I picked up this book as part of my reading for Jane Austen week, celebration of 200 years since the publishing of Pride and Prejudice. The book started off well, although the plot became slightly absurd somewhere in between, and I was glad when the book ended. 
 When one has read Austen's better works like Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, works like Emma and Northanger Abbey can be irritating. At least I could finish reading this one, with Emma, there was no hope. 
 The social commentary of course, is acidic and strikes right at the point. The book traces Catherine Morland to her visits to Bath, her stay in Northanger Abbey, and her eventual marriage. The plot is very typical, and goes below par with the beginning of her stay at Northanger Abbey. 
 Maybe I shouldn't be so harsh, considering it was the first book that Austen completed. 
 Although, I should add that humour and sarcasm has been used well-enough and in the right places. The obsession regarding marriage and all things related to it has been detected and spoken of, rather skilfully. 
 Yet, compared to Mr. Darcy or the Dashwood sisters, the characters pale out. 
 Overall, it can be called average at best.