wheatley – Deserters of an English Civil War battle travel through an eerily empty English countryside landscape on a psychedelia-tinged trip. This film is not for everyone, but is visually stunning and ticks many of my personal boxes. HIGHLY recommended for anyone who enjoys alchemical themes and imagery.  A folk horror masterpiece.

- The Wicker Man (1973), dir. Robin Hardy – This iconic film needs no introduction. Features one of my all-time favourite Sir Christopher Lee performances, as the incomparable Lord Summerisle. A must-see for anyone remotely interested in the folk horror genre.

- Witchfinder General(1968), dir. Michael Reeves  –Another 17th century period classic, starring Vincent Price as the villainousMatthew Hopkins, aka the Witchfinder General. While perhaps not as well-belovedfor me as the three listed above, I very much appreciate this film’s settingand overall aesthetic, as well as its absolutely beautiful soundtrack.

- The Devil Rides Out (1968) - [summary forthcoming]

- The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971)  - [summary forthcoming] 

- Black Death(2010), dir. Christopher Smith - Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, and Carice VanHouten in a supernatural-tinged medieval thriller. Essentially, ‘The Wicker Man’-meets-‘Heartof Darkness’, set to the backdrop of the black plague.

- Apostle (2018) - [summary forthcoming]

Misc/other:

- The Devil’s Whore(2008 miniseries), dir. Marc Munden – Despite the title, this is not actually ahorror movie, but is an exquisitely beautiful romantic period drama, set duringthe English Civil Wars. One of my all-time favourite historical miniseries,ever.

- Flesh + Blood(1985), dir. Paul Verhoeven – Set in Italy in 1501, Rutger Hauer is a leader ofa ruthless band of mercenaries and Jennifer Jason Leigh is the young maiden whobecomes their captive. Not a ‘horror’ film in technical sense, but Verhoeven’stypical bloody visuals and dark themes and tone secure it a place on this list.TRIGGER WARNING: Contains an intenserape scene.  

- Imprint (2007),dir. Michael Linn – Native Americanfolklore-based suspense/thriller. One of the many reasons I love this film isthat it was actually filmed onlocation in South Dakota (you have no idea how many times filmmakers try to pass off California landscapes as ‘SouthDakota’, it’s soo annoying).

- Southern Comfort(1981), dir. Walter Hill - In 1973, a Louisiana Army National Guard squad ontheir weekend maneuvers in rural bayou country antagonize the local Cajunpeople and end up ruthlessly hunted. A southern gothic thriller, with someWicker Man-esque elements.

- Winter’s Bone(2010), dir. Debra Granik – A teenage girl in the rural Ozarks must track downher missing father in order to protect her family. Not a horror film, but aquietly intense thriller.  A personalfave of mine.

- The Revenant (2015), dir. Alejandro González Iñarrítu– [summary forthcoming]

- Wind River (2017), dir. Taylor Sheridan – [summary forthcoming]

- Dunkirk (2017), dir. Christopher Nolan –[summary forthcoming]

- Trollhunter (2010), dir. André Øvredal  – Taking the form of a ‘found footage’ mockumentary, this movie follows filmmakers who set out to capture images of elusive Norwegian trolls

- Ed Wood (1994),dir. Tim Burton – Not a horror film, but rather a biographical comedy-dramabased on the life of the titular B-movie producer. An underrated TimBurton/Johnny Depp classic.

- Clue (1985), dir. Jonathan Lynn - A classic comedy, and one of my all ‘round fave murder mystery movies. No matter how many times I’ve seen it, this infinitely quotable film still makes me laugh, every time.

- The Whisperer InDarkness (2011), dir. Sean Branney  –Independent film, based on H. P. Lovecraft story of the same name. Made with ablend of vintage and modern techniques, intended to evoke the style of filmsfrom the 1930s.

- From Hell (2001),dir. the Hughes brothers – Murder mystery/thriller based on the Alan Mooregraphic novel. Gruesome and memorable interpretation of the unsolved tale ofJack the Ripper.

TV series:

- Ripper Street (2012tv series) – A period-drama procedural set in the aftermath of the Jack theRipper killings in late-Victorian Whitechapel, London. Centers around ChiefDetective-Inspector Reid, who is haunted by his inability to catch the serialkiller, as well as by dark events from his own past. (I only recommend thefirst two seasons, however, as after that the quality of the storylines greatlydecreased, imo).

