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)

"Be the Dress ... !" Regency-era romantic romp

Hard to put down! (great for a "lost weekend")
** I rarely give 5-🌟 rating across the board, but this audio performance of "Austenland" earned each & every 🌟 **

An engaging, riveting romp into Regency-era England with Jane, a contemporary, NYC-based Austen-phile. Join Jane, as she takes her first tentative steps into her fondest fantasy; later abandoning herself to revel in this "full-immersion" experience. Along the way, she learns some deeper lessons about her life, as she reflects on her past loves. The fresh & nuanced performance of the narrator, brilliantly brings-to-life this world & its characters in a palpable way.

Disappointed

Any additional comments?

I like this author and will probably read other books but I was disappointed with this one because it was just fluff.

Such Fun

What did you love best about Austenland?

I really enjoyed this book. It's great fun for all, but especially for all Austen lovers!

Creative and fun.

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

I want to go to Austenland. This book was cute and fun. It took the woos of a girls failed love life and mixed with her trying to get over the fact she will never find her Darcy.
Then she goes to this private, secret resort that takes you back to Austen time. FUN.
The dresses and propriety. She thought she found lust/love but who is sure when it's all an act.
Read to find out the ending.

What did you like best about this story?

The concept of going on a vacation where you can go to your favorite era.

Which scene was your favorite?

The end on the airplane.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

I want the sequel on audio.

Why cant there really be a an Austenland?!?!?!

seriously, why cant there really be an austenland? also, the book is great. the movie is so much better.

fantastic Beach read or vacation read

it's a bit of a slow start but once the book gets going it's absolutely fantastic. for Jane Austen fans of course and modern girls, a really enjoyable quick read with lots of humor. I actually wish they did a similar ending to the book than the movie but both are enjoyable

Really Enjoyable!!!

This is a lighthearted modern day escape for those who love Jane Austen's work. I laughed outright so many times but in my humble opinion, it was the Narrator. She is fantastic and it really surprised me how she breathed life into each character, some of them comical and some characters in serious mode, but it all was such fun to close my eyes and hear. I saw the movie and loved it which lead me to want to snatch up the book on Audible. All in All, I loved the book better than the movie and a large part of that is due to the Narrator. You GO Katherine Kellgren !!!!! 5 Stars !!!

A fun and witty romance!

I love the movie and wanted to read the book. Both were hilarious! I did like the movie better though, it seemed they smoothed out the plot better then the book. But full kudos to this writer for coming up with the original idea! My favorite thing about the book however was being able to hear the hilarious inner dialogue of Jane’s thoughts throughout. Her character was very adorable and relatable.

absolutely loved!

I saw the movie first. I am so pleased ased there is a book! I thoroughly enjoyed the book!

A Book Which Can be Put Down

Katherine Kellgren does such a good job narrating that she almost rescues this book. This is an interesting take on the Austen universe but I have to confess that this book can be put down. I am not certain why my reaction is so lukewarm. I think it because the real parts of the story and play acting are difficult to distinguish. I also couldn't seem to sympathize with the heroine. I really didn't like her and I don't know why. It puzzles me for I tend to suspend my disbelief on command of the author. I am willing to be led where ever the author wants to go. In this case, I think the heroine led a boring life, is bored, wants to be rescued and does nothing for herself: in short, she is boring. What kind of man would want to be around her? To say this in a different way: Miss Elizabeth Bennet wasn't sitting on her hands dreaming of a Darcy coming to her rescue. She lived and took her pleasures and disappointments as she found them. She was never boring. She will never be boring. Dittos for Anne Elliot, Elinor Dashwood, Fanny Price, Catherine Morland and certainly Emma Woodhouse. If woman (or a man) is leading an empty life, it is not Mr. Darcy's fault. Look to the mirror.