Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publication date: January 2012
Pages: 288
Source: e-book from NetGalley
For: Review
Series: Companion novel to Austenland
Things I Liked:
I am simply in love with Shannon Hale's writing. She could make something beautiful or interesting or funny out of the most drab or boring topic (not that this book is drab or boring in plot). I'd read a book on any topic written by her. So, since I'm obviously a fan, I have to admit I truly enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, particularly Charlotte as a woman trying to figure out her place in a world thrown upside down and backwards. She was vulnerable, but strong and the parts where she starts to fight back were my favorites. The mystery was fairly interesting and kept me wondering (though mystery fans probably had it figured out right away) and the whole Gothic feel and nod to Northanger Abbey made it so fun. I laughed and shivered and then laughed again all the way through. Delightful!
Things I Didn't Like:
I think it will be enjoyed more by people who may be experiencing some of the same issues that Charlotte and even Miss Charming did - a messy divorce or just feeling undesirable. But it can be enjoyed by many other kinds of folks too, since I certainly did. And the mystery wasn't exactly thrilling, but more just there to allow awesome character interactions. Definitely not my favorite Shannon Hale book, but still pretty fun to read.
Read-alikes:
Can be enjoyed on its own, but don't skip the delight that is Austenland
I don't know, I don't read a lot of cozy mysteries or chick lit or even Austen-inspired stuff
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few here and there
mrg-factor: X
implied, not on page
v-factor: ->
a little bit, nothing gory
Overall rating: ****
What's your favorite Shannon Hale? Or your go-to-for-the-writing author?
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
Posts
I love Shannon Hale too but I agree, this is not the best of her. I think I like her YA stuff the best.
ReplyDeleteYes, her YA is the best of her writing too, I think.
DeleteLooks like we had the same opinion on this one. I still liked the first one better.
ReplyDeleteI was about the same on the first one too. I just like her fantasy stuff better, I guess.
DeleteThe down-side to reading your twitter feed is finding out about all the good books I'm missing out on! This one is probably light enough and quick enough for me to read without being too sucked in ...
ReplyDeleteYou could probably read it in one sitting, though your kids might not like that :) But, it is a nice light read, so you wouldn't need to devote all that reading at once.
DeleteMy favorite Shannon Hale books are her graphic novels (Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack).
ReplyDeleteThose are so fun! I'm super excited for her chapter book series coming out. I think my favorites are still Goose Girl and Book of a Thousand Days.
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