- The League of Gentlemen(1999 tv series) – Legendary dark comedy/folk horror series created by MarkGatiss, Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton, and Jeremy Dyson. If you enjoy the bizarre and grotesqueside of British humour, look no further. (See also the Christmas Special (set between series 2&3), The League of Gentlemen’s Apocalyse (2005), and the most recent, and incredibly well-done, Anniversary Special (2017)). 

- Psychoville (2009BBC series) - British psychologicalhorror/black comedy sitcom, created by above-mentioned The League of Gentlemen’s Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. Memorablecharacters include David and Maureen (a hilariously creepy mother and son duo),Mr. Jelly, a grumpy clown who never removes his face paint, and Jeremy thelibrarian, who is tormented by a mysterious nemesis, the Lynchian ‘Silent Singer’.

- Inside No. 9 (2014tv series) – Another excellent show by the evil geniuses that are ReeceShearsmith and Steve Pemberton, this is a series of stand-alone episodes that Ican only describe as ‘short stories on film’, each in sightly different genre. Someare comedic, some are psychological, some homages to famous things, some sad,some bizarre, some are downright terrifying (there is an episode entitled‘The Devil of Christmas’ that was probably the most disturbing thing I’ve seen in a longtime).

- Twin Peaks(1991 tv series), by Mark Frost and David Lynch – Don’t think I even need toexplain why this seminal and endlessly influential show makes the list!

- Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (2012 tv series) – Not remotely scary, or even remotely ‘horror’, this is rather a delightful little romantic period drama about a lady detective in 1920s Melbourne, Australia. Cheesy as hell at times, but worth it for the absolutely delicious chemistry between the two leads.

- Stranger Things (2016 tv series) – The first season is iconic in its own right, and the second season did NOT disappoint. This show is just the right combo of creepiness and comforting nostalgia. Not to mention the wonderfully-written and endlessly endearing cast of characters. I love it so much.  

Currentlywatching:

- Bates Motel (2013tv series) – Started watching this over the summer, and it is extremelywell-made and most definitely creepy and unsettling in every possible way.  I was very impressed so far, but I had totemporarily stop watching because this past summer was a difficult timeemotionally, and I didn’t want to compound things by watching something sopotentially disturbing. I plan to resume it asap, though!

- Project Blue Book (2019 tv series) - [more detailed summary forthcoming] Creepy/mysterious period drama about UFO coverups in the 1950s.

On my ‘still towatch’ list (**updated 08/04/2019):

Kwaidan (1965)

The Love Witch (2016)

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

The City of the Dead (1960)

The Masque of the Red Death (1964)

Picnic at Hanging Rock 

Penda’s Fen

Robin Redbreast

Tam-Lin (1970)

The Borderlands (2013)

Kill List (2011)  - tried watching this one, but struggled to get through it, tbh

Mullholland Drive (2001)

Penny Dreadful (2014 tv series)

I realize that the majority of these are not ‘art house’ films by any definition, but I hope this list is nonetheless of some interest. If I’ve left out anything essential, it’s probably because it’s either slipped my mind, or I simply haven’t seen it yet. 

Thanks again for the ask – it’s reminded me of some excellent films I hadn’t thought about in a while. :) 

[xcurseofcurvesx]

TGIF 💃 I'm not doing anything exciting over the weekend, but this week has been a year, and I'm happy to be moving past it. . Here is my day 24 #ausbookishphotochallenge prompt #flatfriday AND @australiaisreading prompt classic books in one 💕 @intentlyreading . I absolutely love me some classic literature, it's always such a treat to dive into the worlds of history's greatest writers. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen is a personal favourite of mine, I think it's the perfect introduction to the genre and nothing beats a story about finding a love for reading! 🥰 . . Do you have a favourite classic? . . . . #penguinclassics #flatlayfriday #flatlay #northangerabbey #janeausten #booksaboutreading #amreading #readbyamity #classicliterature #classicbooks #ausbookishfeatures #australiaisreading #ausbookbloggers #ausbookstagram #booksofinstagram (at Wollongong, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_VqpbnAHSO/?igshid=1uvno3numjapv

[aurgumistnightstormer]

18 quotes for 2018

A dedication to my friends as we journey on to 2018 and in recognition of (some) authors whose words motivated and inspired me during the nights I felt lost and the moments I doubted myself. 

