Austenland by Shannon Hale

7 Stars

"When her great-aunt bequeaths her a trip to a role-playing resort called Austenland, Jane must discover whether playing dress-up in Regency clothes can cure her of her [Mr. Darcy] obsession and help her find real love, once and for all." (Synopsis taken from the Superfast Reader.)

My Review:

This book was HALE-arious!

...

Ok, I couldn't resist. Sorry. Seriously, this book was a refreshing read and very funny. Perhaps only funny to those of us that get Austin-humor (when reading section to my husband; not so funny) I thoroughly enjoyed all the awkward moments and the regency air and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone that has seen or read Austin. It was clean and I loved the quirkiness of the main character.

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

8 Stars*

This was my first Shannon Hale book and I only read it because my mother said it was one of her favorite books. It's not that I have anything against Shannon Hale. Who knows why it's taken me so long to read her books? Anyway, I really liked it and if Hale's other books are anything like this I will definitely be giving them a try. I liked the main character's philosophy of life (although I'm probably more like the princess in the story...) I also enjoyed the Asian-esque culture that Hale created. A fine read indeed. Also, check out Amanda's review of it here.

*I decided to start linking the "Meaning of Stars" post to my reviews so that I don't have to keep going back to read it every time*

Austenland by Shannon Hale

7 Stars

"When her great-aunt bequeaths her a trip to a role-playing resort called Austenland, Jane must discover whether playing dress-up in Regency clothes can cure her of her [Mr. Darcy] obsession and help her find real love, once and for all." (Synopsis taken from the Superfast Reader.)

This was a GREAT book for anyone who loves chick lit. It's clean, it's funny, the heroine is quirky and likable, and it's a quick, fun read. There are a couple of "awkward" moments that some might not enjoy (*ahem, Ashley* ;D ), but it was still pretty recommend-able. The best part about it, to me, is that Hale actually manages to keep you on your toes about how it's all going to end. Ultimate moral of the story: Hale writes better youth-oriented books, BUT I'll continue seeking her out.

The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale

6 Stars (-1 for VERY mild language, and suggestive material)

"Mormon housewife Becky Jack is seven months pregnant with her fourth child when she meets celebrity heartthrob Felix Callahan. A few hours, one elevator ride, and one alcohol-free dinner later something has happened, though nothing has happened...It isn't sexual. It isn't even quite love. But soon Felix shows up in Salt Lake City to visit and before they know what's hit them, Felix and Becky are best friends... Becky's loving and devoted husband, Mike, is mostly unconcerned. Her children roll their eyes. Her large extended family and neighbors gossip endlessly. But Felix and Becky have something special, something unusual, something that seems...completely impossible to sustain." (Taken from the inside cover.)

This was one of the strangest books I've ever read because it's interesting, it talks about some things that are deeply important, it made me laugh out loud, and it made me cry at the tender moments--and I still could not tell you if I really ENJOYED it. Madeleine L'Engle indicated (in "A Circle of Quiet") that art should teach us some things about ourselves and our world and help us to better understand. If that is the true test, then I could say that reading this book WAS beneficial. On the other hand, there were several places where the writing was less than stellar (not up to Hale's usual par), and also lots of moments that were downright uncomfortable to read. Her characters feel very real (perhaps that explains some of the situational discomfort), and I can relate to a lot of their experiences and apparent emotional reactions to those experiences. But it's still not a book I'd recommend to just anyone.

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

9 Stars

"When Lady Saren refuses to marry a man she fears, she and her maid, Dashti, are locked in a tower with just a tiny flap open to the outside world. As food runs low and the weather changes from broiling hot to unbearably cold, it is all Dashti can do to make them comfortable in their dark prison. Not long after their confinement begins, Saren's suitors arrive--one welcome, the other less so--and she orders Dashti to speak to them. Impersonating Lady Saren is a crime punishable by death, but Dashti will have to play the role many times if she is to save them both from the tower and the dangers outside. As she takes control of their desperate situation, Dashti begins to understand her own astonishing talents and believe that even a low-born maid can find true love." (Taken from the back cover.)

Shannon Hale has definitely joined the ranks of authors whose works I will always seek out. And this book is among her best. Her heroines are likable; they are sometimes confident (without being brassy or obnoxious) and sometimes shy-violets (without being self-deprecating) and sometimes unsure of who they are and who they want to be (without being WHINY). I also appreciate the thought that goes into her settings. This book is set in a medieval pseudo-Mongolia. A world that is very unlike most other young adult fiction, but that still draws you in and makes you WANT to know more about it. I liked this enough that I will probably reread it soon (tempted to pick it up again tonight, just to see if I missed anything!), and manages to leave you guessing about how she will resolve all of the threads she's weaving.