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    Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict
    Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict
    Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict
    Audiobook9 hours

    Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict

    Written by Laurie Viera Rigler

    Narrated by Kate Reading

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Laurie Viera Rigler's nationally bestselling debut novel, Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, took twenty-first-century free spirit Courtney Stone into the social confines of Jane Austen's era. Now, Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict tells the parallel story of Jane Mansfield, a gentleman's daughter from Regency England who inexplicably awakens in Courtney's overly wired and morally confused modern L.A. life.

    For Jane, the modern world is not wholly disagreeable. She relishes the privacy, independence, even the power to earn her own money. But how is she to fathom her employer's incomprehensible dictates about "syncing a BlackBerry"? How can she navigate a world in which flirting and kissing and even the sexual act itself raise no matrimonial expectations? Even more bewildering is the friend named Wes, who is as attractive and confusing to Jane as the man who broke her heart back home. It's enough to make her wonder if she would be better off in her own time, where at least the rules are clear-that is, if returning is even an option.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateJul 9, 2009
    ISBN9781400182497
    Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict
    Author

    Laurie Viera Rigler

    Laurie Viera Rigler is the author of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict. Laurie is also the creator of Sex and the Austen Girl, the Babelgum comedy web series inspired by Laurie's Austen Addict novels. A longtime resident of the very same Echo Park/Silverlake neighborhood in Los Angeles in which Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict is set, Laurie now lives in nearby Pasadena, California, with her filmmaker husband and their cat. Her online home is at janeaustenaddict.com.

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    Reviews for Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict

    3.5/5

    194 ratings34 reviews

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    • 4/5
      In Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, Jane Mansfield who is from Regency England, wakes up in the body of Courtney Stone, current day in Los Angeles. At first Jane thinks she is dreaming, and wills herself to wake up. Courtney's friends explain to Jane that she hit her head pretty hard while in a swimming pool and that her 'confusion' might just be a concussion. Her friends are also wondering why Courtney is now talking as if she just stepped out of a Jane Austen novel. The last thing Jane remembers is riding her horse and bumping her head while taking a fall. While in Courtney's apartment, she finds copies of Jane Austen books as well as movie version of the novels. She begins to read the books and watch the films. "I do not know how I come to be in this time, in this place, in this body. But I do know that any place where there are six novels by the author of Pride & Prejudice must be a very special sort of heaven."Jane is in shock to see so many differences in society. Besides television, cell phones, Internet, cars and radio, Jane is stunned to see ladies unchaperoned, working and exposing so much skin. As the story goes on, Jane is getting flashbacks of Courtney's life. She realizes she has alot to figure out and wants to help Courtney set things straight. One thing Jane does find out is that both she and Courtney were unlucky in love at the time they switched bodies. With the help of her friend Deepa, Jane winds up going to a fortune teller who does seem to be other worldly and has some answers to Jane's questions. As Jane is trying to adjust to current day L.A., she is also wondering how and if she can ever get back to her former life.I had been eagerly awaiting this book. Having read and really enjoyed Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and seeing what happened to Courtney while she lived in Jane's body, I was very curious to see what happens with Jane while she inhabits Courtney's body. Laurie does answer some of the questions, and she leaves the ending a bit open. I wonder will there be a third book? If you're in the mood for a fun, light read, pick up a copy of Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, you won't regret it! First of course, you have to read Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict . These books are the perfect read for Jane Austen fans. The way Laurie writes, you can tell she is a true lover of Austen's work. I like how she refers to Jane Austen novels throughout both books.
    • 3/5
      I had a hard time with this book. Generally I enjoy this type of time-travel story, where the main character is out of her time and her surroundings are foreign to her. I thoroughly enjoyed the prequel to this book (Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict), and was looking forward to reading this. But in this story, the constant descriptions of modern items in Regency-era terms became tiring. And honestly, the main character, Jane Mansfield, seemed to become too quickly accustomed to using a computer, a coffee maker, and other modern conveniences. The plot was confusing, and quite frankly, not that interesting. I never did fully understand the relationships between Courtney, Frank and Wes. Maybe that was because it has been so long since I read the first book?Overall, I was disappointed. Maybe I should stick with stories of modern characters going back in time, rather than the other way around.
    • 1/5
      I'm not sure why I'm reading this since I didn't really like the first one. It's one of those books that's terrible but you can't put it down.
    • 1/5
      A gentleman's daughter from the Regency period gets transported into the body of a modern day woman living in Los Angeles. Jane explores the tech, mannerisms and sensibilities of her new world. It's all astoundingly banal for a time-travel novel. There's a romance that makes no sense--if Wes was so deeply in love with Courtney, then why on earth would he be in love with someone who looks like her but has a completely different personality? There is no plot at all. Reading my way through this made me feel tired.
    • 3/5
      This is a fun, light-hearted listen - - especially if you're a Jane Austen fan. Rigler writes time travel stories where the time travel isn't the main plot point in the book. Instead it's a device for getting two women to the men they'll fall in love with. This book was especially fun watching a girl from Austen's time deal with our modern day conveniences.

