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Monday, 15 March 2010
Book Review: Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
This lovely book from Bloomsbury is a must read for any Jane Austen fan. It is reminiscent of the ITV series Lost in Austen which I and I know many of you enjoyed watching. Courtney Stone is a single, thirty year old living in 21st century L.A. However, one morning she wakes up in the body of Jane Mansfield, also a single thirty year old, the big difference being that Jane lives in Regency England. Courtney is sure that she is dreaming at first but she slowly has to come round to the idea that it might all be real and that she is now living the kind of Jane Austen life that she had always dreamed about.
Courtney's new life as Jane is interesting enough but then the dashing and exceedingly rich Charles Edgeworth is thrown into the mix. Both Courtney and the reader have to decide whether Charles is a dastardly Wickham character not to be trusted or whether he is a beloved Darcy.
Laurie Viera Rigler recreates Regency England very well and she treats us to visits in Bath and London within the story. My favourite part of the book is when Courtney as Jane Mansfield bumps into the real-life Jane Austen and can't help but be a slightly scary and over-enthusiastic fan.
This book is a lot of fun, we watch Courtney Stone as she has to adapt her 21st century attitude and mannerisms to fit in with the etiquette of a lady at that time. It is very interesting to consider the vast differences between a 21st century single thirty year old and a woman of the same predicament in Jane Austen's time. Both women have different pressures placed upon them by society but they are identical in their desire to marry for true love.
Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict is a really lovely, light read. It has you laughing in many places whilst still offering you plenty to think about.
Posted by Dot at 08:30