1. A reminder to all our friends (and a personal reminder to mine - you guys are truly the best #TAAHD): “There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves; it is not my nature. My attachments are always excessively strong.” — Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

  2. To all of us in the hope that we continue to do our best everyday: ‎"You must be able to make a commitment to yourself. Promise yourself that, no matter what, you will give it your very best. Day in, and day out. From one second to the next. What ever they may be, your dreams are absolutely beautiful. Don’t allow for them to whither inside of you; give them your love, work, and dedication.” - Nicole Addison

3. ‎A reminder when it seems that we may have failed/fallen, we have come a long way: “I am a series of small victories and large defeats” - Charles Bukowski, The People Look Like Flowers at Last 

4. ‎A word we should all start using to set ourselves free and lighten our burdens. (Ps. I doesn’t make us a bad person for using it): “no’  might make them angry but it will make you free.” -  Nayyirah Waheed, If No One Has Ever Told You, Your Freedom is More Important Than Their Anger 

5. ‎The reason we should all spend some time alone and learn to love ourselves:“You must want to spend the rest of your life with yourself first” - Rupi Kaur, Milk and Honey 

6. ‎A reminder to our friends with unseen (and unspoken) battles and wars, you are all kind folks:“Depression can take away your self confidence, but it doesn’t take away your kindness. Some of the greatest people I’ve ever met, struggle with depression; and every one of them would give you the shirt right off their back.” - William Chapman

7. ‎A reminder that when we get poopy results, are faced with irksome challenges and we can’t help but be disappointed, we rise up to face the challenge and move on: “You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It wont happen automatically. You will have to rise up and say, ‘I don’t care how hard this is, I don’t care how disappointed I am, I’m not going to let this get the best of me. I’m moving on with my life.” -Joel Osteen

8.‎ A reminder that with the correct words and love, we have the potential to encourage someone to be their best: “Her mother told her she could grow up to be anything she wanted be, so she grew up to become the strongest of the strong, the strangest of the strange, the wildest of the wild, the wolf leading wolves.” - Nikita Gill, For the Red Riding Hood Who Was The Wolf 

9. A reminder that all our fears can be defeated:“Remind yourself that you have the power within you to overcome anything imaginable. Absolutely anything. There is no challenge that you cannot conquer. Not a single fear that you cannot defeat. You are ever so powerful, and it’s up to you to see it.” - Nicole Addison

10. ‎ For the days we don’t feel so great and we need a pick me up, we are made of 93% stardust:“We have calcium in our bones, iron in our veins,carbon in our souls, and nitrogen in our brains.93 percent stardust, with souls made of flames,we are all just stars that have people names.”- Nikita Gill, “93 Percent Stardust"

11. ‎ A reminder that inside all of us exists a flame that fuels and pushes us to achieve our dreams, goals and aspirations:‎“I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me.” - Joshua Graham 

12. ‎A reminder that every obstacle and challenge changes us and helps us grow: “And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” - Haruki Murakami 

13. A reminder that at the end of the day, we can only be ourselves: ‎“You will always be too much of something for someone: too big, too loud, too soft, too edgy. If you round out your edges, you lose your edge.” - Danielle La Porte

14. A reminder that when we seek out love, kindness and compassion are also important:  “Find someone who loves you well. Someone who never belittles you. Even in the heat of an argument. Someone who is gentle with you, but does not treat you like you are fragile. Someone who knows what you are capable of, and celebrates those pieces of you. Not someone who is intimidated by your strength. Someone who doesn’t make you feel guilty for being flawed. It is not love’s job to punish you. And remember the person you love is just as broken as you are when they fall short. No one is perfect – do not hold them to this standard. Find someone who is patient, forgiving, and apologetic. Someone who practices forgiveness freely and often. Love someone who is humble, kind, and empathetic. Not only with you, but with a beggar on the street, or a stranger in the supermarket. Common courtesy is important. Compassion is important. Kindness is important.” — Unknown

15. A reminder that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover: ‎“People aren’t always what you want them to be. Sometimes they disappoint you or let you down, but you have to give them a chance first. You can’t just meet someone and expect them to be everything you’re looking for and then be angry when they’re not every hope and aspiration you projected onto them. It’s foolish to believe that someone will be what you imagine them to be. And sometimes, when you give them a chance, they turn out to be better than you imagined. Different, but better.” - Chloe Rattray 

16. A reminder that our failures and doubts aren’t the end of the road, we move on despite of them:  “She was unstoppable. Not because she did not have failures or doubts, but because she continued on despite them.” - Beau Taplin 

17.A reminder to everyone reading this:“You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known- and even that is an understatement.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald, Letter to Zelda Fitzgerald, 1939

18. Bonus: One of my fave quotes that I may or may not use a lot: ‎"Grey clouds give way to sunny skies" - A.S.

[ljones41]

“MANSFIELD PARK” (1983) Review

"MANSFIELD PARK" (1983) Review Long before Patricia Rozema wrote and directed her 1999 adaptation of "Mansfield Park", Jane Austen’s 1814 novel, the BBC aired its own adaptation some sixteen years earlier. This one came in the form of a six-part miniseries and is regarded by many Austen fans as the definitive screen version of the novel. 