      These aren't spectacular books. They're just fun, clean listens. Reading is a great narrator. If you're an Austen fan, you'll enjoy these books.
    • 4/5
      3.75 starsWhen Jane Mansfield wakes up, she discovers that she is not who she thinks she is. She is from 1813 England, but she figures out that she's woken up in 2009 Los Angeles. She is not even in her own body; she appears to be in the body of someone named Courtney Stone. Courtney apparently hit her head while swimming and she is told she has a concussion and her memory should return. But Jane knows she's not Courtney! How did she end up in Courtney's life!? And not only is Courtney's life a bit of a mess, Jane doesn't understand the culture, the time, the place... I really enjoyed it. I thought it was fun. I read the flip-book, Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, where Courtney woke up in Jane's body, time and country, a few years ago and I wish I'd followed up with this one sooner, so I could remember more of the other one. I thought it moved quickly and it was fast to read. This is just fun chick lit, in my opinion.
    • 5/5
      you should in any case read both books, i really liked the idea, the setting and it was witty and a delightful reading.
    • 3/5
      In “Confessions of …” Jane/Courtney was left in 1813 England trying to learn to cope with living. I had to read the flip side of that coin and find out how Courtney/Jane was dealing with 21st century Los Angeles. I have read better time-switch books but these were entertaining and had a completely satisfying ending. Worth the read when you are in the mood.
    • 5/5
      After finishing Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict I just had to find more. I love stories about Jane Austin and time travel. I loved the way this book kept going back and forth between the centuries and the confused characters. It was wonderful to follow each of them realizing where they were and how to deal in this new and so drastically different environment. I loved it!!
    • 4/5
      I really loved this book, and the companion book as well. I even loaned them both to my sister, who was equally delighted. I feel that the main character here was far, far better than the 'real' Courtney Stone. She was smart enough to go along with most things and did REALLY well in a world she knew nothing about. I found her more likable as well, even if I think she let go of her opinions and attitudes about things far too easily. Things like makeup and Courtney's horrible friends could have been dealt with much better. I really don't see a woman from that time capitulating like she did. Also, I loved how she went in and cleaned up Courtney's messy life and made it her own without having to forget who she was and where she came from to do it. Very nice concept, well done here. Much better than the original novel.
    • 3/5
      Cute book...but I found myself skimming it instead of reading it. Maybe I should read Pillars of the Earth again, that's what pulled me out of my reading funk last time.
    • 3/5
      This is the flip side of Ms. Rigler's earlier "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict", in which a 21rst Centruy LA girl wakes up in the body of a 19th century Recency lady. This time, we see what was happening back in LA, when the Regency lady woke up in the 21rst body of Ms. LA. As in the previous novel, the fun part of the book the 19th century view of 21rst century life; the story is less thrilling.
    • 2/5
      This book was even worse than the first one. This book follows the adventures of Jane Mansfield of regency England as she is thrust into the body and life of Courtney Stone, a 30-something living in Los Angeles in the early 2000s. While in Jane's life, Courtney had gone to parties, learned to sew, avoided parents, etc. In Courtney's life, Jane fails to pay the bills, quits Courtney's job, and gets married to someone who thinks she is Courtney. That's quite a lot to do when one is the guardian of someone else's life. Jane somehow magically knows how to do lots of things, including: a) use a computer to surf the internet and look things up on Google, b) drive a car through the streets of Los Angeles, including knowing where people live and how to get there, c) swim in the ocean, and d) use a TV and DVD player to watch movies . All of this is explained away by something called "cellular memory" in which each cell of Courtney's body remembers how to do those things. *Insert retching noises here* At the end of the second book, Jane is still happily living in Courtney's body, fucking with her life. So, they don't switch back? What's the point in "fixing" someone else's life and having someone else "fix" yours if you never switch back?? I'm not sure how that is supposed to work.This book was mildly interesting while I was listening to it, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.
