So, last night, I attended a virtual watch party for Northanger Abbey. It’s part of the course I’m taking called Trapped in a Gothic Novel (mentioned in last week’s comments) at the Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic.
Y’all, how is it 2024, and I’ve never done one of these?
Between watching the movie and reading all the witty comments, I didn’t have a chance to make any of my own (witty or otherwise; I’m not sure how the others kept up). My favorite of the night, in reference to the hero’s brother, Captain Tilney:
He’s handsome in that I-eat-live-scorpions-for-breakfast kind of way.
Up next is A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand, the authorized follow-up to Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House. Which would be fine, except …
I’ve never read The Haunting of Hill House because back in eighth grade, I read “The Lottery” and subsequently noped out on all things Shirley Jackson.
I’m not sure I can do this, but I’m going to dive into the reading this week … and hopefully not lose too much sleep.
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How is it 2024 and I’m only just now hearing about a movie version of Northanger Abbey? Sounds like something I need to add to our TBW list! Can’t believe that someone just came up with, “He’s handsome in that I-eat-live-scorpions-for-breakfast kind of way,” on the spur of the moment. They must have watched the movie before. I bet they’ve been waiting to use this line for a long, long time.
Good luck with the Shirley Jackson follow-up. I remember being intrigued by The Lottery back in the day — made me think — but not so intrigued that I ever read anything else. Maybe do that reading by the bright light of the lengthening days… save something more restful for right before bed.
From what I gathered during the watch party, the 2007 movie version with Felicity Jones is the best (and is fairly faithful to the novel as well).
You know, I think I agree about the scorpions comment. I’m holding it in reserve and hope to deploy it someday in a completely unrelated context.
And apparently I’ve been wrong all these years. I’m really enjoying Hill House so far.