The Essential Charlotte

by Libby Schmais

Book Overview

Charlotte thought she was fine. After a childhood spent traveling around the world with her eccentric artist mother, she is content to have a quiet life, make herbal remedies, and play video games. But when her mother dies in a bizarre sculpture accident, Charlotte's life is turned upside down. Before she even has time to grasp the reality of her mother's death, her supposedly dead father appears and they are forced to live together to satisfy the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312311656
• ISBN13: 9780312311650
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Griffin
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Fantastic story.

Meet Charlotte, a quiet and shy girl who wants so desperately to go unnoticed. Until her mother, an eccentric worldly artist, suddenly dies and leaves Charlotte the shock of her life. Charlotte's father, whom she thought to be long dead, is alive and well. And now for Charlotte to gain possession of her mother's loft, her father is now also her roommate. Charlotte's quiet life is now turned upside down as she tries to survive this year with a stranger. Follow Charlotte as she finally finds the meaning in her life and what it truly means to have a family. ***** Wonderful! The way Charlotte is portrayed, every woman should feel a connection. I think that there is a little bit of Charlotte in all of us. I am going to lose no time in locating a copy of this author's first book, because I am a huge fan now. ***** Reviewed by K. Blair.

Must Read

I loved the author's humor, wit and sensitivity. She really captures the emotions of loss, betrayal and loneliness of the main character, Charlotte. A was glad the ending was top your typical happy ever after.

Thoroughly Enjoyable

Although I usually limit my reading to demanding material - I'm currently reading Borges' Selected Non-Fictions and Muldoon's Moy Sand and Gravel, and recently finished Faulkner's As I Lay Dying - I read 'Charlotte' on the advice of a friend. Although not equal in difficulty, vocabulary, or style to my usual reading, I was thoroughly immersed in the characters and plot. The background theme, a woman required by her mother's will to live in an apartment with her formerly absent father, while initially far-fetched, played out nicely, and the relationships with friends and lovers were consistently engaging and plausible.

Check it Out

A friend of mine gave me this book to check out. I was skeptical, thinking it was one of those formulaic chick-lit books. For example, I just read one called Apocalipstick, that was a complete Bridget Jones knock-off. Anyway, while this book is entertaining, also has depth, believable characters and doesn't depend on a fairytale, Prince Charming ending.Although I live in D.C., I liked the New York setting, the characters and plot were interesting and a little off-beat. If you're looking for something a little more than boy meets girl, girl acts like[a fool] , boy likes her anyway, I would recommend this book.

Read this Book!!!

I really enjoyed this book. Ms. Schmais does a good job of inventing a very absorbing plot line, as well as characters that really drew me in. I found myself identifying with with Charlotte in a lot of ways. I highly recommend it.