![Felicity Jones plays Catherine Morland in the 2007 film adaptation of Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey"](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/74/45/1331919231_hale2.jpg?itok=DqsA2qOp "Felicity Jones plays Catherine Morland in the 2007 film adaptation of Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey"")
Although it is a companion novel to Austenland, Midnight in Austenland is quite different from its precursor. Shannon Hale seems to attack twice as hard this time with surprising wit from every corner, a new intrepid heroine, and more bows to Jane Austen (story-wise). In Austenland, a bachelorette found true love in an Austen theme park. In Midnight in Austenland, a mom and divorcée wants to reignite her numb heart with the sensations of a Jane Austen novel. Instead, she lands in the middle of a real murder and true love, both of which are completely unexpected. Simply put, Midnight in Austenland is darker, deeper, and even funnier than Austenland.
Despite being based partly on Northanger Abbey, the plots circles around Charlotte, one very devoted mother and former wife who will quickly earn the reader’s full respect. She goes to “Austenland” to mend her shattered and completely broken heart, to get over her unfaithful ex-husband and his new wife. Charlotte becomes immersed in the depths of Regency habits and customs, just like Jane did in Austenland. In most ways, the story of Midnight in Austenland is entirely separate from that of Austenland, since only a few familiar characters reappear during the course of events. Moreover, this time there is no infatuation with Mr. Darcy to push the heroine to think or do bold things.
To be continued...
Midnight in Austenland is available in local libraries and bookstores in Fresno, and online.
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