Rating: 
Summary: A Captivating Novel
Review: Julia Barrett's 'Charlotte' is a great treat! I had prepared myself for a let-down when I passed from the first twelve chapters, written by Jane Austen, and embarked on those Barrett wrote. Who can complete with Jane Austen? No one can, of course, but Barrett has the wisdom not to complete. She doesn't try to ape Jane Austen. She keeps her own integrity by writing in a style and manner that harmonize with Jane Austen's. You turn the page from Austen to Barrett without a jolt, and the narrative runs on smoothly and neatly.Whatever Jane Austen herself intended to do in 'Sanditon' (as her twelve chapters are usually called) is a secret she took to her grave. Julia Barrett has of course followed Austen's clues in particulars, but more importantly she perceptively realized that Austen was distinctly moving in a new direction, intending to write a novel quite different from her earlier ones. A writer with less skill and insight, less perspicacity, would have ignored this and wrenched the narrative back into Austen's familiar old pattern. Julia Barrett has trusted her own instincts, bringing real inventiveness and originality to 'Charlotte.' Her boldness provides surprises and is vivid with a sense of fun that captivates the reader!
Rating: 
Summary: word warrior
Review: Julia Barrett's completion of Jane Austen's last novel, renamed CHARLOTTE must have been an irrisitible challenge to Ms. Barrett who has previously paid homage to Austen by daring to evoke the language and the ethos in replicated sequels to the master's most famous works. This requires a devotion as well as an affinity to that period:an understanding of the spoken word of that era. Then with this unique skill Ms.Barrett recreates the emotions, the play of interaction in society,which becomes an holiday of words unlike our functional, at best, verbal exchanges. Ms. Barrett's vision has been realised in this rare and courageously written narrative. CHARLOTTE is especially interesting for it serves as a journey away from our daily interests. Someone might remark Ms Barrett inhabited Jane Austen's milieux in another life!
Rating:
Summary: In Jane's Way
Review: The great thing about JANE AUSTEN'S CHARLOTTE is the way Julia Barrett picks up Austen's most admirable start and continues undaunted by the broadness of its sweep. This novel is marvelously carried forward just as Austen conceived it--with all its characters brought to life. Charlotte and Sidney Parker's minimal but fine romance is superb!
Rating:
Summary: JANE AUSTEN'S SANDITON COMPLETED
Review: This is the most credible of the sompletions of Jane Austen's SANDITON. There is good character development and the Parker brothers in particular are dealt with well. Well worth a read.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible and off-base
Review: This novel is a travesty. That Ms. Barrett would even presume to complete the work of one of the greatest English authors is audacity personified. This book is extremely boring and seemingly plotless. If you're looking for a satisfying completion to this novel choose "Sandition" by Jane Austen and "Another Lady" instead. Ms. Barrett not only fails to deliver the wittiness and sharp insight of a Jane Austen novel, she also fails miserably at attempting Austen's style of writing. Truly a disappointment, to put it mildly.
Rating:
Summary: very dull and witless
Review: This was a dull read that I had to force myself to finish. The plot wanders aimlessly and is hard to follow. Mnay of the other continuations are better than this so I would recommend saving your money.
Rating:
Summary: very dull and witless
Review: This was a dull read that I had to force myself to finish. The plot wanders aimlessly and is hard to follow. Mnay of the other continuations are better than this so I would recommend saving your money.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely
Review: Those of us who adore Jane Austen are rightly fearful of attempts to pick up where she left off. But Julia Barrett is on to Austen's devastating wit--the critical and amused eye that she casts over the social landscape--and the result is a lovely read.
Rating: 
Summary: Diverting but not the real Austen
Review: When I saw "Charlotte" on the shelf, I was intrigued that there might be one more manuscript that I hadn't heard of. It turns out to be a very readable retread of the "Sanditon" text that has been published in other forms. The author does a good job in recreating some of Austen's signature style, but it seems that the skeleton plot she received did not help her to adequately fill the 240 pages. Some chapters were full of the wit, satire and excellent characterizations typical of an Austen book--others just jumped quickly to cover plot points, and seemed slapdash. I would be curious to go back to other versions of "Sanditon" to see if they were more successful. As I said, this was a diverting text, I read through it in only 3 sittings--but it didn't have the depth of a "Persuasion", or the excellent characterizations of "Pride and Prejudice", or the conflicts and satisfying conclusions of any of her books.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible disappointment!
Review: Words cannot discribe how disappointed I was with this book! Having read and re-read all of Jane Austen's books many times, I can say that Julia Barrett added little to no value. The work was better left un-touched.
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