I read Austenland by Shannon Hale a while back when a friend recommended it to me. I enjoyed it a lot, thinking it witty, fresh and fun. So, when I heard they were making it into a movie, I was excited.
Then it was released. I waited, hoping our local theater would receive it. After a week or two of it being a no-show, I called the cinema's manager. No. There was no way they were getting it. . . ever! Humph!!
In the end, my husband and I had to travel three hours to see it at the only theater showing it in Arizona. Can you imagine? (Good thing my sister-in-law was having her surprise 40th birthday party in the same area, the next day.)
So. . .what was my opinion of it you might be asking (after traveling three hours and hitting rush hour traffic in Phoenix/Scottdale area and witnessing a fender bender). Well. . .in two words--LOVED IT!
And that is how I am going against the grain. From what I can tell, Austenland's reviews aren't the best, and I don't care. I still loved it. It was witty, fresh and fun! I belly-laughed so many times I started to cry--literally. Heck, I wasn't the only one belly-laughing. The whole (almost packed) theater was having a great time, including the handful of men that braved the book clubs of the greater Phoenix area. Even my husband (good man that he is for indulging me in this) is scratching his head as to why all the negative reviews.
Sometimes, I want to say, "People, lighten up! It's supposed to be fun and silly, and a bit of spoof for all of us crazed Jane Austen fanatics. Relax and enjoy the clean humor."
If you are able to see Austenland, I hope it does for you what it did for me and my husband--a pleasant surprise that was well worth the three hour drive!
