⋙ PDF Free Austenland A Novel Shannon Hale Books

Austenland A Novel Shannon Hale Books

Download As PDF : Austenland A Novel Shannon Hale Books

Austenland A Novel Shannon Hale Books

A modern day tale Austen fans will truly adore, Shannon Hale brings humor, romance and charm to this fabulous ode to Jane Austen. In true Shannon Hale form, she creates an adorable story that is fun, and engaging as she took me along on Jane Hayes's little adventure. Jane Hayes is a character many Jane Austen fans will relate to. She's obsessed with Mr. Darcy. I mean obsessed to the point she hides her BB Pride & Prejudice watching, book reading addiction from everyone. Which is all the more reason why I love her. Who can blame her for love that little movie that many fans adore played by a certain British heart throb named Colin Firth. Certainly not this Mundie Moms. But, there's a tiny problem with being that obsessed with Mr Darcy and I'm sure many of us book fans can relate to this.... Mr. Darcy is fictional, but to a thirty something, single year old women who's looking for that perfect Mr. Darcy, Jane can't seem to find "the right" guy, because her sites are set on the fictional Mr. Darcy.

When Jane's aunt passes away, she leaves behind a gift for Jane, a trip to London for an exclusive vacation at the Pembrook Park. Any Austen fan would LOVE this trip! This park takes their guests back in time to Austen's era. Sounds like one of those fabulous get away from it all trips doesn't it? I know I'd enjoy that, but once Jane is there, I started to really sympathize with her. Every moment of the day and night you have to act like you're apart of this time period. You act the part, dress the part and during the duration of your your stay, you are apart of this time period. There's even balls to attend to do. Sounds fabulous right? There's also strict rules like no talking to the servants, no modern day devices, women aren't allowed to be with a man alone unless they're outside and in motion, women aren't allowed to roam freely about after dark and so on. It's during this time that Jane's love for this era starts to make her feel like an outsider, someone who doesn't fit in.

Don't worry, Jane definitely finds herself in some rather hilarious circumstances and of course Hale provides the right amount of romance that kept me completely hooked on this fabulously written story. Word of caution, do not pick this book up thinking it's a re-telling of a classic, it's far from it. It's simply a wonderful story that all Austen fans will enjoy, and Hale gives us fans something to swoon over and connect with in Jane. I am really looking forward to the sequel, Midnight in Austenland that releases next year. If you've ever wandered what it would be like to live in Jane Austen's time period, than I highly recommend picking up this fabulous clean cut book. You might want to read it before the movie comes out!!


Tags : Amazon.com: Austenland: A Novel (9781596912854): Shannon Hale: Books,Shannon Hale,Austenland: A Novel,Bloomsbury USA,1596912855,Family Life,Chick lit.,Single women;New York (State);New York;Fiction.,Vacations;England;Fiction.,AMERICAN NOVEL AND SHORT STORY,England,FICTION Family Life General,Fiction,Fiction - General,Fiction General,Fiction-General,GENERAL,General Adult,New York,New York (State),Single women,United States,Vacations

Austenland A Novel Shannon Hale Books Reviews

All I had to do was to read the back cover and I knew that I, as an age 60+ male, was very much not in the target audience for this book. But (1) having heard good things about the movie and (2) having been a Jane Austen fan for nearly 50 years, I was going to read this book regardless of publisher demographics.

The story is about a woman (also) named Jane who is what we can only call a bumbler when it comes to relationships. She is bequeathed a three-week visit to Pembrook Park, the "Austenland" of the novel. It's a place where wealthy women of disparate ages go to immerse themselves in the Austen era, wearing period clothes, doing period activities, and interacting with a local "cast" of actors who serve them and even woo them as part of the "experience." The women all pretend to be in their twenties and single so as to be seen as marriageable (in terms of period norms).

It's an interesting premise which works with mixed success.

As a male reader, I wasn't really interested in all the clothing details, although to be fair that aspect wasn't terribly overplayed. Nor was I especially taken in by Jane's various heart-flutters and reactions to the presence of attractive males. Like I said, I'm not in the target audience.

