OutAustenlandish
Jane Austen's novels are some the best-loved of all time, most notably among the seemingly-condemned-to-spinsterhood group. What happens when one Darcy-loving spinster-to-be finds herself on the trip of a lifetime in Austenland? I read Shannon Hale's take on a story of a girl thrown into the ultimate Regency fairy tale and I was utterly enchanted myself.
Jane Hayes has bad luck with men. Her 13 ex-boyfriends exemplify that. But worse than her string of break-ups is her reaction to the break-ups. Every time, she turns back to the comforting fantasy of Mr. Darcy (as played by Colin Firth, of course). Jane sits at home, watching her hidden Pride & Prejudice DVD and mooning over Austen's heroes instead of real men. When Jane's great-aunt bequeaths her a trip to Pembroke Park, an immersive Austen experience, Jane is at first hesitant. Is diving fully into her fantasy the right choice? Or will having the full Regency lifestyle finally help her kick her Darcy habit and join the real world? With witty men in breeches, gardeners equipped with contraband root beer and Knicks, corsets, dancing, and all sorts of capital-R Rules, Jane's adventure in Austen's world will surely produce some result, even if it's not the one she expected.
Shannon Hale has been one of my favorite authors for ages. While this is the first time I've read one of her "adult" novels, her YA books are great. I was not let down by Austenland. Hale's distinctively straightforward and chirpy voice sparks off the pages, giving Jane a real, vibrant personality. The supporting characters are well-drawn and feel like a proper part of their world. I actually saw the movie version of Austenland before I read the book. The movie was really well done- while there were obviously things missing, the heart of the story was kept and the characters were exceptionally cast. It was actually helpful to have watched the movie, as it helped me visual the characters and world a bit more easily.
Overall, Austenland was a great Regency romp with a memorable heroine, witty banter, and a happy ending in the vein of Austen herself. Grab yourself a cup of tea and curl up with this great read!
Plot: A
Characters: A-
Overall: A
Jane Hayes has bad luck with men. Her 13 ex-boyfriends exemplify that. But worse than her string of break-ups is her reaction to the break-ups. Every time, she turns back to the comforting fantasy of Mr. Darcy (as played by Colin Firth, of course). Jane sits at home, watching her hidden Pride & Prejudice DVD and mooning over Austen's heroes instead of real men. When Jane's great-aunt bequeaths her a trip to Pembroke Park, an immersive Austen experience, Jane is at first hesitant. Is diving fully into her fantasy the right choice? Or will having the full Regency lifestyle finally help her kick her Darcy habit and join the real world? With witty men in breeches, gardeners equipped with contraband root beer and Knicks, corsets, dancing, and all sorts of capital-R Rules, Jane's adventure in Austen's world will surely produce some result, even if it's not the one she expected.
Shannon Hale has been one of my favorite authors for ages. While this is the first time I've read one of her "adult" novels, her YA books are great. I was not let down by Austenland. Hale's distinctively straightforward and chirpy voice sparks off the pages, giving Jane a real, vibrant personality. The supporting characters are well-drawn and feel like a proper part of their world. I actually saw the movie version of Austenland before I read the book. The movie was really well done- while there were obviously things missing, the heart of the story was kept and the characters were exceptionally cast. It was actually helpful to have watched the movie, as it helped me visual the characters and world a bit more easily.
Overall, Austenland was a great Regency romp with a memorable heroine, witty banter, and a happy ending in the vein of Austen herself. Grab yourself a cup of tea and curl up with this great read!
Plot: A
Characters: A-
Overall: A
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