    • 4/5
      This book was exactly what I expected: fun! Actually, I was quite impressed by the amount of detail Rigler put into her book: everything from language mannerisms, to technological discoveries and reactions to customs and habits - she does a great job at creating an authentic experience which is both believable and amusing right down to the amnesia and reincarnation phenomena. There were definitely a few lapses which throw off the reader (Jane is, apparently, a fast learner). However, these are fairly rare. I also liked the parallel of eras regarding views toward marriage: not much changed it would seem and certainly not to advantage of women. A light heart-warming tale.
    • 2/5
      I loved the first book in this sequence. This one was very disappointing and hard to engage in. Much more fun to "travel" from the present to the past (as in the first book), than the other way around (this book). Nevertheless, Rigler does a passable job attempting to do so; she just doesn't quite pull it off.
    • 3/5
      This was better in a some ways then the first, but worse with the addition of elements it did not need. Too many elements overwhelmed what started with a good premise and causes the book to end with a slugfest of trying to turn pages fast enough to the conclusion with is the same as her first novel.How did we get here again? Through the explanation, inadequately, of the paranormal, in such a way that you further do not believe what has happened. Let us have our regency transplant, and the Jane Mansfield joke was a mistake in the first book, trying to survive without an unexplainable fortune teller. Let us have our Regency transplant have no connection to another book and the plot elements from that weaving, unexplained unless you read the first book, in. Our Heroine has enough on her plate to make a good story. Finding out their way in 2009. Resolving that all whom she knew is gone. She need not make an entirely new friend for a plot device, if her body that she inhabits has friends which are entirely new to her.Our Heroine need not be forced into work for an ogre without any understanding, for her friends knowing that she has no idea how anything works should know she must be watched and taught. Nor the juvenile, body memory device that the author employs here and before, allow our heroine to get into a car. Sure it is going to work. Totally unbelievable, better the scene where she tries it and almost kills herself.In all I am glad I read it so I can write this review. I can discuss at length so many more of reasons that this book could have been a contender, and falls short. Even if it were to appeal to the Janeites, as a story, the holes make it a once only.
    • 3/5
      Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict is a light romp through the world of contemporary romance for Austenite, Jane Mansfield. She tries devilishly hard to assimilate in California 2009, and does very well. By the end of the book, she's not only dumped a cad and bagged babe, but successfully traded lives with her modern day counterpart for good. All's well that ends well . . . I only wish there had been an unexpected turn of events or a bit more drama. I enjoyed the book but it hasn't left a lasting impression.
    • 4/5
      Really fun story. I think the author did a great job of describing her view of electronics and changing society. I enjoyed watching Jane come to grips with the modern world. This definitely wrapped up the loose threads left from the first book. I would still like some more explianation on the 'hows', but I'm also ok with just enjoying. Now I would like to know more about Deepa's experience with the fortune teller... :)
    • 4/5
      So we all know what happened to the real Courtney... and if you don’t, check out my review here. But what happened to Jane Mansfield? Well, we get to find out in this parallel story to last year’s favorite - Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict.Jane Mansfield, a gentleman’s daughter from Regency England who inexplicably awakens in Courtney’s body in present day L.A. And although her apartment may be smaller than a dressing closet - she is enthralled by the lights that burn without candles, machines that wash bodies and clothes, and that ever entertaining glossy rectangle in which tiny people perform scenes from her favorite book - you guessed it, Pride & Prejudice. As Jane comes to terms with her new life she goes from one hilarious situation to the next... from meeting Courtney’s friends, job