Book Review: Austenland by Shannon Hale

I enjoy a nice, fat novel. I like knowing that I will have a story to return to for at least a few days. But sometimes, it's equally pleasant to read a shorter book-- one that can be finished in a day. Yesterday, I read two such books-- Neil Gaiman's "The Ocean at the End of the Lane", and Shannon Hale's "Austenland". 

Quick summary: "Pride and Prejudice"-obsessed Jane is sent to an estate in England that specializes in period-themed experiences by her rich aunt so she can get over her delusional crush on Mr. Darcy and learn to love men who don't live up to Darcy's standard of perfection. 

It's a light, fun book, perfect for a hot summer day. The characters are enjoyable, there's a twist at the end, and the story is amusing. I didn't get a lot of the Austen-related references; I've never read any of her books, and I've only seen a couple of the movies, a long time ago, but I still got the gist of what was being said, and I still quite enjoyed the book.