Thursday, April 21, 2011

Book Review: My Jane Austen Summer by Cindy Jones

My Jane Austen Summer: A Season in Mansfield ParkMy Jane Austen Summer: A Season in Mansfield Park
by Cindy Jones

Do you consider yourself a Janeite? Have you read every Jane Austen novel so many times that you know Lizzy, Emma and Maryanne almost as well as your real life friends? Perhaps you feel more connected to the author than her characters?

Well, for Lily Berry, Jane Austen is more of an imaginary friend who offers advice about life and romance. Lily is guided by her friend as she gets to spend a summer in England re-enacting Mansfield Park, a great opportunity to escape the reality of her recent losses- mom, boyfriend and job. 

I admit to being a bit of a Janeite- I have read all her novels and have also enjoyed reading a couple of the new Austen inspired books. Surprisingly, My Jane Austen Summer seems to share some similarities with the two . In According to Jane by Marilyn Brandt, the protagonist hears Jane speaking to her in her head giving her advice and warnings about the men in her life. The protagonist in Shannon Hale's Austenland spends her vacation in an estate where guests get to live out their Austen fantasies. 

Yes, there are similarities but there also differences that sets it apart and makes it a very different read from the two novels I mentioned. I enjoyed the drama of setting up the re-enactment and imagining how much fun it would be to experience that. I also have to admit to really liking Fanny Price as does Lily. She doesn't get as much love as the other Austen heroines. 

3/5
Source: Sent for review for TLC Book Tour. Thanks, Trish.






Links for more information about Cindy Jones and My Jane Austen Summer:

CindyJones.com (official website)
First Draft (her blog)
Facebook









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5 comments:

  1. serendipity_vivApril 21, 2011 at 12:44 AM

    I have only read one Jane Austen so far, so I can't really call myself a Jane-ite. However the book does look good.

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  2. Julie @ Read HandedApril 21, 2011 at 7:52 AM

    How fun! I'd love to visit the English countryside and imagine myself in an Austen novel! I may have to settle for reading about someone else doing it, though.

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  3. AnnaApril 21, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    I thought this was a fun book, and now I'm going to have to read Austenland. I didn't like Fanny Price when I read Mansfield Park the first time, but I've softened toward her over the years.

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  4. AnonymousApril 23, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    It's funny that you say that you like Fanny Price - so many people are NOT a fan of hers! It seems like you and Lily definitely had a lot in common. :)

    Thanks for being a part of the tour.

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  5. Ann SummervilleApril 27, 2011 at 6:59 AM

    This sounds like a fun read. Thanks for posting.
    Ann

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to comment! :)

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