"Austenland" by Shannon Hale

I know I'm supposed to be bulldozing my way through my science fiction reading list, but I couldn't resist buying (and immediately reading) this book when I was browsing through a thrift shop last week. It's a modern day story about a Jane-Austen-obsessed women going on resort vaction.  But this resort does not have palm trees and sandy beaches.  Instead it's a land filled with actors, servants and manor houses meant to replicate regacy England.  I probably know what you're thinking: this women is going to go through a play-by-play of the Pride and Prejudice story and live happily ever after.  I too thought the same thing but was pleasantly proven wrong (for the most part).  Hale allures us by articulating how unnatural acting is for the heroin and emphasizing this question: who is playing who?  In fact, even a few pages away from the end of the book, I still didn't know how this story would conclude.  Hale definitely threw some well executed curveballs.

Although the plot was excellent and a good enough reason to read this book, the writing style was weak and uncomfortable to read.  But I should have seen that coming with the positive review given by Stephenie Meyer on the back cover. Hale uses very simple sentences aimed at a fourth grade reading level and are sometimes awkwardly constructed.

The main charcter Jane follows the classic chick-lit heroin formula, but with a bit of a realistic twist.  She knows she's pretty, has blunt inner thoughts about it, but isn't annoying about it.  I'm thankful becuase the whole naive thing really bugs me. 

There is a lot plot points I want to gush about but I hate to give away spoliers.  However I will say that this is a really fast read and a well needed break from all of the sci-fi I've been reading.  I would not recommend going out of your way and paying full price for this book, but if you run by a used copy, go ahead and pick it up.