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valtherizzle's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
caitlaird's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
abitterknitter's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
utahmomreads's review
4.0
Several friends have read and enjoyed Austenland by Shannon Hale and I was in the mood for some seriously light reading. My brain seems to have turned off this holiday season. Austenland turned out to be exactly what I was looking for this week.
I was actually pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the story of Jane Hayes, obsesssed with Mr. Darcy (aka Colin Firth), goes on vacation to Pembrook Park, Kent, England. I'm sure there aren't many women who haven't dreamed at least for a second that they were back in Jane Austen's England. I'm not even a super-Austen fan (I've only read four of her novels) and yet . . .
Jane Hayes soon becomes Miss Erstwhile and is immersed into the world of Pembrook Park and the stuffy, politeness and gentility of the handsome actors that inhabit it. Jane is trying desperately to leave her obsessions behind her so that she can successfully move on to reality.
Hale's writing is witty and engaging in this squeaky clean novel.
I was actually pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the story of Jane Hayes, obsesssed with Mr. Darcy (aka Colin Firth), goes on vacation to Pembrook Park, Kent, England. I'm sure there aren't many women who haven't dreamed at least for a second that they were back in Jane Austen's England. I'm not even a super-Austen fan (I've only read four of her novels) and yet . . .
Jane Hayes soon becomes Miss Erstwhile and is immersed into the world of Pembrook Park and the stuffy, politeness and gentility of the handsome actors that inhabit it. Jane is trying desperately to leave her obsessions behind her so that she can successfully move on to reality.
Hale's writing is witty and engaging in this squeaky clean novel.
akookieforyou's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5*
"Henry kissed the way he talked-his entire attention taut, focused, intensely hers. His touch was a conversation, telling her again and again that only she in the whole world really mattered. His lips only drifted from hers to touch her face, her hands, her neck.
And when he spoke, he called her Jane."
I actually had quite a fun time reading this... when I got past the first quarter that is. The beginning was a bit tough to get through honestly, and I had considered DNFing it entirely because of that, but thankfully once Jane actually gets to Austenland and starts enjoying her time there, the book itself really picks up.
The romance and story are very sweet, and feel very reminiscent of something Jane Austen would write, even down to having a bastard love interest that Jane nearly falls for. It was a touch annoying how Jane felt so ashamed of her love of Mr. Darcy and Pride and Prejudice though. Obviously you shouldn't let a fictional crush overshadow real love, but hiding your DVD seems like overkill. Besides that though, Jane really grew on me as a protagonist, and she had some really amusing thoughts, I even laughed aloud occasionally.
Definitely recommend for any chicklit and Jane Austen fans, the movie is quite fun too.
"Henry kissed the way he talked-his entire attention taut, focused, intensely hers. His touch was a conversation, telling her again and again that only she in the whole world really mattered. His lips only drifted from hers to touch her face, her hands, her neck.
And when he spoke, he called her Jane."
I actually had quite a fun time reading this... when I got past the first quarter that is. The beginning was a bit tough to get through honestly, and I had considered DNFing it entirely because of that, but thankfully once Jane actually gets to Austenland and starts enjoying her time there, the book itself really picks up.
The romance and story are very sweet, and feel very reminiscent of something Jane Austen would write, even down to having a bastard love interest that Jane nearly falls for. It was a touch annoying how Jane felt so ashamed of her love of Mr. Darcy and Pride and Prejudice though. Obviously you shouldn't let a fictional crush overshadow real love, but hiding your DVD seems like overkill. Besides that though, Jane really grew on me as a protagonist, and she had some really amusing thoughts, I even laughed aloud occasionally.
Definitely recommend for any chicklit and Jane Austen fans, the movie is quite fun too.
bibliobrandie's review
3.0
I picked up this audio book for a long drive over the weekend. It was light and fluffy, but a perfect audio companion for my trip. Great reader, too.