I needed a reread of Shannon Hale’s romantic novel, Austenland. I read it years ago when I was watching the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. But, I never was as obsessed as Jane Hayes.
Only Jane’s best friend knows she yearns to be loved as Mr. Darcy loves Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Jane’s been looking for love since she was four years old, and she has a list of her disastrous boyfriends to prove it. But, her Great-Aunt Carolyn finds Jane’s hidden DVD, and calls her on it, telling her not to live in a fantasy world. When Carolyn dies six months later, she leaves Jane something in her will. It’s an all-inclusive three-week vacation at Pembrook Park, Kent, England, where the guests and actors pretend it’s 1816. Jane assumes she’ll get over her Mr. Darcy fantasy, but she secretly hopes she’ll find her own Mr. Darcy.
Why does Jane love Pride and Prejudice? “Besides being witty and funny and maybe the best novel ever written, it’s also the most perfect romance in all of literature, and nothing in life can ever measure up.” Jane finds that nothing in life measures up when she arrives in Pembrook Park as a poor relative, the last one to enter dinner every night, and the one who falls for an under-gardener instead of one of the gentlemen. It doesn’t take her long to realize the clothes are constricting, and the women wait around all day for the men. Their lives are boring.
With less than a week to go, Jane decides to let go and finally enjoy the experience. Can she let her true self come through, and just love the woman she is at thirty-two, even if she might not find her Mr. Darcy?
Austenland is funny and witty with a protagonist who grows in the course of her three week vacation. She finally learns what she’s been looking for, and that’s she’s trying too hard. It’s a fun escape into a romantic world.
Shannon Hale’s website is https://shannonhale.com/
Austenland by Shannon Hale. Bloomsbury, 2007. 196p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
I’m just going to say it: The only reason I finished Pride and Prejudice is that it was assigned to me in school, and I had to take a test on it.
I believe that, Glen. It doesn’t strike me as your type of book.
Here’s a book I never heard of that sounds fun–thanks, Lesa. Not all modern spinoffs of P+P deserve re-reading (or even reading once, in some cases!), but if you wanted to read one again, I know it’s good!
You’re right, Kim. I’ve seen some really bad spinoffs of Austen’s work, not just P&P. This one is fun. It had been so many years that I forgot what happened, but I was just as enjoyable this time around.
The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow was also very good.
Thank you, Jennifer!
I read the title here and was almost certain that I had read this one – a long time ago. Took a look and, yes, I did read it in August of 2007. I feel like I really liked it. Thanks for reminding me about it, Lesa. Might want to try it again if my library has it.
That’s funny, Kay. You feel like you really liked it.
I also have Hale’s book Midnight in Austenland at home. I won’t read it immediately, though.