] She's plain and ordinary, a typical girl, but with plenty of character, though lacking in the usual accomplishments. Just like every girl in the world. I like the supposition that you don't have to be extraordinary in order to be the heroine of your own story.

The way this point is made that Catherine is NOT a typical heroine, it reminded me of the term "Mary Sue" that you run across in fan fiction. For anyone who hasn't heard the term, it means a heroine (or hero, in which case, "Gary Stu") who is like an idealized wish-fulfillment person. A Mary Sue would obviously be a glorified version of the author. Exceptionally beautiful, multi-talented, everyone who meets her loves her, and she ends up saving the day/world. In fanfic, "Mary Sue Syndrome" is usually considered something to avoid. I love the idea that if JA were around today, she might be posting to fanfiction sites and discussing Mary Sues in her own weblog!

]I like her enthusiasm for reading, the way she throws herself into it whole-heartedly. She's an affectionate friend and sister. She is quite willing to be happy and so usually is. I like that she is happy with a small compliment:

two gentlemen pronounced her to be a pretty girl. Such words had their due effect; she immediately thought the evening pleasanter than she had found it before

]That's just too cute to stand. ;-)

I like it, too. I instantly had a mental picture of her smiling over the compliment, with her heart beating a little faster.