KIRKUS REVIEW

So if you liked Northanger or Austenland , read it. If you didn't, don't. And if this made any sense, give me a thumbs up or a nod, or something But were I normally think "Catherine, you so silly! View all 8 comments. Nov 26, Jennifer rated it really liked it Shelves: Charlotte's had it with reality - ex-husbands, second wives, kids who think she exists only to serve.

So it's off to Austenland, a fantasy resort where men are gentleman and you wish they weren't.

But all is not as it seems on this quiet estate - there's something sinister in the air. But an Austen heroine never shies away from danger - especially the handsome male kind. Let's face it, we've all been there. Wishing for escape and adventure - and a Mr. Darcy in a wet shirt would not go unappreci Charlotte's had it with reality - ex-husbands, second wives, kids who think she exists only to serve. Darcy in a wet shirt would not go unappreciated. Of course, we're forgetting about the practicalities; those damned corsets, and what exactly are you supposed to do all day?

There's only so many teacups you can paint. Maybe those many "invalids" have the right idea; lounge around claiming the vapours and have gorgeous men bring you cups of tea. Charlotte's real problem is what to do when the fantasy's over. Obviously she falls for the actor behind her handsome suitor, but can the romance carry over to the real world? Never fear, gentle reader, Charlotte acquits herself admirably, proving that Austen is a state of mind.

No matter the century, a true Austen heroine is capable of keeping her old-fashioned ideals while offering the world a modern perspective on what it is to be a woman. This is a satisfying read. There are so many Austen offshoots on the market, but the concept of a theme vacation rises above the rest - it's such a good idea you want to hit Google and make a reservation. Make a date with yourself to read this - plan on being "not at home" to visitors, unless of course Colin Firth shows up after a sudden downpour.

May 01, Valerie rated it really liked it Recommended to Valerie by: Charlotte is our heroine. She is a nice mother and okay divorce who is having a hard time adjusting to single life. Should she forget about dating or should she give all her friends a chance to set her up. Well how about option three? Be enchanted by a hunky guy. Ditch your jeans for corsets and you can even change your name; be someone else entirely.

There are some major hesitations on her part which I can understand. It is very weird. Paying people to pretend to fall in love with you and act nice to you? I have a hard enough time with the shoe salespeople at the mall who say every shoe looks 'super cute'. There is no way I could stomach a vacation like that.

But Charlotte decides to give it a try.

Midnight in Austenland : A Novel

Things become more Northanger Abby when she sees a glimpse of a dead body in a secret room. This gives it a mystery but I wasn't really interested in it half the time. However, this book is so incredibly funny. It has so many one liners. If you like funny chick lit then by all means you should've already read this.

Miss Charming is too funny, I'm glad Hale brought her back from Austenland. It wouldn't have been nearly as funny otherwise. Every time I read one of Hale's books I always remember that she is a good writer. She gave Austenland a great atmosphere. Especialy when Charolette and the gang were exploring the grounds. Also, the way she does the austenish writing I thought was really good.

Hale put it in a way that reminded me of Austen's writing without seeming like it was trying to copy it. And of course Charlotte.

AUSTENLAND - Clip "Mr. Darcy" - Ab 17.10.13 im Kino!

Such a nice person and believe it or not that isn't a bad thing. Sure it got her hurt but it gives her strength as well. She has a way of knowing what to say to make people feel better, though for the life of her she doesn't know how to handle Mr. And for some reason she can't find the right words to help herself but maybe Austenland can with its charm and characters. Just my side note that you can ingnore: I listen to soundtrack music while I read sometimes and I'm a fan of the Becoming Jane soundtrack.

While I was listening and reading, I came to the climax of the romance part of the story and the Rose Garden worked perfectly with it. Feb 04, anieva rated it it was ok.

See a Problem?

I'm just a few pages in,but I have a preliminary opinion. I am fearful it won't change too much. I enjoyed the first Austenland, even though there were some challenges in it. It was light and frothy and fun. This book so far shows few signs of froth and fun. That could change, though. This is a good thing. But there are lots of cliches so far - and I'm just on page 7 or 8. They're cliches and they are not done well, either. You understand what Hale is getting at - for example in the magazine exce I'm just a few pages in,but I have a preliminary opinion.

You understand what Hale is getting at - for example in the magazine excerpts - but it doesn't ring true. The characters don't seem to have their own voices. The daughter is 13 on one page and 14 three pages later. That's not a big deal, but didn't Austenland have an inconsistency or two, also? This reminded me of that. Don't publishers have proofreaders? Also, the tone of the book so far is, of course, trying to mimic Northanger Abbey but it seems out of place. As far as plot goes, it's strange to have a grown woman sneaking through bushes trailing her young daughter's equally young boyfriend, and then hiring a detective to do the same.

