Book and Movie Review: Austenland

I am a fan of Jane Austen as much as the next girl. Who wouldn’t love a man who is a gentleman and has manners. And the heroine is a smart, headstrong girl.

I’ve heard of this book on and off for years, and finally got down my list to it. It kept getting pushed down whenever one of my favorite authors had a new release.

I was pleasantly surprised. There was a lot less fluff then I thought there would have been. The main character, Jane, is a little wishy washy. But in a good way. She knows she has an obsession which has been fueled by her bad string of boyfriends. She knows what the “practical” thing she should do, but her heart wants something else.

Some people didn’t like her as much (in other reviews) because she wasn’t “strong and decisive”. But I can relate to her. She is stuck in 3 worlds, not just 2. Not only the modern world where women can do anything and everything, and has it all figured out. Then the world that tells her that her biological clock is ticking. And that she shouldn’t have had so many boyfriends.

This third world is part fantasy, part history. A more simple time. Yes less choices, but too many choices can be overwhelming. Its bad enough parts of society expect you to be loose and free when you date in your younger years, but just turn around and settle down and take everything serious. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a serious relationship right off. She can’t change something that is fundamentally her.

Overall, a good read. Highly recommended. An easy read that skims on some deeper parts.

Since I liked the book so much I went online to find the movie. Now I didn’t have high expectations only because most books to movies don’t translate well.

So no, this was not a close adaptation. A lot was changed. There was no inheritance from the aunt, she bought the package herself. Her obsession was not hidden but glaringly obvious. And all the characters were changed in big or small ways. A lot of the background was lost like in most movies.

But…..somehow it worked. The movie was only an hour and a half so they had to cut somewhere. So the beginning was the logical answer. And people want more at the place anyways.

It did show how ridiculous all the people were. I liked how Jane and “Lizzie” were more friends. The changes worked for the time they had.

Also movies do add some where the book could not. I’ve never been good at picturing what clothes looked like in detail. Then the little moments of a look. I feel like movies can do better at add the impact of just one look.

Overall a good, enjoyable movie. Just don’t go looking to it as a close read to the book. I’d suggest only do that for the ones that get turn into TV shows.

Has anyone read this book or seen the movie? What did you think of it? Any thoughts on book to movie adaptations?

 

 

Book Review: The Light Who Shines

Now I was asked by the author to read her book and do a review, but I told her I would be honest no matter whether I liked it or not. Hell, I love to read and might someday want to get paid to do it.

Overall, I loved the book. The story was great and the plot was good with some actual surprising twists. A few of the dialogues and descriptions were a little lengthy, but easily fixed. Nothing that would make you want to stop reading. I would like more development with the characters, but there was plenty for the story.

Now there are going to be some spoilers in here, so if you don’t want me to ruin it stop here.

It’s a story in a world like our own with three distinct variations in the species; Humans, Gifted, and Vampires. Now don’t roll you eyes. These are not the happy, I just want love kind. They are killers. The main Vampire is a little sappy in that he thinks he can’t have love because he is a monster, but not to the point of annoyance.

The main character is Bluebell Kildare. She is Gifted and pleasantly enough she doesn’t have some huge flashy power. She is an empathy that can sense present and lingering emotions. She can also sense life forms and magic. She is very smart, but I hope she learns a little more self defense because needing someone to help in a physical fight most of the time will get old.

Heres the synopsis the author wrote for the book:

When Paranormal Investigation Bureau agent Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) arrives at the scene of the crime it is obvious the grotesquely damaged body of the deceased teenage boy was caused by far more than a simple hit and run. Using her innate sixth sense, she locates a powerful magical artifact that acts as a key to an ancient Grimiore and is likely the motive for the crime. She soon discovers the Grimiore has a dark past as it was instrumental in the creation of the Vampire breed and still holds the power to unravel the boundaries between hell and earth.

Blue and her faithful wolf Varg follow the trail starting at the Cock and Bull Tap and all through the town of Crimson Hollow, which leads to plenty of dead ends; some more dead than others. Between being sidelined by a stalker that sticks to the shadows, and chasing a perpetrator that vanishes in thin air, things are getting complicated. Dark vampire activity is at an all time high and hate group activity is increasing. However, it’s her burgeoning feelings for Jack Tanner, her magnetic Daylight Vampire boss, who alternates between warm affection and cool indifference that just might undo her.

While Blue searches for clues to nail the perpetrator, someone seems to be conducting a search of their own and things are getting extremely messy. Who will find whom first? Danger lurks in every corner and Blue needs all her focus in this increasingly dangerous game or she risks ending up the next victim.

The book left a lot open for future stories without leaving you frustrated about unanswered questions. I particularly like the growing problem of discrimination and hate crimes between the groups. Not in that I agree with it, but the way it shows its blind destruction and how some religions can make it worse. Even though they tout certain morals but are selective in who gets it.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book look forward to the next in the series. I gave her my suggestions on things to work on, but in the end she did great for a first book self-published.

P.S. Thank you so much to the author for not having some sexed up character on the book cover. She actually looks that the main character.

Buy her book on Kindle or check her out on Goodreads