and the mess her love life (or lack thereof) is in.Ms. Viera Rigler is one funny gal - there were parts where I found myself laughing out loud over. I found it uproariously funny that Jane/Courtney wakes up in this whole new world and ends up wearing a wedding gown - since it was the only suitable thing to wear... I mean just the thought of it still tickles me. The transition for Jane is much harder than it was for Courtney. Who in 1813 could envision all the technology we have and take for granted in our day to day lives in the 21st century? I enjoyed this just as much or even more than I did Confessions. I will suggest that you read Confessions first - only because you get to meet Courtney and get more inside information on who Jane is or was in 1813.This was a fun, light read with plenty of laughs and a wonderful message. I certainly enjoyed it and recommend to all - not only Jane Austen lovers.
    • 2/5
      Slow start. Author seemed to be trying to write like Jane Austen, but with her own spin... didn't quite hit it. It had a Jane-esque ending, though.
    • 5/5
      Excellent sequel to the first. Seeing what happened on the other side, this book completes the story that was started in Confessions. Actually, I found this book more entertaining that the first because this scenario would be so much more confusing. For anyone that is a fan of Austen's works, these books are fabulous.
    • 4/5
      Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict is the complementary story to Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict. In that first book, Courtney Stone, a 32 year old from the year 2009, wakes up in 1813 Somerset, England in the body of Jane Mansfield, daughter of a gentleman. Rude Awakenings tells what happens to Jane, who wakes up in Courtney’s body in 2009. The books can be read independently but probably flow better in order.Both young ladies, rabid fans of Jane Austen, wished for different lives, and both hit their heads at the same time. Thus, we presume, some sort of cosmic Karma has enabled this switch. Like the movie “Back to the Future,” these books focus on the humorous confusions that result from dislocations in time. Coming to 2009 from 1813, there is plenty to astound a person, from televisions, computers, telephones, cars, and airplanes to the astonishing change in manners and morality, especially for a young woman. And there is no shortage of opportunity for satire either. One uproarious passage has Courtney’s friends take her to a therapist; after Jane/Courtney goes on about how she is really someone else from the year 1813, lost in the future, and doesn't know how to get back, the therapist says: “Soooo… how do you feel about that?”Courtney, ostensibly recovering from a severe concussion, finds herself attended to by Wes (the best friend of her ex-fiance), old girlfriends Paula and Anna, and a new girlfriend Deepa (who speaks with a reassuring English accent). She also finds herself reluctantly feeling responsive to the importunings of the ex, Frank, whom everyone (including Courtney) now recognizes as a scumbag.It is Anna, who is into “new-age crap” as Paula calls it, who gives Courtney the most to think about when she says:"I believe that each of us has the power to create heaven or hell, right here, right now.” Reflecting on this later, Courtney, always the Austenophile, says:"Each of us has the power to create heaven or hell, right here, right now. I do not know how I have come to be in this time, in this place, in this body. But I do know that any place where there are six novels by the author of Pride and Prejudice must be a very special sort of heaven.”When Courtney expresses angst about how to understand what has happened to her, her friend Deepa takes her to see a fortune teller, who turns out to be the same one she saw as Jane back in 1813. The woman tries to teach her that knowledge about ourselves and others is structured by preconceptions. To truly know someone, you need to be open to fresh perspectives. That is to say, like Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice, one must let go of ones' pride and discard ones' prejudices, not only to know others truly, but also to know ourselves and our true desires.She also teaches Courtney not to be intimidated by the nature of 21st Century relationships. Even if someone has loved before, it doesn’t preclude loving again:"When you unite with your true love, it will be as if he is your first, and you his. In the eyes of love, there is no past.”But can Jane/Courtney somehow reconcile her knowledge of who she really is with her new persona, and overcome the mistakes of both of those lives to make a new beginning? Or will she get cold feet and go back, with