Welcome to Litsy!

I expect The Watsons would have been a lot of fun if Jane Austen had finished it. Emma Watson is a wonderful heroine—kind, curious, and wise—and Tom Musgrave is a hoot! I‘m glad Austen shared her intended ending, but I wish we could have seen all that happened along the way. The image above comes from this post: https://www.janeaustensummer.org/post/the-watsons-an-abandoned-manuscript-by-jan...

This was my July #DoubleSpin pick.

Last time I dipped into Austen's unfinished works, I skipped The Watsons, so time to right that wrong! I'm addicted to these gorgeous editions, can't stop won't stop (collecting books I don't need). #PemberLittens

I only ended up reading Jane Austen's unfinished novel and didn't have time for any completed versions, but I enjoyed this fragment of a story. The characters were intriguing and I would have loved to see where Jane planned on taking the story. I already had some favorite suitors and some annoying foils picked out.
#pemberlittens

Too short to really review, I think I would have enjoyed the book if Jane Austen had finished it. 😢I was going to try to read one of the copies completed by other writers with the #PemberLittens but time was short in July & I ended up just reading Jane‘s unfinished snippet which for my Kindle copy was about 71 pages.

Once again, it‘s bittersweet to read one of Austen‘s unfinished works… I loved the fragment that we have, and I‘m sad that we don‘t have a complete novel. Jane‘s whit was on display here, I really think I would end up adoring Emma Watson, and I had my hero picked out too. 😏

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#PemberLittens

Like with Sanditon, I'm a little heartbroken that we'll never get to know how Jane would have told Emma Watson's story. She confided in her sister Cassandra that Emma was bound to marry Mr. Howard in spite of Lady Osborn's love for him. While I would have loved to have watched that drama transpire, I would as much love to know what she had in store for Tom Musgrave, Elizabeth, Margaret and Penelope. What exists are classic Austen characters, ⬇️

I enjoyed the fragment by Austen; especially the ball scene where Emma danced with Charles was adorable.
I wish I had stopped where Austen did, though, because the part by L. Oulton was very disappointing. It was dull and bland, it read more like a summary of a story than a finished novel.

I didn‘t know what to expect from Austen‘s unfinished book, but now that I‘m done I only wish that it was longer/finished. I‘m glad my edition includes a half page on how Austen would have ended it.

I loved the ball scenes and Emma saving the young boy. I also loved how she wasn‘t charmed by the same man as her other sisters.

#PemberLittens #thewatsonreadalong
@MicrobeMom @sprainedbrain

I chose to read just the portion of the story Austen wrote, so quickly finished for #PemberLittens !

There is much humor and witty observations in this tiny bit of story, so you can kind of see the direction Austen was going with this. The Watsons themselves are caricatures of a variety of personalities, and I would probably go crazy if I had to hang out with a couple of the sisters for awhile! 😂

#Zeke #Xander #CatsOfLitsy

Such a weird story, one which made me think I finally found an Austen I didn't like. It felt crowded, noisy, with not a moment to rest or breathe, until I get to the second last page & Emma Watson says the same—"She was at leisure, she could read & think"—& at this precise moment, the story became interesting, but unfortunately, this was also the moment the story ends. I sense that this would have been a spiky & snappy Austen had it been finished.

I really enjoyed the interactions between the sisters and sister-in-law and would have loved seeing what Jane had in mind for these characters. I‘ll have to be content with following along with the #pemberlittens who are reading the completed version. 🙂

I'm just doing the original not The Completing The Watsons. You can see what it could have been. Remind me Northanger Abbey with it's tongue in cheek style.
@MicrobeMom #pemberlittens

The Google Books edition of The Watsons has this introduction by James Austen-Leigh. I‘m amused by his assertion that Jane didn‘t finish this because her heroine was too poor. Especially as, reading the first chapter so soon after Jane Austen At Home, it strikes me that the Watson sisters‘ situation is rather similar to the one Jane herself grew up in.

Thanks for the tag @Eggs I always enjoy these, Sherri!
#WondrousWednesday

🪸Impulse read or Litsy inspired (like #PemberLittens)

🐠The writing, the plot, the character development. If it all works out—it‘s a #chefskiss

🐢My Mom & my Garden 🪴

✨It is late in the day, but anyone who hasn‘t played, please do! ✨

It‘s almost July, and time for our July/August #PemberLittens buddy reads!

Our Austen read is the unfinished novel The Watsons. My copy only has 5 chapters, though there are editions out there that were finished by others.

@MicrobeMom has graciously offered to lead, so please follow her for the schedule. I will probably post daily for this one as well—I‘ve not read it!

Tagging those who expressed interest, but all are welcome!

Day 22: #Pride

#200PnPCovers

@CrowCAH @mabell

this wee ladybug is a fan of the Watsons too! I started it while out on the lawn this afternoon and I‘m really enjoying it - a shame Austen never finished it ☀️

Happy holidays littens! If you celebrate or not, I hope you‘re doing all right. If not here is a rare appearance from Saber getting cozy on my legs, he wants to spread love and kindness always! 💜 getting some reading in before tomorrow, and I hope you all do as well!
Treat people with kindness, you never know what others are going through!

Just a little snippet of a story. I would love to know what happened to Emma Watson and her sisters. Did Emma find true love with Mr. Howard? I like to think she did.
#janeaustenreadalong

This book, though unfinished, was SO good. I loved Emma and rooted for Mr. H, though without the ending I have no idea if they ended up together. Such smarty, witty, forward thinking writing. I am sad to have finished this year's #janeaustenreadalong and just want to start right over again! @sammisho

What a good line to start this book. I guess @sammisho picked the right month for this #janeaustenreadalong 💕

I can definitely see the potential in this fragment of a story, it‘s a shame she never got to flesh out this tale of a different Elizabeth, Emma, and some Musgrave‘s... #JaneAustenReadAlong

She leaves you hanging there at the end, doesn‘t she? #janeaustenreadalong

#31bookpics - I‘m reading The Watson‘s for #janeaustenreadalong & The Glass Ocean for - I can‘t remember the hashtag but we know who we are!! 😂

Oh my goodness, I almost forgot! Tomorrow starts the last installmemt of the #janeaustenreadalong. Join me in reading Austen's final, and unfinished novels; The Watsons and Sandition. I might have to turn in my Austenite card, because I have actually never read either of these! I am excited for this first.

Il finale del romanzo l'ho praticamente scoperto in una nota posta a piè di pagina. E devo dire che se concluso sarebbe divenuto l'ennesimo capolavoro d della Austen lasciato purtroppo a metà.

A little nervous to start this novel that my beloved Jane was unable to finish but mostly excited 😊