This was another Austen work that, for me, missed the mark. There was not enough of the work to be expounded on and I felt that Shapiro did not handle the tale in a way that was appeasing or satisfying to me. Therefore, it was a short and uneventful read that left me feeling a little puzzled as to the purpose of this endeavour.

2 stars. ( )

This is actually the first Jane Austen book that I have read, and it's only partly hers - although I must say the writing was very cohesive and I could not tell you where she left off and Ms. Shapiro began. Of course, I am familiar with Ms. Austen's work through television (PBS mostly) and films. Her views of the various personalities involved in the story will remind you of other Austen characters. And while there are always a few great lines in the screen adaptations of her work that you can be sure were taken word for word from the original; I am sorry to say that none of those jumped out at me in this book. This is probably what kept it from receiving that fifth star.

This story was a quick read, with most of the book getting to know the characters without a lot of action. Just as I was thinking that something ought to start happening, the author(s) tie the story lines together seemlessly quite quickly at the end in some predictable and not so predictable ways that will satisfy Austen fans. It was definitely worth the time expended. ( )

I had long owned a copy of Austen's incomplete draft, and at one point owned but mislaid a completion by "another lady", so I have always wanted to read a completion and this was conveniently available. The completion was adequate, though it included a far amount of moden jargon -- symbiotic, narcississtic, etc. The heroine's romance was adequate, but the tacked-on romance for a doctor I found superfluous. ( )

MY REVIEW

There are some aspects of the book that I would have changed.

Firstly I don’t like what Shapiro makes of Jane’s male protagonist, the hero of SANDITON, Sidney Parker. For instance, in Shapiro’s completion, Charlotte overhears Sidney revealing to his elder brother, Mr Parker, his intention to propose to her to give Sanditon an exciting event to talk about! Moreover, after his dashing entrance in Jane’s chapter 12, he is always laughing and telling silly shallow things in the following ones by Shapiro! What Kind of Austen’s hero is he? A Mr Elton? A Mr Collins? Rather improbable.
Secondly, I wish there had been more conversations between Charlotte and Sidney before … well … Their relationship is too rushed. Rather unacceptable.
Third disturbing element: there is an embarassing incident between two minor characters . Sir Edward Denham - the silly scoundrel of the story - apparently tries to attack sweet Clara Brereton, Lady Denham’s ward. Charlotte finds the poor girl on the ground in the garden without her collar. The scene is absolutely hilarious but it does not sound very Austenish to me. Such a direct reference to sexual harassment, rather improbable. I don’t remember any similar scene in her other novels. Too risqué!

Did I like anything in the book apart from Jane's infinite mastery at depicting new characters in a few lines which convinced me she could have written her most witty masterpiece - after Emma - if she had had the opportunity to live just a bit longer? YES! The painting in the front cover: THE SOUVENIR by Jean-Honoré Fragonard! ( )