Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict

Maybe I read to many fantasy novels and watched too many Sci-fi shows, but while this was a fun book with a great premise, I found the lack of details regarding the “hows” of time travel disappointing. I’m not sure how Courtney ended up in Jane’s body… Or what happened to Jane during that time – especially since it was Jane who wished she was someone else. The final chapter didn’t really wrap things up for me, and if anything, it left me with more questions.

It would have been great if we could see Jane’s experiences during our time as well. And all that self-discovery about Wes – where did that go? I just felt like I was left hanging…

First I have to confess that I can't count myself among the millions of Jane Austen fans. It's not that I don't like her stories, it's that I don't remember reading them! So given the book's title, I wondered how much I would relate when my book club chose it as the April selection.

Turns out I needn't have worried. There's plenty in this book for any woman to relate to, Jane Austen fan or not. Ms. Rigler does a terrific job of taking us back in time to (at least her perception of) the realities of Regency England...the good, the bad and the really ugly. She does a wonderful job as well in giving us a taste of society where women of the upper classes had luxuries beyond our present-day comprehension, but none of the freedoms we in the show more Western world take for granted.

It would be easy to use a heavy tone in writing about those jarring contrasts, but she doesn't. She conveys the message in a fun, lighthearted manner that delivers a punch just the same.

We're reading the companion story, "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austin Addict," for our May selection. I can't wait! I might even have to pick up a Jane Austen novel when I'm done! show less

When a 21st century woman wakes up to find herself in Jane Austen's England, she discovers that her romanticized view she has of the world might have left out a few things. She did recognize a woman's place in her reading, but had not realized just how rigid the class and gender constrictions were. She had no idea of the smell or the conditions, such as chamber pots and having to haul water to take a bath. A well written, readable story that does leave quite a few plot holes. Not a bad read for a quiet afternoon when you don't want to work too hard.

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict has the questionable distinction of being better than average in a generally subpar genre. Chick lit books involving modern women traveling to inexplicable places and times tend to bring out mediocre writers for some reason. Rigler is smarter than average, and she has created a book that is entertaining, if not particularly enlightening. If this genre appeals to you, you could do much worse than Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict.

The title, by the way, has very little to do with the book itself.

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.

I really did. It was just phenomenal. I love that Courtney had no idea how she became Jane. I love the mystery surrounding the fortune teller and the time travel and the memories of two people and the personalities changing and...it was all so magical and surreal! I have often wondered what it would be like to travel back to nineteenth-century England and be Elizabeth or Emma, but I never thought through how much you need to take into account! No running water, no indoor plumbing, you can't dress in those crazy dresses by yourself. You can't just go flirt with someone if you're single. First you have to make arrangements. And your actions not only make you look bad but could ruin your family name and all of your show more known friends! No, "oh that's just Amy acting a fool. Whatever." Oh, no. You'd be humiliated beyond belief! I can't wait to read the sequel, Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict. I am trying to hold off until January 1st so I can include it in my challenges! lol

QUOTE: I decide to limit the washing of hair to a once-a-week schedule. As for baths, I manage to negotiate two per week with Barnes, despite her worries that such frequent bathing could be hazardous to my health. When Barnes leaves the room, I shiver, not from damp hair, but because I realize I've just finished creating a schedule for myself in a place where I'm not supposed to be. (pg. 85) show less

When will I learn my lesson and stop reading published Jane Austen fanfiction? This book could have easily been titled "Confessions of a Molly Sue." I was shocked when I reached the end and discovered that the author teaches creative writing--I spent the entire book cringing at how undergrad-writing-seminar-ly awful the prose was, even writing "show don't tell!" in the margins. It's not that I don't like fantasy, I just can't read it done poorly. The central character was insufferable in her denseness and shallowness, the writing was almost unbearable, and I wish I had trusted my gut and abandoned the book after the first chapter. Don't waste your time; just reread P&P or Persuasion if you need an Austen fix.

I was excited to receive Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, by Laurie Viera Rigler to review for the Crazy Book Tours. You can count me in as an Austen fan even though I've only read Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility thus far. Suffice it to say, though, that you need not to be a full-grown connoisseur of all things Austen in order to truly appreciate this book.

Waking up in Regency England in the 1800s as Jane, Courtney is at a loss for understanding how her circumstances came to be, and how to more appropriately fit into this new world where women are definitely not considered equals to men. She also inhabits the body of a very different woman than who Courtney is -- a woman who has dark hair, flawless skin, and a nice figure show more (albeit hidden in the sign of the times empire-waist fashion). This obviously isn't the easiest part of the culture shock Courtney is experiencing, considering the fact that she's a 21st century chick from Los Angeles with a lot of man troubles and mother drama. Not that it's any different in the "new" era for Courtney (I mean, Jane) -- she's got the same kind of dramatic mother, and she's still got those pesky man troubles. In her 21st century life, she dumped a cheating fiance, and she slowly learns that no matter what era you're in, sometimes people don't ever really change, no matter what gender.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit -- it was incredible fun and such a quirky jaunt through Austen's time. Not to mention, it's a very easy read and was finished rather quickly. What I really enjoyed throughout this story is what I've always thought of at the idea of being able to somehow get into another time -- if I'm anywhere at the turn of a century whether 1900s, 1800s, or even earlier, I'm going to wonder how I'm going to brush my teeth? What about a shower? And oh, believe me, it's covered in this book -- complete with descriptions that made me wrinkle my nose and say "ugh!" out loud, or a quick chuckle when Courtney (whoops, Jane) is in church. Here's a sad reminder, though, of class differences and distinction during the 1800s:

But first, a hot bath, which entails the usual heaving, sweating servants hauling buckets of steaming water up the stairs and then hauling the used water down the same route. Once again, I swallow my guilt, refusing to join the ranks of the unwashed whose bodily odors, inadequately camouflaged by perfumes, assault my nose on a daily basis. (p. 159)

And probably one of my favorite moments is a perfect example of the 21st century Courtney dealing with 19th century propriety - while everyone is speaking so perfectly, Courtney sometimes curses away in her head:

Mary sighs heavily. "I do not blame you for being guarded." I suppose it isn't her fault she was raised to be so tight-assed, but I'm not going to let her off that easily.(p. 145)

Were it not for Courtney's complete obsession with Austen novels in her modern life, I am not surprised that she was able to slowly become more familiar with her surroundings. Some people eat loads of ice cream after a break up, but this character sticks to Jane Austen novels. And although she has a few slip ups in saying the slang "Ok," which her mother doesn't understand, for the most part the toughest thing that she's truly trying to understand is how she got there and how she can get home. And maybe find the right man, too, without losing who she is in the process?

I laughed and had a blast while reading this and it looks like this is the first in a series, with the second entitled Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict. No doubt I'll be looking out for that on my next book run!. I found myself tickled by similar veins of restraint found in most novels set during this time, and what I just experienced with The House of Mirth post -- I found myself thinking on more than one occasion please, speak up, clear up the confusion! Rigler's ability to fuse together the 21st century modern girl into the life and times of the 1800s was a fun jaunt down a lane in a world in Austen's time show less