Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Wednesday=Book Review Time--Austen fantasy

Up for today: AUSTENLAND by Shannon Hale

Austenland: A Novel

Why I bought it? I really enjoy Shannon Hale's writing. I love Jane Austen. I was curious to see what Hale would do with the idea. I'd seen mixed reviews for it, but still figured I'd give it a try. I looked around for it at bookstores while I was there, but no one ever seemed to have it in stock. In the end, I ordered it from Amazon.

Synopsis: Jane Hayes has been obsessed with Mr. Darcy for years. Her relationships never seem to measure up. She receives a non-refundable gift of a 3 week stay at a Jane Austen experience retreat. She decides to try for love one last time before she gives up men forever.

What I thought? It was charming. Hale's voice makes this fun and witty. It could have deteriorated into something sentimental and sappy, but Hale never lets it. There are interesting twists and turns and unexpected things popping up. In a book like this, when you think you know what to expect, it was fun not to.

My Rating: ****1/2 out of 5

Cleanness Score: 3 out of 10, It's all pretty tame. I can't remember any language, but there may have been the occasional mild word. There was a bit of gratuitous make-out kissing, but nothing explicit.

13 comments:

Judy Croome | @judy_croome said...

Sounds like an ideal book when one just wants to chill out and relax with some happy entertainment!

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

Thx for the heads-up on that book. I just watched a DVD I enjoyed called "Lost in Austen" about a modern woman who finds herself in the middle of "Pride and Prejudice."

Patti said...

I could use some fun and witty. I've been reading and writing too much gloom and doom.

Alyssa said...

Sounds like a good weekend read. Or if I need something to get away from schoolwork. :)

kah said...

Hmmm. My "to read" list is so long right now that I'm only adding 5 out of 5's. But glad you enjoyed it and shared your thoughts.

Michelle D. Argyle said...

Wow, great review! This has been one I've considered putting on my list for awhile.

Kasie West said...

Cool. I'll have to add this one to my list. I just bought my first Hale book yesterday (I know, how have I not read her before?) so I'm excited to get a feel for this author. Thanks for the review.

lotusgirl said...

I hope those of you who pick it up enjoy it as much as I did.

Kelly H-Y said...

Excellent ... thanks for the heads-up!

About Me said...

Sounds like a good book for a beach read, now if I could just find that beach where the temperature isn't 35 degrees

Pen Pen said...

I love Jane Austen!!! Mr. Darcy and I are engaged in my head!! :)

I hope they didn't have any language!! Elizabeth Bennett wouldn't STAND for it!!! :)

lotusgirl said...

It would make a great chill out read for the beach or the mountain lodge scene or wherever. I did a lot of my reading sitting around waiting for kids. It seems like that is a good chunk of my life.

Stephanie Perkins said...

I thought this was fun, too! Have you read Shannon Hale's latest adult novel, The Actor and the Housewife? It was on my to-read list all summer, but I still haven't gotten to it.

(And, of course, I just picked up Forest Born, so there's that as well!)