Happy Birthday Jane Austen!

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http://crystallizedheart.blogspot.com/2013/12/happy-birthday-jane-austen.html

Austenland by Shannon Hale

What do you do when fantasy eclipses your reality? Jane Hayes has wondered just that, as she goes from failed relationship to failed relationship. Her problem? No one can compare to the dashing Mr. Darcy, and Jane often spends weekends with ice cream and the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice, wondering why her life was not written by Jane Austen herself.

Jane tries to keep the obsession hidden, but her great aunt discovers her infatuation, and bequeaths a paid in full vacation to an Austenland resort, where actors bring the world of Jane Austen to life. Embarassed, afraid and unsure what to do, Jane goes on the vacation, as a service to her great aunt, and as therapy for herself. By the end of the trip she vows that she will be over Darcy for good. 

During her stay, she meets many characters, and she is never quite sure when they are acting or being themselves. But can she find herself in a fantasy land? Or is Mr. Darcy a myth that she only thought she wanted?

This book was an enjoyable read. Especially for Austen fans. Jane's obsession is more extreme than I expected, but she learns a valuable lesson from her experience. In the Austen world, the fantasy is comforting to her, and she allows herself to be the Jane that she knew she could be. 

Not the usual customer, Jane stirs up the fascade of Austen's England and discovers that her great aunt may have given her the best gift she ever recieved. 

I highly recommend this novel to Jane Austen fans, and anyone who feels left out of the world for clinging to a fantasy. The fantasy may give you the freedom you need to be yourself, and you may learn that you are capable of so much more than you believe in the real world. 

Persuasion by Jane Austen

I first read Persuasion as a bitter seventeen year old. By then, my heart had been broken, and a dull echo of hope barely existed when I thought of romance. It's funny now, as I look back on it, but in many ways I owe my restored faith in true love to this novel. Anne was my spirit animal, living with a similar regret and despair, along with a loneliness based on something she felt she shouldn't have done. Her regret binds her to address the issue, that she is still in love with Fredrick Wentworth, some eight years after she refused him. The boring pattern of her life is interrupted when he returns quite suddenly back into her life, and she is forced to confront her feelings and reflect on them. 

In many ways, this is my favorite of Jane Austen's novels. While Pride and Prejudice is funny and charming, Persuasion is a deep and psychological tale of regret, chances and the random happenings in life. 

Anne herself is an observer, reflecter, thinker and a young woman with a warm heart. As she befriends Captain Benwick, she sees life in a new perspective and discovers that the past can't be changed, but there is always an opportunity to change the future. 

I recommend this book, especially to the heart broken. The story concerns what love really is, and whether it can last over a long absence. This book taught me that my silly Highschool crush was not meant to be, but living in regret doesn't help you change the present. 

Does Anne reconcile with Captain Wentworth? Does he still care for her? How does Anne cope with his sudden presence in her life? All these questions are answered, with human reflections on heartbreak, destiny and true love. 

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Every time I read this book, it seems to relate to a fairy tale. The fairy tale in particular that I think of is Cinderella. But instead of Prince Charming, this tale features Edmund, a very complex character. Out of all Fanny's relatives, Edmund is the only person who treats her like a person, and she relies on this throughout the story. Everyone else, especially Mrs. Norris, treats her like a servant or someone far below their status. The characters are similar to fairytale characters, especially Fanny, the good and sweet girl who never does anything wrong. Edmund however, does many things wrong and he judges people, talking with Fanny about his opinion as if it was unbiased fact. Fanny, always reliant on Edmund's support agrees with him and both decide that they view the world in a similar way. The only things they cannot agree on are the Crawfords.  The Crawfords are obstacles that challenge Fanny's character and Edmund's judgement. Fanny feels intimidated by Mary Crawford and she constantly compares herself to Mary's behavior and manner. Edmund on the other hand, is oblivious and ignorant of Mary Crawford's faults but he slowly begins to understand how much Fanny means to him.
I have heard many different opinions on this novel. When we read this in my novel class, we talked about how passive Fanny is, and that passivity makes her an unsympathetic character, but if that is true, why do we see Cinderella as a hero and Fanny as a failure? Fanny's story relates to the popular Cinderella story arc that is still featured in many successful films today. Many superhero tales feature the underdog becoming the hero. I imagine that Fanny is a heroine in Jane Austen's eyes because she leaves her underdog status and rises to a more appreciated and cared for member of the family. Her views and morality, shared with Edmund, are her strengths compared to the deceit and vanity that Mary Crawford uses to win Edmund's heart.
Though she is not a favorite Austen character of mine, Fanny is a strong character because she never wavers from her true self. 

Happy Birthday Pride and Prejudice!

 Then and now still a great story.

http://crystallizedheart.blogspot.com/2013/01/happy-birthday-pride-and-prejudice.html