Austenland: A Novel by Shannon Hale Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $3.50 You Save: $9.49 (73%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Austenland: A Novel
Book Review: Austenland, the Theme Park for the Rich
Summary: 4 Stars
Shannon Hale's Austenland: A Novel examines the twentieth century woman's obsession with Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy, and Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Jane Hayes, a very typical first name for a Jane Austenesque novel, is a thirty-something career woman in New York, whose mother is concerned that she has given up on love because of an unhealthy obsession with Mr. Darcy. An impromptu meeting with Jane's Great Aunt Carolyn changes the course of this woman's life when she is bequeathed a non-refundable trip to Austenland in England, which traditionally caters to the fantasies of the wealthy, trophy wives of powerful businessmen.
I saw this book on Eclectic Closet and added it to my list of Jane Austen spin-off reads. It also helps fulfill my Irresistable Review Challenge. I have only 2 more books to read to finish off this challenge.
***Spoiler Alert***
Jane is hesitant to take up the task of severing her ties with her Mr. Darcy fantasies in Austenland, but ultimately decides to go and reclaim her "real" self and her ability to have a relationship without worrying about how it would end before it even began.
She is a bit of a crazy character who numbers her boyfriends even if she only spent as little as a few weeks with them. She arrives at Austenland to be lectured by Mrs. Wattlesbrook about her finances and how she is not their typical client and that if she breaks the rules, she will be kicked out. Jane is uncomfortable in Regency clothes and manners from the start. The false manners and pretense grate on her nerves, which is when she begins to seek out some normalcy in Austenland and turns to the gardener, Martin. How cliche in my opinion, but for this book it worked. I was still rooting for Mr. Nobley...aka Mr. Darcy.
Through a series of bungling moments, Jane gets trapped up with Martin and untangled from him. She then falls into the trappings of Austenland and Mr. Nobley. By the time her vacation ends, Jane has grown and changed...become a stronger woman.
***End Spoiler Alert***
I like this book because it is entertaining. Jane Austen and Pride & Prejudice are my favorite part of classic literature. I like how Shannon Hale builds up Jane as a lost, romantic career woman who struggles to find her perfect man. I like how skeptical the character is throughout the Austenland experience and how she struggles with herself to stay focused on the act and immersing herself in the role she is expected to play. I also enjoyed how this character learned that she should not have given up her dreams and her artistic outlet of painting, despite her move to graphic design on a computer. Hale does a great job showing the reader how Jane evolves. The final scenes are spectacular and kept me enthralled until its conclusion.
Book Review: Average Read - Nice, Light Story
Summary: 3 Stars
As a fan of Jane Austen's work and an equally as big fan of Colin Firth, I thought that this was a cute premise for a book. A great storyline and I did like the Jane, the main character that was searching for Mr. Right, but having trouble getting over her obsession with Pride and Prejudice's Mr. Darcy and Colin Firth. Jane's aunt leave her a trip (in her will) to Austenland, perhaps in effort to get it out of her system.
I did have a bit of trouble connecting with the characters because they were all pretending to be people in 19th century England, so it was hard to tell who was acting and who was sincere. (as there was some of both)
Also, Austenland kind of creeped me out as for some it seemed to be a high priced place that rich people vacationed at to have encounters outside of their miserable marriages. It just didn't seem to be the magical place that it was painted as.
The ended was a little silly, but ultimately cute. I rather enjoyed reading it, but wouldn't go so far as to recommend it to anyone. Just an average read.
Book Review: Chick-lit fun for Austen Addicts
Summary: 4 Stars
It was fun to vacation with the main character,Jane, in Austenland. The story was vaguely ridiculous ( in a Bridget Jones sort of way) but that is part of the fun of this genre of books for Austen addicts. I thought Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict was better, but this one was fun too.Book Review: Clever and funny
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this on a lark, thinking of it as a diversion. I was surprised to find that the concept is well thought out and the characters quite engaging. This book pokes fun at and embraces Austen-mania at the same time. For a real treat, try the audiobook, as the reader does an excellent job with the voices and accents. Buy it, read it (or listen to it) and have fun!Book Review: Cute book.
Summary: 4 Stars
This was a cute book and a quick read. If you are an Austen addict it is fun. Shannon Hale writes very well for youth girls. It is nice to offer a book to them that is wholesome.