Austenland customers are exclusively female. There is nothing there for a male customer, and indeed, male customers would spoil the scripted experience that is provided for the wealthy paying females. But is there nothing in the novel for the male reader?

Actually, there's a lot, if you're willing to look for it and set publisher's demographics aside. Author Shannon Hale manages to touch on some important observations about the human condition. Jane Austen did the same, and that made her books timeless and universal. I won't say Ms. Hale reaches Ms. Austen's level. But she does quite well.

The plot is relatively lightweight, at least from where I sit. Jane goes back and forth, hope swells, hope is crushed, hope swells again; that much is typical romance fare. What does work is Jane as an evolving character, Jane's development in the way she views herself, her progress toward self-understanding and ultimately, what I can only call redemption.

The writing is excellent, and I am delighted that the author didn't attempt a faux-Austen writing style. Modern prose suits this novel well and doesn't at all interfere with the period concepts.

My summary is this. The "Austenland" concept itself is rather mixed and doesn't work completely. The plot is, well, not much. But the writing is good and the lead character is superb. What we learn about ourselves as character Jane learns about herself is what makes this book one to read. Even for age 60+ males.

So take that, publisher!
So I read this after having seen the movie, yes I know, I'm a horrible person.
That confession out of the way, there was actually enough difference between the book and the movie to keep me engaged throughout the reading.

I actually wish that they had done the start of the movie more like that start of the book, Jane not being a Colin Firth obsessed modern-day spinster. Also having her rediscovering her joy in painting while on vacation and deciding to change for herself and not for any of the guys was much more interesting.

Long story short, even if you've seen the movie the book is worth a read, and the humor still shine through.
A modern day tale Austen fans will truly adore, Shannon Hale brings humor, romance and charm to this fabulous ode to Jane Austen. In true Shannon Hale form, she creates an adorable story that is fun, and engaging as she took me along on Jane Hayes's little adventure. Jane Hayes is a character many Jane Austen fans will relate to. She's obsessed with Mr. Darcy. I mean obsessed to the point she hides her BB Pride & Prejudice watching, book reading addiction from everyone. Which is all the more reason why I love her. Who can blame her for love that little movie that many fans adore played by a certain British heart throb named Colin Firth. Certainly not this Mundie Moms. But, there's a tiny problem with being that obsessed with Mr Darcy and I'm sure many of us book fans can relate to this.... Mr. Darcy is fictional, but to a thirty something, single year old women who's looking for that perfect Mr. Darcy, Jane can't seem to find "the right" guy, because her sites are set on the fictional Mr. Darcy.

When Jane's aunt passes away, she leaves behind a gift for Jane, a trip to London for an exclusive vacation at the Pembrook Park. Any Austen fan would LOVE this trip! This park takes their guests back in time to Austen's era. Sounds like one of those fabulous get away from it all trips doesn't it? I know I'd enjoy that, but once Jane is there, I started to really sympathize with her. Every moment of the day and night you have to act like you're apart of this time period. You act the part, dress the part and during the duration of your your stay, you are apart of this time period. There's even balls to attend to do. Sounds fabulous right? There's also strict rules like no talking to the servants, no modern day devices, women aren't allowed to be with a man alone unless they're outside and in motion, women aren't allowed to roam freely about after dark and so on. It's during this time that Jane's love for this era starts to make her feel like an outsider, someone who doesn't fit in.

Don't worry, Jane definitely finds herself in some rather hilarious circumstances and of course Hale provides the right amount of romance that kept me completely hooked on this fabulously written story. Word of caution, do not pick this book up thinking it's a re-telling of a classic, it's far from it. It's simply a wonderful story that all Austen fans will enjoy, and Hale gives us fans something to swoon over and connect with in Jane. I am really looking forward to the sequel, Midnight in Austenland that releases next year. If you've ever wandered what it would be like to live in Jane Austen's time period, than I highly recommend picking up this fabulous clean cut book. You might want to read it before the movie comes out!!