I've been reading the "minor" Austen novels in roughly reverse-order of importance. I was bored to tears with Emma, was decidedly meh about Mansfield Park, and figured Northanger Abbey would be another step down. I was SO wrong! OMG what a blast! "Northanger" is a broad satire of potboiler gothic romance novels, with a real feeling of very modern snark. The characters are terrifically well-drawn as is usual with Austen, the villians are deliciously fun to hate and the heroes the kind of people I wish I could be friends with. It's a lighter read and more loosely plotted than the major Austen books, but soooo much fun.