Austenland

I recently finished listening to "Austenland" by Shannon Hale, another modern novel built around Jane Austen's body of work. This one was actually a pretty good listen, especially since if you miss a few minutes you are not destined to be lost for days. It is the story of Jane Hayes' journey to discover just what it is she is looking for in a man. Is she really looking for a Mr. Darcy? I laughed aloud when Jane described some of her past boyfriends, and thought of some of my experiences as well as some of my friends'. If you are starting to compile your beach reading for the year, add this one to your list. Until next time, happy reading!

A Bad Book...

I just finished listening to "Dance of the Dead" by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. It was a pretty typical psychological thriller, but its only purpose was to get you ready for the next book. I really dislike that in both books and movies. A book should tell a complete story, even if in a series. Its purpose should not be to simply set you up for the next installment. Needless to say I wasted quite a few hours listening to this book. But I am one of those people who has to finish a book that she has started. It is really a terrible trait to have, especially when I complain to my husband about how terrible a book is.