E. Gaskell was one of many authors we had to read during my too fast and too short studies of English at university. I confess that I avoided reading Cranford exactly for a lack of plot you mention. Instead of that, I read "Mary Barton". I must say that I liked it very much, even that "utopic socialism" together with realistic descriptions.
I also like J.Austen very much for her clever irony and witty comments, also great characters.