"MANSFIELD PARK" told the story of Fanny Price, the oldest daughter of a former Royal Navy officer, who is sent by her parents to live with her wealthy aunt and uncle-in-law, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, at their estate called Mansfield Park, during the early 19th century. Viewed as socially inferior by her new family, Fanny is treated as half-relative/half-servant by the Bertrams. Only Edmund, the family’s second son, treats her with great kindness and love. Because of Edmund’s behavior, Fanny finds herself in love with him by the age of eighteen. But her life and the Bertrams’ lives soon encounter a force of nature in the arrival of Henry and Mary Crawford, a pair of vivacious siblings that are related to the local vicar’s wife. Henry ends up stirring excitement and romantic interest within the breasts of the two Bertram sisters – Maria and Julia. And much to Fanny’s dismay, Edmund forms a romantic attachment to the alluring Mary. In compare to the 1999 Patricia Rozema version and the ITV 2007 movies, this 1983 miniseries is a more faithful adaptation of Austen’s novel. Considering its six episodes, I do not find this surprising. Literary fans tend to be more impressed by cinematic adaptations that are very faithful to its source. However, "MANSFIELD PARK" is not a completely faithful adaptation. Screenwriter Ken Taylor completely ignored Fanny’s questions regarding Sir Thomas’ role as a slaveowner with an estate in Antigua. Whereas Austen’s novel and the 2007 movie briefly touched upon the subject, writer/director Patricia Rozema literally confronted it. Only the miniseries ignored the topic, altogether. Judging from the fans’ reaction to this deviation from Austen’s novel, I suspect that many of them are willing to pretend that the subject of slavery was never broached in the miniseries. Did I enjoy "MANSFIELD PARK"? Well . . . the miniseries certainly had its moments. It allowed me to become more aware of the plot details in Austen’s 1814 novel than the other adaptations did. I enjoyed the scene featuring the Bertrams’ introduction to the Crawford siblings. I enjoyed the ball held in Fanny’s honor in Episode Four. It struck me as very elegant and entertaining. I also enjoyed the constant flirtation and verbal duels between Edmund and Mary, despite my dislike of the former character. And much to my surprise, I really enjoyed the sequence featuring Fanny’s visit to her family in Portsmouth. For once, the miniseries’ pacing seemed well paced and I enjoyed the details and production designs in the setting for this sequence. One of the actors portraying Fanny’s younger brothers turned out to be a young Jonny Lee Miller, who later portrayed Edmund in the 1999 production. But the best aspect of "MANSFIELD PARK" turned out to be a handful of first-rate performances and Ian Adley’s costume designs. I usually do not harbor much of a high opinion of the costumes designs seen in other Jane Austen’s adaptations from the 1970s and 80s. But I cannot deny that I found Adley’s costumes not only colorful, but very elegant. I am not surprised that he earned a BAFTA TV Award nomination for Best Costume Design. As I had stated earlier, I was also impressed by a handful of performances featured in the miniseries. One came from veteran actress Anna Massey, who superbly portrayed one of Fanny Price’s aunts, the noxious Mrs. Norris. Depended upon her sister and brother-in-law for their support, Massey’s Mrs. Norris walked a fine line between toadying behavior toward Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram and her malicious tyranny over Fanny. Samantha Bond gave a subtle and complex portrayal of the oldest Bertram daughter, Maria. Bond conveyed not only the shallow and selfish aspects of Maria’s personality, but also the dilemma that her willingness to become the wife of the disappointing Mr. Rushworth put her in. I also found myself impressed by Bernard Hepton’s performance as Sir Thomas Bertarm, owner of Mansfield Park and patriarch of the Bertram family. Hepton’s Sir Thomas came off as superficially generous, intelligent and morally absolute. He seemed every inch of the ideal English landowner and gentleman. Yet, Hepton also conveyed the corruption that lurked underneath Sir Thomas’ façade – namely the man who seemed more concern with the financial suitability of his children’s spouses than any emotional regard. Hepton also revealed with great subtlety, the baronet’s egomania and tyranny in scenes that featured the character’s efforts to coerce Fanny into accepting Henry Crawford’s marriage proposal. I will be brutally honest. I have never been a fan of the Edmund Bertram character. Despite his kindness to Fanny and occasional wit, he strikes me as a self-righteous and very hypocritical man. Whenever I think of that scene in which Edmund rejected Mary Crawford, it still makes my blood boil. But his characterization still worked, due to Nicholas Farrell’s performance. He really did an excellent job in conveying all aspects of Edmund’s personality, both the good and the bad. Despite my negative feelings regarding Edmund’s personality, Farrell made him seem very interesting. But "MANSFIELD PARK" would have never been bearable to me without Jackie Smith-Wood’s sparkling portrayal of one of Jane Austen’s most memorable characters, Mary Crawford. Like Fanny Price, many fans have either loved or disliked this character. Count me as among the former. I absolutely adored Mary – especially in the hands of the talented Ms. Smith-Wood. With great skill, the actress conveyed all aspects of Mary’s personality – her barbed sense of humor, dislike of the clergy, her talent for manipulation, her moral ambiguity, her charm, her wit, her great warmth and generosity. I suspect that the main reason I like Mary so much is that as an early 21st century woman, I find it easy to relate to her way of thinking. Smith-Wood managed to convey the modern sensibilities of Mary’s personality, while still portraying the character as a woman of the early 19th century. Unfortunately, the bad tends to go hand-in-hand with the good in many