Advice delivered with sense and sensibility just in time for the major motion picture Becoming Jane
Women have looked to Jan... read full description
Women have looked to Jan... read full description
reviews
Apr 18, 2009
JG (The Introverted Reader)
rated it: 
Imagine, if you will, that Jane Austen can somehow receive letters from her modern-day readers, asking for her sage advice in love and marriage. That's the premise for this charming little book.
Part "autobiography", part self-help book, and part critical analysis, Dear Jane Austen is full of practical advice for all women, no matter what era they're living in. Told in a tone that is mostly pitch-perfect, Austen weighs in on topics ranging from beauty to friends and family More...
Part "autobiography", part self-help book, and part critical analysis, Dear Jane Austen is full of practical advice for all women, no matter what era they're living in. Told in a tone that is mostly pitch-perfect, Austen weighs in on topics ranging from beauty to friends and family More...
Jan 15, 2012
Julie
rated it: 
Dear Jane Austen: A Heroine's Guide To Life could have been better, but it could have been much, much worse. It's categorized as fiction, but it's really literary analysis crossed with advice/philosophy couched as fictional cross-dimensional communication. But not quite.
The premise is not exactly simple. The author is writing as Jane Austen, in her own time. She's prescient and I guess omniscient. She knows of the 20th/21st century -- TV and movie adaptations of her book, the intern More...
The premise is not exactly simple. The author is writing as Jane Austen, in her own time. She's prescient and I guess omniscient. She knows of the 20th/21st century -- TV and movie adaptations of her book, the intern More...
Jan 16, 2012
Meredith (Austenesque Reviews)
rated it:
In the course of your daily life, have you ever stopped and wondered “What Would Jane Do?” When dealing with difficult decisions or in need of some advice, do you ever find yourself wishing you could ask Jane Austen? We all know Jane Austen is intelligent, moral, and observant, and we know that she often dispensed wise counsel and advice to her brothers and nieces, but is she able to help us modern-day heroines who live in the twenty-first century?
Of course she is! Jane Austen is More...
Of course she is! Jane Austen is More...
Nov 15, 2009
Amanda
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I liked the idea of this book, a Jane Austen as advice columnist format, answering modern day questions about romance (such as, should I marry the guy I love with the crap job or the wealthy guy who is in love with me?). The author obviously knows all of Jane's works inside and out; for each bit of advice she backs it up with direct reference to multiple scenarios from multiple works, and each aspect of every question was discussed very thoroughly. However, her writing style felt a bit too forma
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Feb 16, 2010
Traci
rated it:
I enjoyed the wit with which the author answered modern relationship dilemmas as Jane Austen. I think she got the "voice" spot on. I also enjoyed the relevance that this book displayed - Jane Austen's heroines do have a lot to teach modern women! My main disappointment was the book being rather like an expanded paper one would write in a university lit class - very thorough and well-done, an "A" grade, but perhaps not as accessible or entertaining as it could be in the litera
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Apr 22, 2009
Shannon
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Patrice Hannon knows Jane Austen. Her tone and manners in the book are spot on, and amusing. It's an interesting way to critique Jane Austen's work and make it accessible to the modern reader. What I particularly liked was the view she takes that Austen's heroines appeal and are likable because they overcome their illusions about life and make happy endings based on reality instead of illusion (though I think getting the rich guy and the guy you lost years ago are still on the romantic side).
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Apr 27, 2010
Bookworm
rated it:
Dear Jane Austen: A Heroine's Guide to Life and Love is a fun little book that is written in the voice of Jane Austen giving advice on love and life to current day females. This book made me smile, it's a well written tribute to Jane Austen that I think most fans of hers would enjoy.
The book starts in 1816 where Jane Austen is finishing off the last sentence of Persuasion when her niece comes in with letters for her. Women write to Jane asking her for advice on life and love.
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The book starts in 1816 where Jane Austen is finishing off the last sentence of Persuasion when her niece comes in with letters for her. Women write to Jane asking her for advice on life and love.
