I learned about Shannon Hale from Stephenie Meyer‘s Breaking Dawn acknowledgments page: Thanks to my peer support, Shannon Hale, for understanding everything.
Oh! How joining that group would be sweeter than all the Be Fri – St Ends necklaces in the world.
The next best thing was a trip to the library, where I got Austenland, Shannon Hale’s first grown-up book, and Sally got The Princess Academy, her Newberry Honor book.
At first Princess Academy wasn’t princessy enough for Sally, who’s seen Barbie as the Island Princess one too many times. A few weeks later, after a detour through the old Nancy Drew books, Sally picked up Princess Academy again, and this time she was hooked. I sat down with her last night to see if it’s something I’d like to read:
On a scale of 1 to Harry Potter, how was it? I liked it as much.
What was your favorite part? When the bandits came.
Was it set in the real world? No, it was set in somebody else’s world, but that world seemed real.
Would you like to live in that world? No, it’s all cold on Mount Eskel.
Would you recommend it to your friends? Yes. What about the boys? I think boys would like it — there are princes and stuff in it.
There you have it: Two Thumbs Up for The Princess Academy. Sally is seven, but I think it would appeal to tweens, teens, and even grown-ups who remember reading Andrew Lang’s Fairy Books and Ursula K. LeGuin.
As for Austenland, I couldn’t help comparing it to the Twilight series, even though they are incredibly different. The authors share many characteristics — they’re both female, Mormon, mothers of small children, and both write YA books. They also both write romance-y books for a PG audience.
The first half of Austenland was delightful. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that I read Melinda’s copy of the Complete Jane Austen when I was thirteen, and that I watch both the Jennifer Ehle/Colin Firth and Keira Knightley/Matthew MacFadyen Pride and Prejudices regularly. Hale’s writing is fantastic. One of her images still thrills me: she compares an middle-aged woman suddenly outshone by a younger flirty woman to a wilted carrot in the back of the refrigerator. I’ve had enough sad carrots in my crisper to love this image!
But the romance/plot is ultimately unsatisfying. I want to be convinced that my hero and heroine belong together. That they deserve each other, fit together, that their relationship will last. And she couldn’t convince me of that. Contrast that to Stephenie Meyer, who is not the world’s greatest writer. And who could use an editor like that carrot could use a shot of adrenaline.
But Stephenie Meyer is an incredible storyteller. Her plots are satisfying and convincing and I feel like I will die if her characters don’t end up together.
Is it too much to ask for great storytelling and fantastic writing all in the same book? Maybe they could collaborate? I mean, when they’re not busy understanding each other?
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If you’ve ever wondered how to (or if you should) express your religious beliefs in your online writing, check out my guest post at Segullah today: Have you born your testimony on YouTube yet?
And for a great example of the power of blogging for good, check out Blog Community Supports Injured Couple. Tara at The Well-Rounded Woman talks about how bloggers have raised money and pulled together for Stephanie and Christian Nielson.
Aack. I just realized I’m a week behind on the theme. Sorry! Next month I’ll have a children’s book. Promise.
Tags: 5 minutes for books, austenland, books, childrens books, reviews, shannon hale, stephenie meyer, the princess academy, twilight
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“Is it too much to ask for great storytelling and fantastic writing all in the same book?”
Try Shannon Hale’s The Goose Girl; you’ll find both in abundance. It starts a little slow, but give it 50 or so pages, and if you’re not hooked, I’ll eat my whole collection of Amelia Peabody mysteries.
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My mom got this book this summer for her class (5th/6th) and of course wanted me to “preview” it. I really enjoyed the princess academy!
Kristas last blog post..Cory-isms
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Cute idea for a review!
I liked it.
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Okay, we’ll forgive you for being a week behind, especially since I’ve been trying to convince Amanda to read this or Goose Girl, both by Hale.
I’ve also wanted to check out Austenland, so double yay.
Has Sally read Ella Enchanted? I (and Amanda) enjoyed it a lot. It’s better than the movie.
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“It was set in somebody else’s world, but that world seemed real.” Story of my life.
Junes last blog post..And do you know I have never been able to find those Cheap Trick poop words again?
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I read all of the Twilight series, so I liked it at least that much. But I have to say that the biggest disappointment to me in the book was that I did not feel that the characters belonged together. Theirs was too much of a “love at first sight” sort of thing. They were ridiculously obsessed and devoted to each other for no real reason at all. It just didn’t do anything for me. I actually wanted her to chose Jake, with whom she at least had a friendship.
In the void that Harry Potter has left in my life, I am desperate for any fantastical world. I think that is what kept me reading Twilight.
Alexandras last blog post..Making Brownies
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I have this sitting on my shelf to read (and preview for a niece) and haven’t picked it up yet. I may bump it up on the list now.
stephanies last blog post..A Punkin’ Press Daybook ~ September 8
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I agree about Austinland and haven’t read Princess Academy but I’ve read Goose Girl and Book of a Thousand Days and loved both of them. I would love to read more of her books. I will be killed for saying this by most women but I like Shannon Hale a thousand trillion times better than Stephenie Meyer. Sorry, but I hate the Twilight series.
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Okay this is weird. Every time You review a book I walk into my class that same day and one of my students is reading said book. Never heard of the Twilight series – student reading it (and gave me her copy). Never heard of the Princess Academy and boom, one of my students was reading it today. (She offered to lend it to me but I turned down her offer). Okay, you apparently are both “hip” and have good taste. Ordering the Princess Academy now.
Beths last blog post..Young Jedi
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I agree 100% with Adrianne’s comment – Hale is a truly, truly talented author. Meyer? Uh…not so much. (just my opinion!)
Stacey @ Happy Are Wes last blog post..Everybody Loves This Game
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Thanks for the book review. I’m going to suggest this book to my best friends daughter. Maybe my 12 year old will even read it? She still like’s Princess stories, just so long as her friends don’t know.
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tonis last blog post..Quilling is More Fun When You Do it With a Friend
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Wow, I’m reading my first Shannon Hale, too. I have all of her books, but I decided to start with The Goose Girl. I’m only a chapter or so into it, but the language is pretty luscious. I think I’m going to like it.
I’ll let you know what I think of Austenland if I ever get around to it. I’ve heard really mixed reviews.
Susans last blog post..Spreading the (Linky) Love
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