movie and television productions. And there are aspects of "MANSFIELD PARK" that left a bad taste in my mouth – including a few performances. One performance I did not particularly care for was Angela Pleasence’s portrayal of Fanny’s other aunt, the languid Lady Bertram. I am aware that Ms. Pleasence possesses a rather high voice. But I noticed that she had exaggerated it for her portrayal of the childish and self-involved Lady Bertram. I wish she had not done this, for I found this exaggeration very annoying. And now that I think about it, I realized that Pleasence’s Lady Bertram hardly did a thing in the miniseries that allowed the plot to move forward, except use her selfishness to protect Fanny from Mrs. Norris’ spite . . . sometimes. But I cannot blame the actress. Lady Bertram is a role that has never impressed me. I have yet to find an actress who has ever done anything with the role. I truly believe that producer Betty Billingale and director David Giles selected the wrong actor to portray the charming Lothario, Henry Crawford. Robert Burbage seemed like an affable presence and he wore the costumes designed by Ian Adley very well. But his portrayal of Henry seemed wanting. I will go further and state that I found his performance by-the numbers and his acting skills rather mechanical. Burbage’s Henry did not strike me as the attractive and sexy man who managed to flutter the hearts of the Bertram sisters. Instead, I felt as if I had been watching an earnest schoolboy trying . . . and failing to behave like a rakish seducer. Finally, I come to Sylvestra Le Touzel’s performance as the miniseries’ leading character, Fanny Price. I am not a fan of the Fanny Price character. Yes, I admire her willingness to stick to her conviction in rejecting Henry Crawford’s marriage proposal in the face of Sir Thomas’ attempts to coerce her. But Fanny also strikes me as being priggish, passive-aggressive, illusional (to a certain extent) and worst of all, hypocritical. I also dislike Edmund Bertram, but at least I was impressed by Nicholas Farrell’s portrayal of the character. On the other hand, I WAS NOT impressed by Le Touzel’s performance. I realize that she had portrayed a socially awkward and introverted character. But I have seen other actors and actresses portray similar characters with a lot more skill. Le Touzel’s performance struck me as wooden, mannered and at times, slightly hammy. Hell, she made Burbage’s performance seem positively fluid. Le Touzel eventually became a first-rate actress. I saw her very funny performance in 2007’s "NORTHANGER ABBEY". But I wish that Billingale and Giles had cast someone with a lot more skill to portray Fanny, twenty-eight years ago. I find it odd that screenwriter Kenneth Taylor took it upon himself to be as faithful as possible to Austen’s novel . . . with the exception of his deletion of Sir Thomas’ role as a slaveowner.  However, he had failed to change some aspects of the novel that I consider to be very flawed. Taylor never allowed Fanny and Edmund to become self-aware of their personal failings. Edmund managed to self-flagellate himself for becoming emotionally involved with Mary. But I do not consider that much of a failing. Because of the pair’s failure to become self-aware of their failings, I believe they lacked any real character development. Taylor’s script could have assumed a third voice and criticized or mocked Fanny and Edmund’s lack of development. But it did not. The sequence featuring the "Lover’s Vows" play dragged most of Episode Three. By the time Sir Thomas had returned to Mansfield Park, I nearly fell asleep, thanks to the episode’s slow pacing. In fact, Giles and Taylor’s efforts to make "MANSFIELD PARK" faithful to the novel nearly grounded the miniseries to a halt on several occasions, almost making the entire miniseries rather dull.  Almost.    More than anything, I had a problem with the miniseries’ finale. One, I never understood Edmund’s decision to reject Mary Crawford as his fiancée. Although Mary had condemned her brother and Maria Bertram Rushworth’s affair and elopement as folly, she had a plan to save the honors of both the Bertram and Crawford families. She suggested that they convince Henry and Maria to marry following the latter’s divorce from Mr. Rushworth; and have both families stand behind the couple to save face. This plan struck me as very similar to Fitzwilliam Darcy’s plan regarding Lydia Bennet and George Wickham in "Pride and Prejudice". Why did Austen condone Mr. Darcy’s actions regarding Lydia and Wickham in one novel and condemn Mary Crawford for harboring similar plans in this story? Did Taylor, Giles or Willingale even notice the similarities between Mr. Darcy’s actions and Mary’s plans and see the hypocrisy? Apparently not. My last problem centered on Fanny and Edmund’s wedding in the final episode. How on earth did this happen? The miniseries made Fanny’s romantic feelings for Edmund perfectly clear. Yet, Edmund never displayed any romantic regard for Fanny, merely familial love. Even when revealing the end of his relationship with Mary to Fanny, he still expressed love for his former fiancée. But the next scene jumped to Fanny and Edmund’s wedding, without any explanation or revelation of their courtship. At least Patricia Rozema’s 1999 movie conveyed Edmund’s burgeoning romantic feelings for Fanny, before his final rejection of Mary. Giles and Taylor failed to the same in this miniseries. I might as well say it. I will never harbor a high regard for "MANSFIELD PARK" . . . at least this version. Although its faithfulness to Jane Austen’s 1814 novel revealed the story in greater detail than the 1999 and 2007 movies, I believe there were scenes in which it should have been less faithful in order to overcome some of the novel’s shortcomings. The miniseries can boast a few outstanding performances from the likes of Anna Massey, Nicholas Farrell and Jackie Smith-Wood. But it was hampered by other performances, especially the wooden acting by lead actress, Sylvestra Le Touzel. In the end, "MANSFIELD PARK" proved to be a mixed bag for me.

