The Watsons

I enjoyed this book that was begun by Jane Austen, and never finished until recently, by Jennifer Ready Bettiol. It is a short story, and even Jane Austen's writing is not as polished and refined as in her completed books. But it is still worth reading (it is still Jane Austen). Bettiol's writing just doesn't compare at all to Austen's, but in fairness, whose writing can? I found her completion of the story to be rushed and very simplified, but it did have fun twists and unexpected but believable happenings. It felt a little bit like reading the Cliff Notes of a novel.

I'm giving this book three stars instead of two just because it's so great to see The Watsons as a published volume. The text actually written by Austen is as much fun to read as Pride and Prejudice, and the way the MS ends is so tantalizing that it positively cries out for a continuation ... particularly since Austen family tradition preserves the basics of subsequent plot development.The continuation by Another, however, is functional at best. It lacks sparkle; the language and the evocation of social milieu do not ring true; and many well-drawn characters, notably Tom Musgrave, transform beyond recognition. Other characters lose their nuance, becoming either all good or all bad. All of this surprises me because Another was a Jane Austen scholar who ought to have been better equipped than most continuators to avoid these pitfalls.Jane Austen's own writing here (chapters 1 to 5) is Austen at her best, and deserves to be read. Readers will be disappointed, however, if they do more than skim the remainder of the book.

How can one NOT love a Jane Austen book? Even the juvenilia are wonderfully written and just simply fun. I can just see her writing, as a teen-ager, and having a ball with her characters. Don't miss a one of the early, early writings! I keep hoping that somewhere, sometime, someone is going to discover a new Austen manuscript that was somehow missed, and publishes it.And, BTW, all true Austen fans should try some of the Stephanie Barron look-a-like books. She has Austen down pat, with some very entertaining twists.

Not only is this a fragment, an unfinished work by Austen, but it is touted as a short story by the synopsis. I was truly deceived, do not be deceived yourself. Austen never finished this story. There are other versions which have been completed by other authors. Shame on you Amazon for not clearly advertising this for what it is. It is simply deceitful.

Not worth the time, poor plot device, inadequate or no character development, no atmospheric elements or scenic expressions. Why bother?

How can I comment on the authors' writing when one is Jane Austin and the other isn't? Not by a long way. Jane's book has been completed by someone who hasn't got to grips with Jane's style, Jane's plots, or Jane's characters. Not worth reading - just as one has got interested in how on earth it's all going to resolve itself, it stops. Nothing more to say.

I thought that I was downloading an entire book, but this was nothing but an incomplete fragment, whether of a book or short story, I cannot say. Disappointed much!

Had no idea I was purchasing an incomplete fragment of a Jane Austen novel. What a let down it was to become so engrossed in the story only to find out there was no end. Recommend reading reviews before making purchase.

I bought this, thinking it was just Jane Austen's unfinished novel. I was not interested in the continuation so did not finish the book. From what I read, the continuation is okay, compared to some Austen-esque adaptions. The adapter is clearly knowledgeable of Austen's intention for the novel and other references made by her family. It was clear, however, when Austen's work ended and the modern adaption began. It had the common failings of historical fiction: trying to let us know too much historical information. Austen is notible for how self-contained her novels are, with their very slim references to the political context of her time. The sudden appearance of reference to contemporary figures, and the characters claiming to know them, switched off my attention.

not bad...a kind and jolly ending to what could have been a rather dismal, unhappy, even tragic tale...i think ms austen abandoned the manuscript because it made her unhappy to write about sisters who were poor, and becoming burdens on their families...i think she saw too much of herself and cassandra in the watsons...and could not conjure up a happy end...this text marries everyone off rapidly, and does not neglect to mention the fate of married women...babies...if you have sex, you will have babies...realistic, rather dull, contrived and constructed, but feels true to the original plan...no wit, no sparkle, no magic, just dismal slogging to a predictable end...amusing? nah, but ok....

Emma returns after 14 years, to live with her ailing father and three sisters in relative poverty (though they have two maids) after being raised by her aunt in luxury and expectation she would inherit their wealth but her uncle has died and he aunt has remarried. Emma is banished, penniless, back home to compete with her sisters for a husband. In line are Lord Osborne who lives in the castle (a forerunner of Darcy), the clergyman, Mr Howard whom Emma has her eye on, Tom Musgrave who has £800 a year and flirts with all four girls. Then there's the Edwards family, the rich town dwellers whose daughter is in love with Emma's brother, Sam, but not considered socially acceptable. I could write the rest myself. Clearly Emma's dark skin indicates she is really the daughter of someone else. Now who could that be?

Dont buy, incomplete........ See above. However Tom Musgrove? Related to Mansfield Park family? I am sure shes used name before.

Wanted this to last much longer as the author did a really good job of finishing Jane's work. The author excuses the brevity of her story because she thought that Jane found her two main characters boring. Jennifer gave them some depth in her continuation, and she has enough talent to have given a fuller story. I do tend to read Jane Austen continuations and I would say Jennifer is the most like Jane I have read. It was hard to tell where Jane finished and Jennifer began.

Continued in the style of Jane Austen, this version takes notes made by Cassandra and Jane's niece Catherine and continues the story in a believable way. You can barely see the join! No more characters are introduced and the storyline follows a style with features that can be followed through to other areas in Jane's books and experience . Well worth reading. It could almost have been written by Jane herself.

This is the second completion of The Watsons I have read recently. I gave a very good revue of the first one so I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed this one just as much. Merryn Williams really does write in the Jane Austen spirit and succeeds very well. I'm sure Jane Austen abandoned this novel because it bored her and she couldn't do much with it, but Merryn has bought it to life.

I'm confused by previous reviews of this ebook which led me to believe there was a continuation of the story. It is in fact just what was written by Jane Austin so I have no idea which book the previous reviews are for

Until recently I'd never heard of this book and I chanced on it by accident! The worst thing about Jane Austen is that you're never waiting on her next novel, so this was just bliss! A gritty one, completed by another author but I have to say quite seamlessly in my opinion. As expected, I thoroughly enjoyed it and like the rest of her collection it will be read again and again. Only bought it yesterday and finished it that evening. Now waiting for another surprise secret novel...

Very good. The author has done the proper and valid research before attempting to complete this short novel. I feel it does lack a little of the depth and layers of the full Austen works, and it moves a little too fast, but still a very good read with all the Austen building blocks firmly in place.

I was glad to see Austen' s novel completed, and the loose ends were duly tied up. I wanted to finish reading. There were one or two surprising developments. However, the ending descended into a list of weddings and the solutions to the problems were a bit contrived.

Never heard of this particular jane Austin book. Was gutted that miss Austin never got to complete the work herself. However, I am satisfied after reading the postscript that the completing author tried to do justice to Jane's original work. I am satisfied with the conclusion; and enjoyed this book overall.

This is only an unfinished fragment of Jane Austen's work. Consequently it is very short, but would be of interest to an out and out Austen scholar.

Very inferior to a previous attempt at a completion in the 70s - buy it for the first few genuine chapters, if you haven't already bought it, but the continuation is poor

Enjoyed this book