That's not balanced, and it's almost ignored that it's, in so many different ways, so very highly dumb to do that, even if a mother is worried about her daughter. I don't believe, either, that the main character would read so much Austen in a weekend. And, I can't respect a character who has never read a novel in her adult life that wasn't Agatha Christie. This is a person who just launches into Jane Austen's works? It doesn't feel real. I'm surprised at all the great ratings here.

Perhaps that means it's going to get better. I will say that I love that Hale had this idea of a Jane Austen-themed resort and that she seems to be using it for more books. I hope she continues, but with more levity and,maybe, a tone that makes me believe she's an Austen afficionado. I like also that her books seem to be sweet and stay away from silly, unnecessary vulgarity that so many people often mistake for sophistication.

Hale just wants to tell a good story in an inoffensive, entertaining way, and I think that's great. I hope the writing gets better, though. I know it seems silly to write so much after just a few pages, but I was reading today and had so many thoughts about the book! Jan 27, Kathy rated it really liked it Shelves: I'm a huge Shannon Hale fan. I love Jane Austen. Cross the two and inevitably you will come up with something I will love.

I got a kick out of reading Austenland and am looking forward to the upcoming movie. Austenland was a stand alone book so I was both surprised and excited when I heard there was a sequel coming out.


  • Midnight in Austenland: A Novel: Shannon Hale: Bloomsbury USA!
  • The Training of Masters Girl (The Naughty Girl Series Book 1).
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Shannon Hale entertains me. Her books draw me in and make me laugh.

MIDNIGHT IN AUSTENLAND by Shannon Hale | Kirkus Reviews

There is no denying I had high expectations for this book. In all honestly, through the first half of this boo I'm a huge Shannon Hale fan. In all honestly, through the first half of this book I was a little disappointed. I wasn't relating to the characters, I wasn't falling for the love interest, I wasn't laughing But this was Shannon Hale so there was no way I was going to put the book down so I kept reading. It took me until nearly the half way point of this book to really start loving it.

Don't get me wrong, it was a good book but my expectations were really high. By the half way point I finally started laughing and relating to the characters and falling for the love interest. I'm not sure why there was a delay for me, but I'm glad I stuck with it because it was worth it. Midnight in Austenland is based upon Austen's Northanger Abbey which is not one of my favorite Austen novels.

Like the book it's based on, Midnight in Austenland is a little more mystery and wild run away imaginings than some of Austen's other book. Not a bad thing but I would obviously prefer more swooning Mr. Darcy moments instead of over-active imagination ramblings. View all 7 comments. Mar 06, Sarah Black rated it it was amazing Shelves: Review of the author Shannon Hale is an amazing writer, I love her books and her writing style. She brings the characters to life. I've read a few of her books i.

I favour her regency books more. She makes her characters very quirky and comical. My views and opinions Charlotte was a woman with no confidence, she felt like she was the reason why her husband cheated. Because she was too plain and boring for him. The truth is Review of the author Shannon Hale is an amazing writer, I love her books and her writing style. The truth is she's a strong independent woman who finds she is more confident than she first thought, throughout the book you see her grow as a person.

Charlotte had never before read any Jane Austen novels even though it was on her list of things to do in life along with get married, she realizes she has done most things on that list apart from the simplest of all, read Jane Austen novels. Once she has read them, Charlotte wants a holiday. A Jane Austen styled holiday. Yes, that's right off to Pembroke Park we go. Jun 24, Melanie Dickerson rated it it was amazing.

I enjoyed the second installment in the Austenland chronicles as much as the first one. This one had some spine-tingling mystery and suspense when the heroine discovers a murder most foul in the utopian Jane Austenland. I almost hate to admit it, but I really related to the heroine and her "niceness," her horrifying propensity to apologize for everything, and her doormat-ness. I so understood her! Both of us need to grow more backbone. But the heroine was brave when it counted, I enjoyed the second installment in the Austenland chronicles as much as the first one.

But the heroine was brave when it counted, so it was an enjoyable story, and a sweet romance. I liked the way this authors describes those moments between her hero and heroine that could end up sounding sappy, but don't. She has an original way of describing those interactions that is refreshing. And who doesn't love anything to do with Jane Austen? If only I could go to Austenland!

Sep 29, Fenia rated it it was amazing Shelves: OMG this book was so much more perfect than the first. I really loved it!! I loved the ending so damn much!!! I don't want to spoil anything but this book is the best thing EVER!!!! Sep 25, Shiloah rated it really liked it Shelves: View all 4 comments. Feb 13, Cathy rated it it was amazing. Hale does something remarkable here. She justaposes 3 seemingly opposite genres, and combines them in an amazingly successful way.

