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3.11 AVERAGE
3.11 AVERAGE
Another delight from Aiken. She has told an excellent Austin sequel. Liked seeing what happened to Susan. Nice!
emotional
reflective
Aiken does a good job of imitating Austen's style, far better than many sequels or spin-offs, but the story fell flat ... I think it would have been more fun if she'd come up with a different ending so the cousins didn't end up together again, ho-hum. I also found that Mary Crawford was not at all in line with how she's portrayed in Mansfield Park; she's not so angelic there!
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
One for anyone who is a fan of both Aiken and Austen.
Particularly the last half is well paced and fun to read. I think this was written out of a love for the original, and for fun. It really is fan fiction, and probably best enjoyed with that in mind, because there’s lots of elements here where Aiken doesn’t go into the depths that Austen does.
Also worth mentioning this was written in the early 80s, and doesn’t have in mind the post colonial readings of Mansfield Park of the present day.
The best part is Mary Crawford, and if you love her in Mansfield Park then you will probably love her in this sequel too.
Some characters felt out of character to me, at times, but I think this is an Aiken novel set in Jane Austen’s world, not an attempt at a new Austen novel. I have to admit I’m not really sure of all the threads that could be teased out of Mansfield Park I would have made the same decisions, but that’s what is great about fan fiction (even published fan fiction!) - the room for endless interpretations and variations.
Particularly the last half is well paced and fun to read. I think this was written out of a love for the original, and for fun. It really is fan fiction, and probably best enjoyed with that in mind, because there’s lots of elements here where Aiken doesn’t go into the depths that Austen does.
Also worth mentioning this was written in the early 80s, and doesn’t have in mind the post colonial readings of Mansfield Park of the present day.
The best part is Mary Crawford, and if you love her in Mansfield Park then you will probably love her in this sequel too.
Some characters felt out of character to me, at times, but I think this is an Aiken novel set in Jane Austen’s world, not an attempt at a new Austen novel. I have to admit I’m not really sure of all the threads that could be teased out of Mansfield Park I would have made the same decisions, but that’s what is great about fan fiction (even published fan fiction!) - the room for endless interpretations and variations.
medium-paced
It bounces along nicely and is well written. The characters don't develop much though, and some plot turns seem to come out of the blue.
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Do you ever wonder what came of the folks at Mansfield Park after the finish of that Austen novel? I did. As my second favorite Austen novel, I have spent some time speculating and I love getting my hands on books where someone else has done this as well.
I enjoyed the author's Jane Fairfax, a variation on Emma, so I was pleased to pick up an older copy of Mansfield Revisited. I discovered soon enough that I enjoyed it just as much. Her writing style caught the spirit of Austen's Mansfield Park so well.
The sequel is told through the voice and thoughts of Susan Price who was a minor character in the original. It slowly starts rolling during the necessary time of catching the reader up on the last four years with all the family remaining at Mansfield and those abroad. The catalyst to thing changing in the Mansfield environs involve the death of Sir Thomas and Mrs. Norris which happen just prior to the book and the move back into the neighborhood by someone who had once been intimate with the family.
I daresay many would find this a slow slosh, but I didn't find it so. It was subtle in ways, but rich and engaging. Susan is not like her sister in many ways and her observations about others are sharper and she will make her point when necessary. I enjoyed the byplay between Susan and Tom. I found their exchanges fun and spirited. Julia became the new version of Aunt Norris which I also found fun, in an annoying sort of way. Edmund and Fanny are off scene from nearly the opening pages and the author put in some lovely original characters who were replacing them at the vicarage. William Price makes an appearance and I loved that since he's my favorite minor character from the original.
In the end, after tears were shed over a sad moment, I was quite pleased with the outcome the author gave for the sequel.
Eventually, I'll look up more of her Austenesque works. I recommend this one for those who enjoy Austenesque sequels that hold fairly close to the original.
I enjoyed the author's Jane Fairfax, a variation on Emma, so I was pleased to pick up an older copy of Mansfield Revisited. I discovered soon enough that I enjoyed it just as much. Her writing style caught the spirit of Austen's Mansfield Park so well.
The sequel is told through the voice and thoughts of Susan Price who was a minor character in the original. It slowly starts rolling during the necessary time of catching the reader up on the last four years with all the family remaining at Mansfield and those abroad. The catalyst to thing changing in the Mansfield environs involve the death of Sir Thomas and Mrs. Norris which happen just prior to the book and the move back into the neighborhood by someone who had once been intimate with the family.
I daresay many would find this a slow slosh, but I didn't find it so. It was subtle in ways, but rich and engaging. Susan is not like her sister in many ways and her observations about others are sharper and she will make her point when necessary. I enjoyed the byplay between Susan and Tom. I found their exchanges fun and spirited. Julia became the new version of Aunt Norris which I also found fun, in an annoying sort of way. Edmund and Fanny are off scene from nearly the opening pages and the author put in some lovely original characters who were replacing them at the vicarage. William Price makes an appearance and I loved that since he's my favorite minor character from the original.
In the end, after tears were shed over a sad moment, I was quite pleased with the outcome the author gave for the sequel.
Eventually, I'll look up more of her Austenesque works. I recommend this one for those who enjoy Austenesque sequels that hold fairly close to the original.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book has very little to do with Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, but it is a very fun book on its own. Fanny and Edward are dispatched overseas immediately at the start of the book, and most of the returning characters (except Lady Bertram) have very little to do with their former characterisation. Still, I enjoyed reading about their exploits as they were. The ending was a little quick for my taste, but throughout most of the book there is slower development of the characters, mostly through conversations, which I liked. It was definitely interesting to read some older fanfiction and compare it to today's offerings.
Oh a JOYFUL Delight to read! It continues on from Mansfield Park and gives a great joy of Susan's story. It really had me reading non-stop till I was done! Never a dull moment, not unrealistic. Just lovely!! You will just simply LOVE how Susan is portrayed. She is a combination of Jane Austen's Lizzie Bennett & Fancy Price. She is a complete joy!
Aiken reuses a lot of Austen's phrases so it feels very much like reading an Austen novel. The ending felt a bit abrupt. Since Aiken is trying to keep it a surprise which suitor Susan will end up with, there is not a lot of romance. Overall, an enjoyable read.