[escapelifethroughbooks-blog]

This was another book that I read after I watched the movie, but only because the movie was borrowed from my aunt.

Anyway, I feel like this book is Austen’s attempt at writing a Gothic novel. I’m not too familiar with this particular style of writing, so I don’t have a lot to say on that, other than I need to acquaint myself so I know more of what I’m talking about. (Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” is on my to-read list, but I’m not sure when I’m going to get to that since I have a ton of books out from the library right now).

What I enjoyed the most about this book was the romance between Catherine and Henry. I actually wasn’t sure they were going to get married at the end (I was only half paying attention to the movie) and, had I been by myself in the room I was reading in, I probably would have been crying along with Catherine when she was turned out of Northanger Abbey. I’m all about the romantic interests that Austen writes about (Darcy and Elizabeth will always be my absolute favorite Austen couple), and I liked to watch Catherine’s love for Henry grow as she got to know him better during her time at Northanger. Since the story is told pretty much from Catherine’s point of view, we don’t see until the end that Henry does feel the same way about Catherine, but it’s also not hard to pick up on from the way he treats her and makes sure she is comfortable and that she made it home safely after being turned out of Northanger by his father.

I also liked how Austen portrayed the friendship between Catherine and Isabella. They started out by spending most of their free time together in the first weeks of their friendship, telling each other everything about their thoughts and feelings on their other friends and the balls they attended. But, like a lot of the friendships I had in high school, their intimacy came to an end shortly after Catherine left Bath to visit with Eleanor and Henry at Northanger (except mine ended when I left Lehighton for Mansfield University). I don’t find too many books that show this kind of end to a friendship, though Catherine didn’t completely cut it off until after she had found out about her brother, James, ending his engagement to Isabella because of her conduct. On the other hand, while they are at Northanger, you can easily see a growing intimacy between Catherine and Eleanor, her future sister-in-law, which is definitely something I would want with any future brother- or sister-in-law.