Sisters, Suitors, and Trying Situations
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
Completing Jane Austen’s unfinished manuscript of The Watsons is an incredibly daunting task that requires an astute understanding of Jane Austen’s characters and style, a strong command of language and satire, and no small amount of courage. Especially since the fragment left by Jane Austen consists of less than eight thousand words – or, as it is sometimes segmented, less than seven chapters. But within these few chapters Jane Austen introduces an engaging family, complete with their own quirks and challenges, and an charming yet bustling village, with inhabitants just as intriguing and colorful as those in Meryton and Highbury.
Readers are fortunate that there are authors who are up to the daunting task to complete Jane Austen’s fragment and flesh out the lives of Emma Watson and her siblings. This is the third continuation of The Watsons I’ve had the pleasure to read, but it is the first to (mostly) follow the basic plot points that, according to family record, Jane Austen originally envisioned and divulged to Cassandra. I am so pleased that Rose Servitova, the author who thoroughly delighted us with her brilliantly humorous and touching epistolary novel, The Longbourn Letters (a must-read!), has now undertaken the task of completing The Watsons.
Evoking a style similar to Jane Austen, Ms. Servitova tells a lively story full of heart and humor that spotlights Emma Watson as she adapts to the great changes in her situation and future expectations. I’ve always had an affinity for Emma and an interest in her situation – it is in some ways very similar to Fanny Price’s, and can even be compared to the Dashwood sisters on some level. And I never tire of reading a story about sisters – especially ones so diversely drawn! I greatly enjoyed how Rose Servitova continued to portray Emma and her siblings in this tale. There is a lot for Emma to adapt to and I felt her experiences adjusting to her new life were remarkably authentic. And I cannot help but admire Emma for her sense of right, selfless actions, kind heart, and resourceful independence.
Another element of this story I loved were the new characters introduced – Mr. Shaw, a nephew of Dr. Harding who freely shares his opinions and disdain for marriage, Mrs. Ellingham, a friend by marriage who is sweet and clever, and Mr. Howard’s curate, Solomon Tomlinson, who is as obtuse as he is obdurate (oh, was he awful! ;)). These characters were wonderfully well-drawn and helped create some interesting relationships and developments between the Watsons, Osbornes, and Howards.
I was happy to discover that there were romantic developments aplenty in this continuation! And not all of the relationships were ones you could predict. I love how Ms. Servitova fashioned together some surprises and how she depicted the sweet and blossoming romance between Emma and a certain suitor. However, there were a few relationships and male characters that I wouldn’t have minded seeing fleshed out a little bit more.
Rose Servitova’s The Watsons is a most compelling and praiseworthy completion of Jane Austen’s unfinished work! Readers who have never read a continuation of The Watsons, or even the original manuscript as Jane Austen left it, should make haste to pick up this thoughtful, perceptive, and delightfully diverting Austenesque tale! You will not be sorry you did!
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Our sincere thanks to Laurel Ann Nattress of Austenprose for inviting us to take part in this lovely tour!
~ THE WATSONS BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE~
November 18 My Jane Austen Book Club (Interview)
November 18 Austenprose—A Jane Austen Blog (Review)
November 19 The Lit Bitch (Excerpt)
***November 20 Austenesque Reviews (Review)***
November 20 vvb32 Reads (Review)
November 21 All Things Austen (Review)
November 22 My Love for Jane Austen(Spotlight)
November 25 From Pemberley to Milton (Excerpt)
November 25 Diary of an Eccentric(Interview)
November 26 So Little Time… (Excerpt)
November 27 Impressions in Ink (Review)
November 27 Babblings of a Bookworm (Spotlight)
November 28 More Agreeably Engaged (Review)
November 29 My Vices and Weaknesses (Excerpt)
November 29 The Fiction Addiction(Review)
I only remember reading one other book which completed JA’s story. So I would be interested in reading this to learn how it compares. From your excellent review here, Meredith, it sounds like a better variation. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for dropping by Sheila, I’d love to know how you feel it compares to the others. Be sure to let me know!
I’d be curious to hear if the one you read is one I have read, Sheila. Having read 3 now, it is interesting to see the unique directions and changes each one takes. I’m game for reading some others too!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this book Meredith. I thoroughly enjoyed it when I read it and thought it was a marvellous continuation. I’m really looking forward to reading more by Rose. 🙂
Elaine, you are a star – thanks for sharing your review on Amazon. I loved it. Thank you.
Thank you, Meredith for another thoughtful, well-written review. The Watsons sounds like a satisfying and entertaining read. Congratulations Rose!
Thanks so much for reading my review, Kelly! I hope you get the chance to read this lovely book soon!
Thanks so much for reading my review, Elaine! I’m so happy to hear your praise for this continuation! And I echo your eagerness to see more from Rose!
Love the review – looking forward to reading
Thank you, Vesper! Hope you enjoy this one as much as I did!
Excellent review, Meredith. I really enjoyed reading this book. I find Rose’s ability to write like Jane Austen amazing. I had difficulty recognizing when Jane’s work ended and Rose’s began.
Oh Jan, I know no greater praise! Thank you.
Thank you, Jan! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed this story! I definitely agree with you about Rose’s writing!
Great review Meredith and I’m looking forward to reading it.
Thanks so much Teresa
Thank you, Teresa! I look forward to hearing your thoughts when you do!
I too loved ‘The Longbourn Letters’ and your review of ‘The Watsons’ was all the more impetus for me to read this one! Lovely!
Hello Carole. I do hope you enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by. Rose
Yay! I hope you enjoy The Watsons just as much!!
I agree that it is a very good thing there are brave authors who will finish Austen’s fragments for us to enjoy. This is definitely a must-read.
Thanks so much Sophia x Rose
For sure!! Looking forward to hearing what you think, my friend!
Great review Meredith. Isn’t it exciting to watch Servitova’s career blossom? I really enjoyed both of her books and cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
Thanks for all your support Laurel Ann. Thank goodness for Janeites like you.
Thank you, Laurel Ann! I’m so very happy to have had the opportunity to read this book! Rose is definitely a star and I hope she continues to write many more books!
Me too, Meredith. I wonder what she will come up with next? Take care, LA
I think I’ve read a few other sequels or variations or completions of this story in the distant past and enjoyed them. This one sounds very promising and I look forward to reading it.
Hi Laurie, I hope you like it when you do! Thanks so much for dropping by. Rose
That’s wonderful, Laurie! I definitely would recommend this one to you!