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Sep 22, 2007
Andrew
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It’s not difficult to imagine that if Jane Austen were alive today, she might make a living as the heir to Abigail Van Buren, dispensing advice to wayward, miserable or generally confused souls. After all, she was the creator of meddling-but-well-intentioned Emma Woodhouse. In “Dear Jane Austen,” Hannon, who holds a Ph.D. in English literature from Rutgers University and has been teaching Austen’s novels for years, answers the question: what would Jane Austen tell 21st century women about life,
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Nov 28, 2009
Jenny
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I loved this! Not only does the author put forth some good advice regarding life's situations but the author really give a lot of insight into each character, their motives, their flaws, why they are a heroine or not. I really enjoyed also the hints towards Jane Austen's life as well. I loved this so much I plan on giving copies to my family!
May 23, 2009
Brianna
rated it:
I liked the premise of this book -- that Jane Austen would give "column" advice to modern day women, by using her published heroine's as examples -- but not the execution.
The author put too much of her own voice into Jane, who ended up coming off as self-important. She disparaged the work of other authors while crediting her own work. (Granted, if Jane was that way, it would be allowed because her novels are just that worthy, but she wasn't)
The author put too much of her own voice into Jane, who ended up coming off as self-important. She disparaged the work of other authors while crediting her own work. (Granted, if Jane was that way, it would be allowed because her novels are just that worthy, but she wasn't)
Jan 30, 2008
Ana T.
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The full title of this book is Dear Jane Austen: A Heroine's Guide to Life and Love.
I first decided to buy it because I've been in a Jane Austen mood lately - movies of her books, her books, books about her, anything goes... - and I thought this one might be interesting.
The book contains a series of letters from contemporary women to Jane Austen about their love problems. And Jane Austen answers using examples from her heroine's lives and making smart comments about today More...
I first decided to buy it because I've been in a Jane Austen mood lately - movies of her books, her books, books about her, anything goes... - and I thought this one might be interesting.
The book contains a series of letters from contemporary women to Jane Austen about their love problems. And Jane Austen answers using examples from her heroine's lives and making smart comments about today More...
Jul 29, 2011
Alyssa
rated it:
I like this book for what it is, an attempt to answer a modern women's question with the wit and wisdom of Jane Austen. It does this passably well. I brought this with me on vacation and it did give me a few giggles. It is definitely not a deep-read, but when the author hits the right notes it is very enjoyable.
Sep 02, 2011
Shannon
rated it:
It's a book with a great premise: what if Jane Austen was Dear Abby and dispensing dating advice to modern women? It falls short when it takes itself just a little to seriously and tries to work in too many details about Jane's life as well as all the dating advice straight out of Austen's novels.
It's worth a read if you're looking for extremely light reading, but feels like it was written by someone looking to show off just how much she knows about Jane Austen's life and works. The More...
It's worth a read if you're looking for extremely light reading, but feels like it was written by someone looking to show off just how much she knows about Jane Austen's life and works. The More...
Mar 30, 2010
Shaun
rated it:
I enjoyed this book. I would have to say I was a little confused about the premise, but could you imagine if Jane Austen could have answered letters in the manner of Dear Abby? That would have been awesome! I would have to say that it read more like a literary paper, but still fun to read!
Mar 16, 2008
Mary
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From my days of being an English Lit major, I enjoy reading essays about the books that I have read. Reading this book is like reading a thesis about Jane Austen's heroines and their applicability to the modern day woman with a fun twist. The twist is that it is written in letter format. There are a series of "Dear Abby" type letters from fictional modern women written to Austen herself. Austen answers the questions using the examples of her heroines to make her points. I thoroughl
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Aug 27, 2010
Kari
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I bought this online and from the review it looked like it could be a cute book. Turns out it was not very well written or organized. The premise is that Jane Austen is writing letters of advise from her time period to modern day girls with modern day problems. It could have been enjoyable or even funny, but instead it ended up contrived, over written and at times did not even flow. Over all, I was very disappointed in this one.
Mar 24, 2008
Allanna
rated it:
A cute concept of Jane Austen meets Dear Abby ...
What advice would Jane Austen give to would-be heroines today for their lives?
