Austen Diyari'nda Gece Yarisi

Full review on Reader's Dialogue: readersdialogue.blogspot.com/2012/10/midnight-in-austenland.html

Charlotte is a great character. She's witty - though she fears she isn't - she's brave - though she thinks she isn't - and she's independent - though she thinks she isn't. She starts out very un-self-aware, swallowed up by a life lived by following wherever the current took her, as the opening lines of the book suggest. But through her adventures in Austenland, her investigation into the murder and her eventual romance proving her desirability to herself, she comes to realize that she is in fact a very interesting and complex woman - not the "nice Charlotte" of the beginning of the novel. Though she is nice. But she gets a backbone, and that's nice too.

And I find myself echoing somewhat the tone of the book, that drily humorous way of saying things. Charlotte's thoughts come into play a lot as she goes through each scene, and I love hearing her inner dialogues. Her conversations with her Inner Thoughts are just so much fun - like she's arguing with a teenager. And the tone of her inner dialogue is always that tongue-in-cheek, slightly sarcastic way of saying things - real British humor.

That carries through the entire book as well. It lends an almost whimsical effect to the whole mystery. There is the fact that Charlotte herself is not sure whether there actually was a murder or it's part of the actors' games, but in general this is not a mystery novel because there's not a lot of tension and suspense. The focus is on Charlotte's development as a character, and this leads to the murder mystery being somewhat fun, even when Charlotte is in imminent danger. Especially, even, when she's in imminent danger!

Partly that's because when she's in danger, the other characters who are involved behave in ridiculously funny ways. Well, that's not entirely accurate. They behave in dangerous and believable ways, but the way it's told makes it caricature-y. Because everything is seen from Charlotte's view, I guess. Though her love interest seems to be the way he is regardless of her interpretation of him, if that makes sense.

Midnight in Austenland is a fun, light read, with an engaging plot and mystery and with inviting characters.

German Review / deutsche Rezension: buechertruhe.blogspot.com/2012/02/rezension-midnight-in-austenland.html


What is it about?
American Charlotte is fed up with her ex-husband and his new wife. Spontaneously, she goes to England for a two-week vacation to Pembrook Park to find her personal Jane Austen adventure. During these two weeks Charlotte is no longer in the 21st century - no, she's in the 19th century and wears dress with matching hat.

The other occupants of the house are tourists, as well as Charlotte, and some are actors. Employed to make the life at Pembrook Park interessting. And then it happened: The husband of the host disappears. Charlotte suspects the worst: Murder. But wait… Is reality or fiction?


What I think:
You don’t have to know “Austenland” to read and love this novel. I could only roughly remember the plot of this first novel. Of course, I knew the basic data and that Shannon Hale is full of surprises.

And this was also happening in this novel. You never knew what will happen and why. Things are real or not? The story was set up great. First, you think that you will not be deceived. As a reader, one is elevated and can see through the people. Well, think again. Again and again you were put on the wrong track, and ultimately it's quite different than I thought.

The things that happen there are not only small flirtations among the guests of Pembrook Park, there are a lot of tragic & mysterious events. At one point I had to read twice to assure myself that this was actually happening. I have thought this novel a lot less crime. Sure, the cover and the title tells that it’s a crime story but I was thinking more of a romantic book. Instead, it was almost a thriller.

Romances were not missing – of course. Three free gentlemen. The Jane Austen fan can imagine that unhappy Charlotte will find her prince. But who is it? In this case the author was not as adept as regarding the crime story. From the beginning I had a good nose. This did not bother me at all. It’s nice to watch love growing.

Generally I liked the characters. They are no characters who remain in a memory – for that there were way too many clichés. At the beginning I had huge problems with Charlotte. She let her two children with her ex-husband (and his weird new wife) in the U.S. and travels to England. What kind of mother does this? But as the children were not really important during the rest of the novel and did not had much appearance, you almost forgot them and I chould enjoy the story until the end (which sounds awful but isn't).

Speaking of the end: It was totally my taste! Very nice! The author has thought of everything. Every little detail fits! My heart leaps for joy and my nerves calm slowly down;)


All in all:
A real-life role playing game that combines romance and excitement - not only for Jane Austen fans!