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: Hale is Brilliant as Ever
Summary: 4 Stars
Austenland is the story of Jane Hayes, "a thirty-something woman in possession of a satisfying career and a fabulous hairdo," who finds herself unmarried and harboring a dangerous obsession with the A&E production of Pride and Prejudice. Her aged great-aunt figures out Jane's little secret and leaves something special for Jane in her will: an all expense paid trip to Pembrook Park, Kent, England.
At Pembrook Park, Austen's world comes alive with everyone taking on a different "character" and every detail of Victorian life painstakingly reproduced (right down to the corsets!). It is quite funny to follow Jane's slow conversion to playing along with things, and read about her internal struggle between fantasy and reality. I laughed out loud several times, and found myself smiling through nearly the entire reading.
If this book hasn't been optioned as a film yet, it should be. PRONTO! That way I can eventually put the DVD right next to my own copy of the A&E masterpiece and have more outlets for my own Austen addiction!
Book Review: Hit the Snooze Button
Summary: 1 Stars
What a waste of time. This story has no real romance, and there is no connection or even flirtation with the main character (Jane) and her D'Arcy. What I'm sure sounded like a clever concept for the publishers does not translate for good storytelling.Book Review: I Love This Book!
Summary: 5 Stars
I first found this book at the library and loved the story so much that I had to buy it. It's a very fun story for anyone who loves Jane Austen novels and thinks about what it would have been like to live in that era.
Book Review: I Want to go to Austenland!!!!!
Summary: 4 Stars
First of all, I love Shannon Hale. I love her writing. This book was so unique and funny. It is short, to the point and I think there is a part of the main character, Jane, that most women can relate to.
Jane is in her early 30's, single, and obsessed with Pride and Prejudice, particularly the BBC adaptation starring Colin Firth. Every relationship she has doesn't work out because, let's face it, who can stand up against Mr. Darcy.
Jane's idea of love and how it should all work out is written out in Austen's words. When her aunt suddenly dies and leaves Jane an odd present she is forced to confront her obsession head-on. She sends her on a vacation to England. Not just any tour of the English countryside, but a full immersion into a Jane-Austen-style-theme resort. I love it! I wanted to go as I was reading it!
In her immersion in all things Austen, she connects with a part of herself deep inside and goes through a period of self-discovery. She thought she knew what she wanted...but she was wrong.
I don't care if I would look silly. I would LOVE to go to an Austenlandish place for a few days. What a fun way to get to play dress-up as an adult. I have to praise Shannon Hale for the originality of this book. It is a nice short read that flows well. I like how it is written in limited 3rd person so we get a birds-eye view of every thing.
I LOVED this book. I don't say that about many books. There are many I like a lot. But this is one of the few I can say I loved. There is something so real about Jane's character and how many women are in love with being in love. We can get so preoccupied with the idea of "love" that we don't allow it to find us. I loved Jane's journey. I loved Pembrook Park. I don't think I was or ever will be quite as obbsessed as Jane or some of the other guests, but wouldn't it be so much fun!
I think that's what it is. There is a little bit of Jane (the character, not Jane Austen) in all of us. The fantasy man, escapism, ideas of ideal romances. Jane is a bit on the extreme side, but we can all relate to her. I highly recommend this book to any Austen or non-Austen fan. It's a nice short read with plenty of substance. One last note, this book is a totally clean read. There is nothing that might make anyone squirm. No language, sex scenes, etc.
~Jenn
Book Review: I'd love to go there myself
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved this book! It was funny (like laugh out loud) and I sat with a big dopey grin on my face through most of it. Very clever and just plain fun. I loved trying to figure out the various characters and plots and how they related to the original Austen works.
It did some kissing and such, but nothing untoward.
I highly recommend this book to any Jane Austen fan. I love it so much I kept the copy my sister 'lent' to me. Sorry, Amy - your new copy is in the mail.
Make haste and read this book.
*taken from my review at goodreads