Hannon writes as Austen, responding to letters containing modern-day problems. What would Austen say to the idea of cohabitation? What books would she recommend? What if a woman is reaching spinsterhood?
There are quotes from all of Austen's books, nicely summed-up morals/guidelines, and a warm-sisterly feel to this book. I found it ver More...
What advice would Jane Austen give to would-be heroines today for their lives?
Hannon writes as Austen, responding to letters containing modern-day problems. What would Austen say to the idea of cohabitation? What books would she recommend? What if a woman is reaching spinsterhood?
There are quotes from all of Austen's books, nicely summed-up morals/guidelines, and a warm-sisterly feel to this book. I found it ver More...
Oct 13, 2010
Mmyoung
rated it:
A book I quite enjoyed although I expect that to really like it you have to be an Austenite, a fan of science fantasy or magical realism and light-hearted deconstruction.
Apr 07, 2008
Kathy
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Author has a PhD in English literature with an emphasis on the novels of Jane Austen. This book is a light-hearted look at Austen's most colorful heroines and their relevance to the current dating trends.
Hannon does a great job of capturing Austen's writing style. Her inclusion of details from a variety of Austen novels adds to the book's enlightening nature. "Despite the enormous changes in our external conditions, human nature is still as it was then and Austen's novels are More...
Hannon does a great job of capturing Austen's writing style. Her inclusion of details from a variety of Austen novels adds to the book's enlightening nature. "Despite the enormous changes in our external conditions, human nature is still as it was then and Austen's novels are More...
May 23, 2011
Mendy
rated it:
Not sure if it was my ADD or the fact that I am not very familiar with Austen's work (the closet I have come to reading her is "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies", yea not gonna cut it)but I had trouble staying focused. It was a cute story with actually very good advice.
Jul 08, 2011
Betsy
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Jane Austen answers modern day letters in a Dear Abby fashion from her life in the early 1800s. Though this is a clever and fun idea, it wasn't quite the enjoyable read I'd hoped.
Feb 25, 2009
Christine
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Patrice Hannon is brilliant. She knows her J.A. It was really funny to hear how things really haven't changed much on a conscious level in society.
Jul 21, 2010
Allison
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I really like this book it's a funny guide to life and love for women.
Aug 30, 2011
Candace
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This might just be one of the best Jane Austen inspired books I have ever read!! When you read the book, all the advice that the author gives feels like Jane Austen would say the same thing. I highly recommend this to any Jane Austen fans or to any woman looking for some good advice about life.
Jul 09, 2009
adventurat
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Dear Jane Austen has the famous authoress answering "Dear Abby" style letters from modern readers, referencing her own works (including the juvenilia and the unpublished works) and their characters to illustrate her advice in matters of life, love, and general behaviour.
Patrice Hannon has an impressive grasp of Austen's works, and the response letters capture her voice and her character brilliantly.
Patrice Hannon has an impressive grasp of Austen's works, and the response letters capture her voice and her character brilliantly.
Sep 17, 2011
Mirah
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I thought the idea was good...modern women writing "Dear Abby" type letters to Jane Austen...however, I felt most of the responses were drawn out a little too long...I did enjoy the chapter on a Heroine in the World...I thought the asides where Jane was speaking to members of her family were unnecessary. But, the writer obviously knows her Jane Austen novels and characters.
Jun 06, 2009
Amy
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The only reason I gave this one star is more me than the book. I have always struggled with pieces like those of Austen. I like to the point and I start daydreaming when reading 3 pages of fluffy text that could be condensed into one paragraph. I know that if you enjoy that sort of literature you would probably really like this book. I did like the idea of it. Very clever.
Apr 25, 2008
Katie
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Well, if you're an Austen fan, I think you'd enjoy this book...
It's written in Jane's voice, as she responds to letters from modern-day women. She cites her books and characters as she answers questions about love, marriage, and friendship. It's cute, an easy read, and lets you reminisce about your experiences reading Austen's books and meeting her characters.
It's written in Jane's voice, as she responds to letters from modern-day women. She cites her books and characters as she answers questions about love, marriage, and friendship. It's cute, an easy read, and lets you reminisce about your experiences reading Austen's books and meeting her characters.
