As soon as I had seen the title and read the synopsis inside the front cover, I was hooked. It seemed completely up my alley, what with my obsession with Jane Austen, Mr. Darcy, the Regency Era and New York. After picking it up from that book sale I went to a month ago, I began reading it just as soon as I finished The Lord of the Rings. The first few chapters drew me in with great speed. I absolutely fell in love with the setting, the costumes, the speech and the men. But after that glorious introduction to Austenland, the story fell flat. I began to grow bored with the characters and the plot. I knew right away who Jane would end up with at the end, so there were no surprises or twists to keep me entertained. I can’t help but feel a little disappointed with Shannon Hale, because this novel could have been so much more than it was. Instead, I ended up not caring at all about the ending or how the characters would turn out. Jane was annoying and I couldn’t help chiding her in my mind because as much as I love Jane Austen’s world, I can’t imagine stepping out of my ordinary life to have fake affairs with gentlemen in suits and falling in love with the era, only to be plucked right out of it after a few weeks time and being thrown back to reality. I enjoyed Shannon Hale’s witty writing, but I still maintain that Austenland could have been much better and more interesting. To view more of my book reviews, visit: http://booksteame.com/

View more of my review and others at my blog: www.mynotsovacantshelf.blogspot.com I guess I expected a little too much when I read this. I was expecting to be wisped away like I was when I first read Pride and Prejudice or Emma. That’s not saying this novel wasn’t good, because it was. The novel is a modern day remake of Pride and Prejudice where Jane is going to a resort where she would be playing the role of an Austen character, and actually ends up becoming a modern day Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice. Now, the Mr. Darcy was pretty swoon worthy…that I will admit. I liked everything about him and his surly attitude. But, they are all actors so I wondered if he was really like that. Mr. Darcy isn’t Mr. Darcy without the surly attitude and I’m not sure I would love him if he weren’t surly. The novel was a cute read that had me smiling, but I found there were a lot of things that seemed a bit slow, and not necessarily important. I did expect some of the other characters to fit Austen’s characters more, and some did, but some also didn’t and I guess I will a little disappoint. But, I mean I couldn’t expect just a modern retelling of the original story, because that would not be what Hale had in mind. I have to admit I still like the read. I smiled thinking about all things Darcy and all things Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I was brought back into the world of Austen and it would be a dream come true if I was able to spend a day in the story of Pride and Prejudice. I think I would potentially feel like Jane Hayes if I spent more time there that a day or two. I would probably get bored and want a shower. But still, one can dream, right? Good: Jane—a pretty good modern day Elizabeth Bennet with some twists of her own. Mr. Darcy—the original bad boy always makes me swoon, and to dream that he could be real and in our modern world makes my knees go weak. Bad: The novel at times was a little slow. Overall (Writing style, story line, and general): Overall the novel was well written. I never had to re-read, and I never misunderstood anything. The idea of going to a place called Austenland was original and inviting. Some of the story line was a little slow, but overall the characters were unique and interesting to read about. And of course anything to do with Jane Austen and her characters makes me smile.

Jane is a thirty-something, single New Yorker, with an obsession for Jane Austen, and in particular, Pride and Prejudice and Colin Firth. When she gets a chance to travel to England for 3 weeks to immerse herself in Austen’s 19th century England, she feels it would be a good time to heal and swear off men for good. When she finds life in this world a little bit dull, she finds some distraction in the gardener, and ends up immersing herself in her character, Miss Jane Erstwhile. I loved it! What a fun book! It was humourous and fun to read about how Jane would try to give up her 21st century technology to fit into the early 19th century. It might help that I just read Pride and Prejudice a few months ago (and saw the movies), but I don’t think you have to have read the book or have seen the movies to enjoy this book.

A real enjoyable read for anyone who loves Jane Austin. Jane Hayes has been a fan of Austin, and in love with Mr. Darcy, for a long time. When Jane's aunt dies she leaves her a non refundable trip to Austenland. A victorian age role playing resort where Jane will get to dive head first into her fantasies of living in the Austian times. While at the resort Jane gets to dress the part and act like a real Victorian lady. She even meets her own Darcy stand in Mr. Nobley. This books is fun chick lit, great for anyone who ever fantasized about being Elizabeth Bennet and getting whisked off their feet by Mr. Darcy.

I am not an Austen purist and I really like the movie adaptations of her books, as such "Austenland" was a great piece of related fluff! Jane Hayes is a thirty-something graphic designer who is obssessed with "Pride and Prejudice", especially the Colin Firth adaptation of Mr. Darcy. After a long string of boyfriends who never cut the mustard (usually because they are just not Darcy-esque enough), her great Aunt sees through her obsession and in her will leaves her great niece a voucher and a plane ticket to three weeks in a Regency-era resort called Pembrooke Park. There all must truly act as it were 1816 and everything is accurate to the last detail (except make up, no one wants to walk around without even a stitch of mascara). Jane resolves to wear her Darcy obsession out and possibly even give up men entirely, but two men stand in her way: Martin and Mr. Nobbley. Good, fun story. Chick-lit at its finest!

If you've ever wondered how a modern woman would fare in Regency-era England, even a Jane Austen obsessed woman, here's your answer. My first experience with audio-books, I found it was engaging modern chick-lit meets Pride and Prejudice. A woman who has had a string of boyfriends, which she recounts throughout the narrative, has been unsatisfied because none of them is as wonderful as Mr. Darcy. She is given a fantasy vacation as a gift; three weeks in England, on an estate, living as if in the Regency era. She is determined to go and get this obsession out of her system. She doesn't count on meeting her own Mr. Darcy. It was charming, funny, insightful and informative about the manners and customs of the time. The format of the audiobook was an interesting change for me, and made a long car ride more enjoyable. It had 5 cd's with 10 tracks each, so you could easily pick up where you left off.

"Austenland" by Shannon Hale is about a New York woman named Jane who is obsessed with Colin Firth who plays Mr. Darcy in the BBC adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice". Jane's wealthy aunt leaves Jane a trip to a resort in England that caters to Austen obsessed fans. Jane's experience at this resort tends to be a bit more realistic then she was expecting and in the end she may end up with her own Mr. Darcy. Being a fan of "Pride and Prejudice" both the book and the BBC adaptation, I just had to read this book. I did like it, but I found it lacking in depth and missing substance. It is a light hearted quick read, but if you are looking for the intensity and the beauty of conversation that is found in "Pride and Prejudice" you will be disappointed.

This was a cute piece of fluff. It was entertaining and funny but I’m not too sure about combining Austen and Chick Lit. I’ve read Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and Me. & Mr. Darcy as well, and so far I have found all of them not so successful Austen fan fiction (note to self why do I keep reading these??). I guess if you are a fan of Austen you need to read anything remotely related but I recommend the Pamela Aidan series over these Chick Lit versions.

Shannon Hale is a good storyteller unfortunately it’s not evident in this novel. This is a novel that is extremely predictable and not a joy to read. If you’re lucky you’ll laugh twice while reading it.