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emmajarvis's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely my least favourite of Jane Austen’s books, but it is still filled with itch really great social commentary of course. The supporting characters are so hilarious but Fanny is pretty different from other Austen heroines. This book is way less focussed on the romance (like it’s only the last chapter that has any sort of romance between Fanny and Edmund) but also it’s just really hard for me to root for marriage between cousins lol.
kingfan30's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
champers4days's review against another edition
5.0
This book was simply out of this world amazing! I was in complete AGONY the entire second half of the story, hoping Fanny would not fall for the impossible rake and could win the affections of her kind-hearted cousin (different times/just go with it)... and I already knew how the story ends!! The moment I finished reading this book, I IMMEDIATELY watched the 1999 film version with Frances O'Connor – a fairly faithful and spirited adaption; I highly recommend both :-)
cristina_g_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ephemerys13's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cjones16's review against another edition
3.0
One of Austen’s most lively works, with superb description of place, failed by its abrupt end.
thebookwormsfeast's review against another edition
3.0
I did enjoy Mansfield Park, but nowhere near as much as some of Austen's other works.
lingualibri's review against another edition
3.0
I've never been much of a Jane Austen fan, but this was the next unread book on my shelf. My copy was published in 1892 and at one point belonged to the St. Louis Priory School. As I was reading, I noticed that several of the pages were fused together, as though they hadn't been cut correctly when the copy was first published. This leads me to think that my copy had never actually been read before. Given that St. Louis Priory is a Catholic secondary school for boys, I can't say this surprises me.
Unfortunately, a bit of the spine cracked and chipped away due to the age of the book, though I feel less bad about this given that I may be the first person to read this copy. Is it worth a little damage to allow this book to fulfill its purpose? Perhaps I'll have it repaired someday.
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As with any period piece, I'm not sure how many of the things I find strange are due to the culture of the period or if they're actually odd. For example, while Fanny and Edmund (and to some degree Lady Bertram) seem to care very deeply about their family members, the rest of the family seems somewhat apathetic about the well-being of their relatives. Mrs. Norris and Sir Bertram care to the extent of status and appearances until the last chapter. The three sisters (Lady Bertram, Mrs. Norris, and Mrs. Price) do not display any interest in each other at all, and Mrs. Price seems entirely indifferent during the course of Fanny's visit - not to just Fanny, but to the rest of her children as well.
Rather than one central plot, things just sort of...happen? I suppose the biggest conflict centers around Fanny and Edmund's relationship, and their relationships with the Crawfords. (Is that it? Is that the main plotline?) I feel like it took a very long time to get to that part and to see the story get to where it was heading. Austen really dragged out these relationships chapter after chapter for nearly 600 pages, and then resolves it all in about 20. It was as if she thought, "You know, I'd like to end this with Fanny being happy, but I'm not sure how I'm going to get there. Let's just through some drama in there so I can wrap this up nicely."
We knew Maria wasn't happy, but after chapter upon chapter of Henry Crawford dedicating his heart to Fanny, his running off with Maria feels so uncharacteristic. Additionally, I feel like the reader is robbed of seeing Fanny and Edmund's relationship come into full bloom. Yes, we've seen that they're very close, but a little romantic dialogue between them might have been nice instead of a brief epilogue of their happiness. (Is that gross? I'm assuming it was acceptable to marry your first cousin in the early 1800's, so it's not terrible of me to want more of their story, right?)
It's been 15+ years since I read Pride and Prejudice, but I think I somehow liked this story more, even with the lack of a more romantic resolution. I enjoyed that the heroine was a quiet observer of the rest of her family and that she was able to elevate her rank by simply being a kind person. She wasn't seeking romance or adventure, she just wanted to be useful. While I can't say the same about myself, I thought this was refreshing to see in a narrative.
Overall, meh to the plot, but I didn't hate it. It was just very long and it took me over a year to read.
Unfortunately, a bit of the spine cracked and chipped away due to the age of the book, though I feel less bad about this given that I may be the first person to read this copy. Is it worth a little damage to allow this book to fulfill its purpose? Perhaps I'll have it repaired someday.
------------
As with any period piece, I'm not sure how many of the things I find strange are due to the culture of the period or if they're actually odd. For example, while Fanny and Edmund (and to some degree Lady Bertram) seem to care very deeply about their family members, the rest of the family seems somewhat apathetic about the well-being of their relatives. Mrs. Norris and Sir Bertram care to the extent of status and appearances until the last chapter. The three sisters (Lady Bertram, Mrs. Norris, and Mrs. Price) do not display any interest in each other at all, and Mrs. Price seems entirely indifferent during the course of Fanny's visit - not to just Fanny, but to the rest of her children as well.
Rather than one central plot, things just sort of...happen? I suppose the biggest conflict centers around Fanny and Edmund's relationship, and their relationships with the Crawfords. (Is that it? Is that the main plotline?) I feel like it took a very long time to get to that part and to see the story get to where it was heading. Austen really dragged out these relationships chapter after chapter for nearly 600 pages, and then resolves it all in about 20. It was as if she thought, "You know, I'd like to end this with Fanny being happy, but I'm not sure how I'm going to get there. Let's just through some drama in there so I can wrap this up nicely."
We knew Maria wasn't happy, but after chapter upon chapter of Henry Crawford dedicating his heart to Fanny, his running off with Maria feels so uncharacteristic. Additionally, I feel like the reader is robbed of seeing Fanny and Edmund's relationship come into full bloom. Yes, we've seen that they're very close, but a little romantic dialogue between them might have been nice instead of a brief epilogue of their happiness. (Is that gross? I'm assuming it was acceptable to marry your first cousin in the early 1800's, so it's not terrible of me to want more of their story, right?)
It's been 15+ years since I read Pride and Prejudice, but I think I somehow liked this story more, even with the lack of a more romantic resolution. I enjoyed that the heroine was a quiet observer of the rest of her family and that she was able to elevate her rank by simply being a kind person. She wasn't seeking romance or adventure, she just wanted to be useful. While I can't say the same about myself, I thought this was refreshing to see in a narrative.
Overall, meh to the plot, but I didn't hate it. It was just very long and it took me over a year to read.
brandidean's review against another edition
3.0
May have been that I was reading it on audio book, but this was my least favorite of Austen’s. I think it was the last one that I haven’t read. The good characters were a little goody goody in their goodness, and Fanny’s timidity was irritating.
***
Rereading in regular book, I still think it’s my least favorite. I really don’t see how Edmund and Fanny end up together, even, since he outright says that he considers her a sister.
***
Rereading in regular book, I still think it’s my least favorite. I really don’t see how Edmund and Fanny end up together, even, since he outright says that he considers her a sister.
estherfilbrun's review against another edition
3.0
Although I liked this book, I didn't really connect with it for some reason. It was an okay story, but not my favorite compared to some of Austen's other books. I did enjoy Fanny, and her example of how to be loving even in situations that are going crazily out of control, but overall I was disappointed. Some of the character's choices, while understandable, were things that I can't agree with. Overall, while I did like it to some extent, I don't see myself re-reading it again.