Austenland

A Novel

By: Shannon Hale

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Jane is a young New York woman who never seems to find the right man - perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-obsessed women, however, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined. Is this total immersion in a fake Austenland enough to make Jane kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

©2007 Shannon Hale (P)2007 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers LLC

Critic reviews

"Endlessly charming." ( Publishers Weekly)
"A clever confection for fans of contemporary Austen knockoffs." ( Booklist)

Just another romance

If you are looking for an Austenesgue novel there are many better ones out there. This was not one of the better ones in the genre

delightful book

As a Jane Austen fan, I enjoyed listening to this audiobook but felt that the story was a bit short.

Easy Listening

If you’re looking for a fluffy listen that doesn’t require much concentration, this is it - light hearted, fun, predictable but who cares - just looking for a bit of entertainment. The narrator lost me when she did Martin’s voice - she went up an octave and have this 6’5” character a weird matronly presence - hard to fit him into his proper place within the story - but otherwise, well performed.

10/10 Recommend

I already loved this movie and the book did not disappoint. I am a Jane Austen junkie and for me, this book does the perfect job at making her modern.

I want to go there too

Would you try another book from Shannon Hale and/or Katherine Kellgren?

This author and narrator will be ones that I will look forward to again in the future. Shannon Hale's Austenland had a great tempo and I loved the balance of funny and sweet in this story. Katherine Kellgren brought each character to life with their very unique voices.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Austenland?

I can think of quite a few moments that made me smile and laugh, I am writing this review a few months after listening and I can still pull from memory most of this story, it was just that good.

Which scene was your favorite?

The end scene is just awesome and unexpected.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes!

Delicious

So fun! Just what I needed. Plunging into a Jane Austen fairy tale, from a modern girl in her NYC crummy apartment, rote daily job & disappointing boyfriends, to bonnets, strolls in the garden, tally-ho’s, and repressed passion. Who could want anything more. Fun, light, laugh out loud, a feel-good, and simply delightful. Just what the doctor ordered. Excellent performance by the talented narrator- just perfect.

favorite book ever!

I LOVE this book! It is such a fun spin on Austen fan fiction. if you love Austen, you'll love this book! it's funny, and just plain fun. :)

made me laugh

fun, light hearted and silly. a perfect lazy day listen. charming story line and relatable characters.

Left Me Wanting More!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I did recommend this book to several people. I also went out and bought the DVD (which is different from the book) before actually seeing the movie. I loved it that much.

What other book might you compare Austenland to and why?

Do I dare say, "Pride and Prejudice"? I am not sure what to compare it too. I don't read a lot of romance novels.

Have you listened to any of Katherine Kellgren’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. This is my first time listening to her performance. I think she did a great job. I enjoyed it completely. Her voices brought the characters to life for me.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I really loved the humor throughout the book, but I loved the ending on the airplane. I don't want to give anything else away. It was an original ending, but the movie did the predictable ending that I didn't want to happen. Of course.

Any additional comments?

I would highly recommend this book and then for a laugh, see the movie. They are both funny and enjoyable.

Fun and light

Fun, nothing heavy, laughed out loud several times. Interesting concept for anyone who also loves Jane Austin.