the help of the fortune teller? In short, will she create a hell, or can she create a heaven?Evaluation: I liked this book much better than Confessions, in part because this story tended to tie up the lose ends left by the first story (and I do like all the ends tied!). It was also fun to see Jane/Courtney’s reaction to all the modern conveniences (such as toilets!) and watch her figure out how to use them. And looking at such modern wonders (electricity!) through Jane’s eyes helps you appreciate them so much more!I envied Jane for having the opportunity to create a new life as Courtney, combining their personalities to make a kinder, better Courtney and a looser, more compromising Jane. It's sort of like having a rewind button but with an editing capability. What a lovely premise!
    • 4/5
      This was an entertaining concept. What would it really be like if one were to be transplanted out of one's own time? The romance was nice, and the obsession with Jane Austen was fun. But mostly the appeal lies in the "fish out of water" situations.
    • 4/5
      In a reversal of time travel, Jane Mansfield moves from the 19th century into Courtney Stone's present day life. Trapped in this modern day, Jane is exposed to the remainder of Jane Austen's work (and loves them as much as the rest of us), learns about cellular devices, and finds that men and women associate alone? Shocking! I thoroughly enjoyed watching this 19th century character, with the actions and behaviors of a time long gone, learn about the wonderful freedoms of this modern era. I won't lie. I like it when the "time traveler" focuses on the exciting new positives of where they live, and not the traumatic, negative social differences they see. This particular story did just that, in showing how Jane became enamored with not just the things of this modern era, but the people as well. And somehow along the way, it seems Jane learns that a person's heart, regardless of time period, will always be the most important factor in finding true love.Overall, I found this my favorite of Rigler's two novels.
    • 4/5
      Sequels or prequels can be a tricky thing. When the first book is well received, readers have an expectation that the next book will be just as good, perhaps even better. An author venturing into such territory takes a great risk. Laurie Viera Rigler took an even bigger risk as her primary demographic is Jane Austen fans. As one myself, we can be a demanding, unforgiving bunch with very high expectations. After all, any author willing to take characters (and beloved ones, at that) that Ms. Austen created herself, or make Ms. Austen directly or indirectly the subject of their book must be prepared to be compared to Ms. Austen in some fashion. I adored Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict. I will say that I am a somewhat obsessive freak over time travel - - the idea, stories about it - - and you have read my profile, you know that I have a fascination with Jane Austen fan fic and sequels. Confessions (and Rude Awakenings) fit both molds for me. Ms. Viera Rigler made a wonderfully relatable heroine - - Courtney - - and her details of Regency life were a delight to read.I was thrilled to hear of a follow up novel and Ms. Viera Rigler does not disappoint. Rude Awakenings is a fun romp of a read - - joining Jane Mansfield, who manages to find herself in Courtney’s body, while Courtney s ostensibly in hers. The problem - - and fascination - - being that Jane is from 1813 England and is now in present-day Los Angeles. Her shock, awe and fear over our daily necessities like cars, televisions, phones and electricity is humorous and humbling. Of particular joy to me was Jane’s thrill over finding out not only the author’s name of her favorite book (Pride & Prejudice) but that she had written five more completed novels during her lifetime. Not only did Jane have to navigate a thoroughly modern world she had no experience with but also had to pick up Courtney’s life with her friends, co-workers, a job, problems with her mother and a recently broken engagement. Rude Awakenings was a worthy follow-up to Confessions, answering questions posed and left unanswered in the first book. Readers should be pleased not only with Jane’s dilemma but also with a bit of further information given about Courtney as well as more character development for Jane herself. This book was so good, such a fun read, that I raced through it in about two and a half days (and weekdays, while working). I would recommend it for all Jane Austen fans, fans of the Regency era or other historical fiction and especially anyone who has read Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict.
    • 4/5
