Do you ever pick up a book and discover a friend? Something you thought would be merely entertaining, turns out to share some of your same thoughts and secret desires? Austenland was like reading a friend, or better yet, looking into a fantasy mirror. Jane being me in having this perfect image of what a romance and a gentleman look like and act like. I often yearn to escape back into a time like that. Austenland would be a theme park I would like to attend. I would love to experience the Regency era first hand, though I wouldn't like actors pretending to court me or fall for me (I would be too naive to fall for them!), but just to keep me company, like a tour guide, except less explicit as one. I am like Jane in being hopelessly hopeful in any budding romance, having practical and fanciful fights within myself. Though I loved reading it, it was sad to be done with it. Like saying goodbye to a good friend. I was happy for Jane and her happy ending, but sad I had to move on with my romanceless life. Though I read Austenland awhile ago, I still remember the reader's remorse sigh that escaped my lips as I finished my friend. So glad I read it, but sad I can never read it again for the first time... But don't you worry, I went and bought my friend, to forever keep company with my other literature friends. Now I will wait patiently for the movie to squeeze its way into my media collection as well. So goodbye Austenland, for now at least...
