Review: Austenland by Shannon Hale

Austenland by Shannon Hale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For me, Austenland started great, veered off on a boring course for a while, and finally got back on track in the end.

So, in a nutshell, a single, Darcy-obsessed chick is given the trip of a lifetime to Austenland, a regency themed vacation, similar to winning on role on PBS’ Regency House Party (for those of you awesome enough to have watched that :) ). I personally would LOVE if such a place existed. I am not ashamed to admit that I have googled “regency fair” to see if renaissance-fair style Austen festivals exist (none near me).

But the Darcy-obsessed chick gets to Austenland…and it’s all very anti-climatic. She’s bored. Instead of being happy, taking in all the details, checking out the costume-clad Darcy wannabes, she wants to go back to her normal life. Because the character was bored, I was bored. A less dedicated reader might have sat the book aside.

However, if you stick with it, it DOES get better. Plot twist I didn’t see coming. And a happy ending that saved the whole book.

Sadly, the movie isn't showing near me. So I guess I'll be waiting on DVD.


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Top Ten Books I Wish Could Have Had Sequels

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list  that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Books I Wish Could Have Had Sequels

1. Sense & Sensibility

I know that Elinor and Marianne Dashwood find love and happiness by the end of the novel, but I think it would be interesting if this book had a sequel. I could see it being set years later with Margaret as the main character. I want her to end up as happy as her sisters!

2. The Host

I have read that Stephenie Meyer is planning to write more books in the Host universe, HOWEVER, I would love a direct sequel of this one. I almost wish Mrs. Meyer would have given Wanda and Ian a baby in their plot line instead of Edward and Bella. I mean, could a soul and a human have a half soul/half human baby?? I still have questions about their relationship!

3. I Capture The Castle

If you read my blog often, I'm sure you'd like for me to shut up about this book already, lol. I've said it once, I'll say it again, I wish this book would have continued. I was so unhappy with the way it ended.

4. If You Find Me
While I was so, so glad that Carey finally spoke up about the abuse her and her sister survived, the book left me wondering what happened next? Does Carey's case go to trial? Does she go to college? Do her and Ryan get married and live happily ever after? Does her step-sister get over herself or become a teen mom?

5.  The Perks of Being a Wallflower
I enjoyed this book, but it's ending is also kinda sudden and leaves some lingering questions open. Does Charlie get past all of his issues? Does he always remain a wallflower? Does he stay close with Sam and Patrick? Does he graduate and go to college? It'd be interesting to know.

6. Watership Down
Maybe I'm just a Watership Down nerd, but I would love a sequel to this! The Tales from Watership Down are nice, but I'd also like to know more about Hazel's descendants...who takes over after Hazel?

7. The Duke and I
Don't get me wrong, Julia Quinn's second epilogues are great. Yet, I still wish there was a direct sequel to this book. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I'll just say this, when I read the recent "Bridgertons: Happily Ever After" I felt like I was still left hanging on the second epilogue to The Duke and I. I wanted more of the story! Maybe one day she'll write more or write a book about their children.

8.  Wuthering Heights
Although the novel clearly marks the end for Heathcliff and Catherine, Sr., I wonder what became of Catherine Linton and Hareton Earnshaw? Did Catherine Linton have emotional issues and nightmares due to Linton's death and Heathcliff's attitude problem (to put it lightly!)? The saga could continue!

9.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
I just have a hopeful feeling that maybe we really haven't heard the end of the Harry Potter series. Surely there must be some not-quite-as-bad-as-Voldemort-but-dangerous villain that pops up sometime during Harry's new career? Ideally, I would see this story taking place between the ending and the epilogue. Having the story deal with Harry and the gang's kids would just be cheesy to me. I'd rather continue to follow their pre-kid days...maybe read about Hermione and Ron's wedding?

10. Breaking Dawn
I know some people just wish this series would die already, lol. However, honestly, I felt cheated by the ending of this book and would like one more to finish and send it off correctly. Basically, I was shocked that the main villains ran off to fight another day. I want that day to be finished. I could see a sequel starring Renesmee "Nessie" (hopefully at this point she would have the good sense to start calling herself Rene) who has grown to be a tough but beautiful warrior vampire chick. Her, Jacob, and Nahuel could fight the Volturi to the end. I'd also like her to end up with someone other than Jacob...he can be her guard/protector...but the pairing, romantically, is just strange.

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