      Great companion novel to the earlier Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict. This time, we get to see what happened to Jane Mansfield while the 21st century Courtney Stone is occupying her body back in 1813. Jane is transported to Courtney's LA life, where living is much more fast-paced than her days at home. I think the future would be much harder to get used to and Rigler did a wonderful job with Jane's language and shock at things like dressing yourself and exposed legs.
    • 1/5
      I let myself read over 100 pages, just to be sure I could not possibly be as wrong about a book as I was about this one. But no, the dialogue doesn't get any better, the writing doesn't improve, the characters stay ridiculous, and the premise remains utterly stupid. The best part of the book? The fabulous cover, with a woman in Regency dress holding an iPod. Quite cheeky -- but take my advice and stop there. The book reads like the worst kind of novel, completely pedestrian and sophomoric.
    • 4/5
      After reading the first book, [Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict], I was so hoping that we would get to see the other side of the switch. I was not disappointed!I could not put this book down once I started it. I was intrigued from the beginning as to how Courtney/Jane was going to adjust to modern life. I think the description of Jane and her first encounter with the television and the Pride and Prejudice movie is my favorite bit.A really fast, great read. I would recommend it to any fan of Jane Austen.
    • 4/5
      In Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, Jane Mansfield who is from Regency England, wakes up in the body of Courtney Stone, current day in Los Angeles. At first Jane thinks she is dreaming, and wills herself to wake up. Courtney's friends explain to Jane that she hit her head pretty hard while in a swimming pool and that her 'confusion' might just be a concussion. Her friends are also wondering why Courtney is now talking as if she just stepped out of a Jane Austen novel. The last thing Jane remembers is riding her horse and bumping her head while taking a fall. While in Courtney's apartment, she finds copies of Jane Austen books as well as movie version of the novels. She begins to read the books and watch the films. "I do not know how I come to be in this time, in this place, in this body. But I do know that any place where there are six novels by the author of Pride & Prejudice must be a very special sort of heaven."Jane is in shock to see so many differences in society. Besides television, cell phones, Internet, cars and radio, Jane is stunned to see ladies unchaperoned, working and exposing so much skin. As the story goes on, Jane is getting flashbacks of Courtney's life. She realizes she has alot to figure out and wants to help Courtney set things straight. One thing Jane does find out is that both she and Courtney were unlucky in love at the time they switched bodies. With the help of her friend Deepa, Jane winds up going to a fortune teller who does seem to be other worldly and has some answers to Jane's questions. As Jane is trying to adjust to current day L.A., she is also wondering how and if she can ever get back to her former life.I had been eagerly awaiting this book. Having read and really enjoyed Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and seeing what happened to Courtney while she lived in Jane's body, I was very curious to see what happens with Jane while she inhabits Courtney's body. Laurie does answer some of the questions, and she leaves the ending a bit open. I wonder will there be a third book? If you're in the mood for a fun, light read, pick up a copy of Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, you won't regret it! First of course, you have to read Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict . These books are the perfect read for Jane Austen fans. The way Laurie writes, you can tell she is a true lover of Austen's work. I like how she refers to Jane Austen novels throughout both books.
    • 5/5
      I really liked this book. It was better than its predecessor, Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict. In this installment, 19th-century Jane Mansfield (no connection to the actress) finds herself in 20th-century L.A., trapped in the body of Courtney Stone. There is a lot of fish-out-of-water humor, and it works. Soon, Jane finds herself happily immersed in Courtney's identity - complete with friends, job, and her own apartment - and marvels at the wonders of modern society.Jane/Courtney was very endearing, talking like a Pride and Prejudice character, in sharp contrast to the California vernacular all around her. I also liked the love story.