I actually read this for my English class this year and did a term paper on it. This short story is a whirlwhind of symbolism that portrays the woman's descent into madness as almost a liberation from the bonds placed on her by her husband. Gilman did an excellent job on this. It can certainly be read in one sitting, and though confusing, it offers an excellent look into the mind of a woman desperate for some freedom.

I found this story quite refreshing, as the characters and the story are very different than Austen's other works. Northanger Abbey is not a love story first--it's a story of Catherine's growth, with a little mystery and humor thrown in. Jane Austen breaks the fourth wall much more in this novel than she does in her other works, and I found it very lighthearted. I loved the digs for the novel writer and England (central England, to be exact), and though I was a little shaky on Catherine's character at the beginning, watching her grow out of her childishness was very satisfying. There are some continuity problems--the second half of the story seemed to be tacked on to the first rather roughly--but I did love how Austen connected Eleanor's husband to Catherine. I found Catherine, Henry, and Eleanor very enjoyable characters and would definitely recommend this book.

Jane Austen's books always are a pleasure to read. All her trademarks are here: an extremely well-thought plot, an extremely colorful cast of characters, and commentary on society--ranging from subtle wit to blunt judgment. It's important to realize that this is not your everyday love story. Though many have attempted to mirror or modernize the story of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, you have to remember that Austen did it first. Worth all the hype it gets and then some, but to truly do Pride and Prejudice justice, you have to read the book.

I love this book. Love, love, love, love. Opposites always seem to compliment each other so well, whether it's in books, movies, or TV. And I love how the girls' attributes turn out to be switched at the end. It's clever. Several snarky passages on society, a really well-drawn plot (like seriously...I don't know how you keep all that stuff straight), and a colorful group of characters turned this into a book I couldn't put down. <br/><br/>So yeah, I don't think I have anything bad to say about this book...though reading Austen's novels in succession, you could kind of tell that this was her first one. Still an awesome story. I particularly liked Elinor's character.