She appeals to those of us who love anything Jane Austen, with the balls, empire waist dresses, restrained emotions and communications, dashingly handsome men saying wonderfully romantic things to women, etc. Then she takes the Gothic side of the Regency-plus Era that produced, at one extreme, the sinister predatory mansion that possibly harbors vam What a delight! Then she takes the Gothic side of the Regency-plus Era that produced, at one extreme, the sinister predatory mansion that possibly harbors vampire-werewolf-like think Twilight humans, and the less extreme Northanger Abbey hysteria of a supposed turns out to be real murder-mystery.

She combines these two with modern day cliched women suffering from the malaise of victimhood, depression, not-good-enough-for-man syndrome, and yet liberated financially thanks to the Women's Movement ha. One such hiding out in Austenland is pudgy, flighty Miss Charming oh, the Names!

Cordial, nicer than Kinder the typical clueless, abused-by-adulterous-Xhusband, guilt-ridden, well-intentioned-mother of teens. All three find their very capable selves through the Austenland experience, thanks to the actions of men oh, oh , one Colonel Andrews, "a little light in the loafers, who potentially would be a very good hair dresser", one a Heathcliff-like, but real murderer, too caught up in the power of the sinister mansion to see clearly, and one, just a great brother figure-turned love interest.

This sounds absurd, doesn't it?! What a juggling act!!! And still, this is, as others have said, a laugh-out-loud novella. Others have quoted the fun laugh lines, but the one that kept me laughing for days as I rethought about it was: His face cheeks, that is.

Not that he didn't look great in breeches, It is a riot. And the fact that this heroine actually becomes the heroine and saves the day, as well as herself, gives hope to all of us modern day women who relate with Charlotte Mrs Cordial in so many ways! Thanks for the review! What an interesting book and plot! I have to read it as soon as possible. Lovely review as always. I loved Austenland and will definitely read this next one. Truly, things are not as they appear. Anything more… and I will be silent as the grave.

The mystery element is very intriguing for me, and the allusions to Northanger Abbey. Thanks for the great review Christina. I am looking forward to the Austenland movie. Thanks for sharing your review! Another beautiful review, Christina. One wonders where you find the time.

I crave happy endings. Perhaps it is time. This book was so much fun, and you make a great point about the happy ending being so fitting for Austen. And I could call it all research! I love my job. Both of your American heroines from each of your novels: Jane and Charlotte, escape a crisis in their lives and travel to England to enter a world that any Jane Austen fan would give their most cherished copy of Pride and Prejudice to visit.

Life is not always as rose colored as we would like in Regency England without modern conveniences. If you were to visit Pembroke Park and enter the early nineteenth-century, what would you miss most? What could you easily live without? I think the food then sounds awful. Bathrooms, showers, tampons is that TMI? But can you imagine?! I think women had very little freedom as well, and the restrictions would drive me crazy after a while.

Bestselling Series

But for a couple weeks? Congratulations on Austenland being made into a movie produced by Twilight author Stephenie Meyer. What was it like transforming your novel into a screenplay with director Jerusha Hess? That sounds like a vaudeville act! Can you share any of your team writing experiences with us? I loved co-writing with Jerusha. We laughed a lot.

Midnight in Austenland

The funniest stuff stuck. Did you have the chance to visit the set during filming of Austenland? If so, what was it like to see your creative ideas transformed into physical reality? In fact I was on set every day of the 7 week shoot in England. Talk about a dream come true. And no charming British actors fell in love with me. You obviously admire Jane Austen.

When did you first read one of her novels and what was your reaction? As a writer, what do you find most enlightening, entertaining, or enduring about her works? Lockhart said on our Austen-themed figment. Not just for punch lines. That should be enough for anyone, and yet Austen is even more than that too. I just love her intelligent, clever, hopeful yet realistic way of looking at the world. If you were to find a free afternoon when you were not writing or promoting one of your books, what would you like to do more than anything?

I have four small children. Has the End come?! Are you working on your next book? If so, can you share any news for your readers? Palace of Stone , the sequel to Princess Academy , will be out in August. Shannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of six young adult novels, including the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy , two award-winning books for adults, and the upcoming Midnight in Austenland Jan. They live with their four small children near Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit Shannon at her website: Enter a chance to win one of three hardcover copies available of Midnight in Austenland , by Shannon Hale by leaving a comment about what intrigues you about an Austenesque mystery, or if you have read Austenland , who your favorite character is by Winners to be announced on Thursday, March 01, Shipment to US addresses only.

I have always loved British murder mysteries…Sayers, James, Christie and the idea that mystery and Austen are combined sounds like great fun! I am looking forward to returning to Austenland. Wonderful to know that Austenland will be made into a film! I loved Austenland—I have the audiobook on my iPod, and have listened to it more times than I can keep track of. Miss Charming absolutely cracks me up! I am intrigued by many of the Austen-style mysteries. I love Regency Romances big fan of Georgette Heyer and can just imagine the fun of humor and mayhem at Austenland.

Thanks for the giveaway! One thing that I find interesting in Austen mysteries, particularly murder mysteries, is the lengths through which they go to solve crimes.