Austenland

Jane has decided to break up with Mr. Darcy. She has yet to meet a real-life man who can compare to the fictional romantic idol, hero of Jane Austen's classic "Pride and Prejudice." Her constant rewatchings of the miniseries have devolved into an addiction so embarrassing to Jane that she keeps the discs hidden in a potted plant. So when a surprise inheritance leaves her an Austen fan's dream vacation -- an all-expenses-paid stay at a resort where guests live like characters from the books -- she is determined to make it her final fling before giving up her obsession for good.

At first, Jane has trouble immersing herself in the bygone world of Pembrook Park, articulating her (and the reader's) doubts that such an experience could be genuine. But since her attempts to inject some reality into the proceedings keep getting botched, Jane finally decides to just go with it and enjoy the experiment. She finds that it's fun to swan about all day in gauzy gowns and corsets, to spend bright, lazy hours sipping tea and napping in the afternoon. Freshly inspired, she even begins painting again for the first time in years.

But at the same time, "life" at Pemberley is surprisingly dull, and every little bit of diversion is a new opportunity to indulge her newly relaxed, "on holiday" personality and flirt as wholeheartedly as possible. Since the men around her are hired to "fall in love" with her, she doesn't expect anything to come of it. But Jane just might have met her Mr. Darcy after all -- just not in the way she imagined.

"Austenland" is a lot of fun, fizzy with romantic wish-fulfillment and yet maintaining a clear-eyed sensibleness that keeps it from feeling contrived and goofy. The narrative framework winks at the themes of Austen's original works without being a slave to them, and underneath it is a very smart, very modern message about letting go of expectations and being ready for love where you find it.

Books reviewed in this column are available online or at your local bookstore.

(c) 2007 King Features Synd., Inc.