Book Review-Austenland by Shannon Hale

I made the mistake of picking up Shannon Hale’s first grownup book at 8:30, looking for a few chapters to read before turning in for the night. I shouldn’t have been surprised to find myself closing the book around midnight, having finished. Hale may be gaining notice for her writing in the young adult genre, but “Austenland” proved to me that she really needs to write more “big kid” books (actually, that’s a lie; we need more quality YA books).

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The novel begins with a lovely line reminiscent of Jane Austen herself – I want to say it parallels “Pride & Prejudice” but I am too lazy to walk downstairs and double check. We are quickly introduced to a woman who is far too enamored with P&P’s Mr. Darcy, particularly the Colin Firth version (which, thank you Mrs. Hale, I will now have to locate and watch!). Apparently, there is something about a man in breeches. Anyway, thirty-something year old Jane (yes, the name is not very subtly done) is having trouble with real-life romance because, face it, there is no man alive who can rival the infamous Darcy.

Recognizing the indulgence, a rich aunt bequeaths Jane a two week escape into Jane Austen’s world. Jane accepts the gift with the idea of ending her relationship with the fictitious hero and moving forward with the rest of her life. Clad in period-appropriate dresses, with a quick lesson in whist, Jane finds herself making inane conversation within a group of visitors and actors (not surprisingly, the men are all actors and the women al visitors).

There is, of course, the charming Colonel Andrews and the ever-exasperating Mr. Nobley (a man of perfect Mr. Darcy proportions!). The beautiful Miss Heartwright comes to call, along with the absolutely hysterical Miss Charming, a fifty-plus year old woman masquerading as under 20 and an awful British accent full of “tallyhos” and “spit-spots”. Miss Charming contributed greatly to the peals of laughter that kept my husband awake. But Jane, having finally reached her world of fiction, finds herself drawn to the gardener, a man who is never supposed to make eye contact, much less conversation. Amazing what living your dream can actually accomplish!

The novel, of course, is full of romantic intrigue a la Austen but the difference is that Jane recognizes that this time it is all in good fun – something she wasn’t very good at in real life, it seems. And yet, could a lasting romance be brewing? And the question on every reader’s mind – what is really going on in the mind of the elusive Mr. Darcy…er, I mean, Mr. Nobley?

As I said, the dialog and mishaps had me roaring with laughter all night long. Jane flung herself into several delectable exchanges with Nobley that revealed the author’s obvious fascination with Jane Austen’s world (oh, wait, I’m sure it was all about research). Unlike Austen’s novels, however, this one played a fine role of balancing between real life and pretend, while of course the Miss Bennetts were ever-so-serious when it came to marriage (most of them, anyway).

Having already read and loved “The Princess Academy“, I was quite impressed with this novel. I am looking forward to browsing the rest of Hale’s writings, as well. I did greatly enjoy reading a novel slanted for those of us grownups, and I know that anyone with a true Darcy fetish will greatly enjoy this book – as well as others, like me, who still can’t figure out why anyone would be attracted to the man!