Book 49 Lost in Austen

Lost in Austen: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure by
Emily Campbell Webster fulfilled the “Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Book” category of the
PopSugar 2019 Reading Challenge. As a child of the 80s, I read Choose-Your-Own-Adventure
stories voraciously. In fact, I can remember with the first five writing all
the page numbers and rereading until I hit every page. I’m not obsessive. Why
do you ask?

When I saw the category, I was thrilled. Tons of the
new versions have come out in the last thirty years. (Man, I’m old.) I recently found The
Oregon Trail Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books. There are two old obsessions
rolled into one, right there. I joked that every ending but one had to be “Your
party dies of dysentery.”

But for this super serious blog, I wanted a grown-up novel.
But not too adult that it wasn’t
super fun. Because I’m six.

I was thrilled to see the huge list of books in this
genre for adults. In fact, I found one very adult story the other day. Choose-Your-Own-Erotic-Fantasy:
Night Shift by Joanna Angel. I might read it anyway because it fits this category,
and the dual titled one too. Man, I hope it’s good.

On to Lost in Austen. I’m a huge Jane Austen
fan, having read everything
of hers (except for Lady Susan, the unfinished works and her juvenile
writing). I’ve listened and read most of them twice or more and seen many
versions of the movies. When I found Lost in Austen was a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure
book, I bought it sight unseen. What could be better than a book referencing Austen’s
works? I could read it and get Darcy? Yes, please.

I’ll
be honest. I read the book through one time and cheated only once. The book is
set in four stages, following the story of Pride and Prejudice though it
throws some things in from Ms. Austen’s real life and her other stories. One
path leads to Bath and Northanger Abbey. Another led to meeting Mr. Willoughby
of Sense and Sensibility. I almost got to marry Mr. LeFroy (a man from Ms.
Austen’s real life), but I pressed on to get Darcy.

I
did not. I made it to Stage Four choosing correctly by following the real novel.
Unfortunately, I picked the wrong path to wander with my aunt and uncle at Pemberley.
I did not run into Darcy as he arrived home. Instead, Miss Bingley ran us over
in her carriage and I died, unmarried.

Very
sad.

But I loved it. The twists and turns of plots and
scenes made reading the story and following the adventure fun. I re-chose once
because I died in Stage Two. And almost read head to find out if I should marry
LeFroy.

The author also asked the reader to keep track of
gaming points like a Dungeons and Dragons game. I used a notebook to
tally my Confidence, Intelligence, and Fortune points. I also had to keep a
list of my Accomplishments, Failings, and Connections. I don’t think this author as ever
been Dungeon Master of a D&D game. Rules were put in place then tossed to
the side.

There was no point in keeping track of any of it. It was
only used once in all of my choices. Many times she gave points and took them
away immediately. Or the author made the decision for the reader. Or made snide
comments about the behavior she just assigned to you. –100 Intelligent points
for doubting Darcy. I didn’t
doubt him. The page said I did.

There
were times I went negative but had no direction of what to do about it. Shouldn’t
the story be over if your Fortune in -20? It was very Whose Line Is It Anyway?
The points didn’t matter. Especially when a jealous woman kills you out of
nowhere. 

I’m giving Lost in Austen: Create Your own
Jane Austen Adventure by Emily Campbell Webster only four Darcys because a) I didn’t get to marry him, and
b) the points don’t matter anyway.