Austenland by Shannon Hale
Jane Hayes is thirty-something and single with an obsession for Mr. Darcy and all things Austen. Not just any Mr. Darcy--Colin Firth's portrayal, to be specific. (Me personally, I've never met a Mr. Darcy I didn't like, anyway, let's just say I related well to Jane.)
Jane is intelligent and capable, yet she lacks confidence and has forgotten what joys her own life has to offer. She visits a wealthy great aunt who seems to be one of the few people who understand her. Six months later this aunt dies and bequeaths Jane an all-expense paid trip to Austenland, where women can escape their realities for the romance of a bygone era.
When Jane checks in she leaves her clothes, all of her belongings (almost all), and her identity behind. She is allowed few modern day conveniences but has to where the corsets, eat the food, and participate in the activites of Austen's time. Jane is finally in the middle of a Jane Austen book, and of course wants her old life back. She resists the false part of the story and is attracted to what she thinks is real.
Her journey through Austenland is a path of self-discovery. Like most of us, Jane really hasn't taken the time to figure out what it is she really wants. Eventually she is able to let go of old Jane as she finds new Jane.
That narrative is enchanting and the dialogue is clever--almost as good as Jane Austen, herself. I wasn't ready for the book to end when Jane's vacation came to a close. Luckily, there were a few surprises saved for the end.
One of my daughters thought it was too dramatic. That made it funny to me because I've worked with many drama queens. It's a farce. I thought it more understated and subtle. Basically, this story succeeded in entertaining me. It was a fun, romantic frolic. I give it 4.5 stars out of 5.
Austenland was made into a movie this last summer starring Keri Russell. Stephanie Meyer (Twilight author) is the producer. Midnight in Austenland, a companion book with a new heroine, is set to be released Jan 31, 2012. You can pre-order on B & N website. It sounds like another fun read with a little suspense thrown into the mix.