A modern woman, she struggles to stay in character and breaks a few rules with actors at the park. In the end, can she finally kick her Darcy obsession? Or will her three week trip result in something more?
Loved this book. Loved it! Such a fun, quick and light read. Hale wrote some great dialogue (Jane is snarky/sarcastic) that had me laughing out loud. Some of the flirting scenes tugged on the heartstrings. I enjoyed it so much that I stayed up ENTIRELY too late in order to finish it in one go!
In her debut novel for adults, Shannon Hale pays homage to Jane Austen in Austenland, an exclusive fantasy retreat where Regency England awaits wealthy Austen-obsessed female guests. Jane, a New York graphic designer "not yet four and thirty" doesn't quite fit in with this set, but was bequeathed an "Experience" by a wealthy great-aunt who uncovers her obsession with Mr. Darcy, especially as played by Colin Firth in the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. Could this be poisoning her relationships with modern-day men, and if so, would three weeks in Austenland be the cure?
The devoted Austen fan would relish Jane's immersion (therapy?) in Austenland, where she meets eligible Regency-era gentlemen as Jane Erstwhile, an escapist playground where it's hard to parse what is real and what is pretend for the client's paying pleasure. Those unfamiliar with Austen might have an occasional reference pass overhead, but the novel still serves up a delicious light sample of chick lit. Yet at times I wished there was more meat to Jane's character. While the reader learns more about her relationship history through italicized flashbacks at the beginning of the chapters that take place "on site," Jane begins as a rather one-dimensional girl, defined by her Darcy obsession, not necessarily the heroine for whom one would wholeheartedly root for a happy ending. Could a fear of physical intimacy be the root cause of both her failed relationships and Darcy obsession? If not for the Austen tie-in, Jane would need to be more psychological defined for the book to sustain interest. But as such, it was an enjoyable light read.
The movie version would be a welcomed guilty pleasure!
Rating: {An Unputdownable: couldnt eat or sleep until I finished this book}
Why Youre Reading It:
Youre an Austenite (lover of all things Jane Austen)
You love time travel type books
Youre a sucker for a good love story
What I thought:
First of all, Im a total Austenite. Plop me in front of any version of Pride and Prejudice and youve lost me for hours. I was hooked by the blurb on the front cover that told me of Jane Hayes, a single woman living in the city who is obsessed with Jane Austen. A wealthy relative gives her a trip to Austenland (an English resort that is set up as a Regency-era role play getaway). I had fun reading as Jane plunged herself into this new life (for three weeks) full of characters who are visiting and others who work there (ahem, cute men who of course become love interests). Austen fans will be tickled by the references to her books, and newcomers will enjoy a good chick-lit romp through time.
This is the type of book you could read in one gulp. Short, easy, sweet, with just enough romance to keep smiling.
