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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Enjoyed the beginning but it DRAGGED in the middle, and then I feel like the ending was rushed.
Spoiler
This book has really improved in my esteem since I first read it. The first time I read it I had a very difficult time with the fact that Fanny and Edward were first cousins... I realy fought the idea that they were meant for each other! On getting over my modern taboos and re-reading it I have a much better appreciation for Fanny's character and for her willingness to stand firm for herself among the jaded (even cynical) and complacent people around her.
Reading this, I was struck by how much gratitude was expected to drive all sorts of the main character’s behaviors. Fanny should be grateful, at all costs. Thank goodness she was at least strong enough to stand up for herself when the attentions of a real jerk turned her way.
I enjoyed this, but can see why it is not as popular as Austin’s other works. I mean when the whole book is telegraphing a happy ending where first cousins (who grew up as siblings from the time she was nine or ten) marry, it’s not super translatable to today, is it?
Also, there is a repeat of a Pride and Prejudice plot twist here of an elopement (really two). Too juicy to not use again, Jane? I get it. It’s a fun one.
I enjoyed this, but can see why it is not as popular as Austin’s other works. I mean when the whole book is telegraphing a happy ending where first cousins (who grew up as siblings from the time she was nine or ten) marry, it’s not super translatable to today, is it?
Also, there is a repeat of a Pride and Prejudice plot twist here of an elopement (really two). Too juicy to not use again, Jane? I get it. It’s a fun one.
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
i loved this book, this is my second favorite austin, despite its bad press.
Unfortunately, my modern mindset was not as much a fan of this due to Fanny not having any motivation to stick up for herself UNLESS it regarded not marrying Henry. And then nobody listened to her anyway. Yeah, I just didn't like literally anybody in the novel so it's hard to care about them and also there was like 50 pages of prepping for a play that never happened. Still excellent storytelling and writing. Definitely not my fave Austen.
2025 Reread:
I know this is widely considered to be the worst JA, but I just don't agree--I love it more every time I read it! It's Cinderella, a tale for which I certainly have a weakness (but don't we all?), but more so it is such an interesting look at a family and all of the dynamics of gender and class within it. I also respect the hell out of JA for writing this after P&P, and I liken it to Fleetwood Mac creating Tusk after Rumours. Rumours is PERFECT. Apart from Silver Springs not being on it, there is not a second wasted--similar to P&P, every WORD is a delight. Tusk is a massive, messy, sprawling creation, with variety and depth and weirdness. I love when an artist tries to do something so creatively different after creating a masterpiece, and in both cases while I don't love it quite as much, I loves how it extends the conversation within the body of work.
I also think that MP has some of the best character development in its heroine (Emma of course is perhaps the peak of this, with Pride and Prejudice also doing a phenomenal job). Fanny has sort of the reverse arc of Emma in that she really finds her voice (she is SO BRAVE when she stands up to Sir Thomas and refuses to marry Henry Crawford). And I LOVE #FeministFanny, in her exquisite takedown of the patriarchy in dating culture:
"Let him have all the perfections in the world, I think it ought not to be set down as certain that a man must be acceptable to every woman he may happen to like himself."
No author has more accurately or consistently spoken to the utter frustration of modern courtship (particularly through the lens of entitlement in men, looking at YOU John Thorpe!) as Jane Austen.
This is currently my 4/6 in my comprehensive JA ranking (sorry Persuasion).
2020 Reread:
I read that Jane Austen wrote this book as a contrast to Pride and Prejudice, which she wrote before it, and considered "light and bright and sparkling." Mansfield Park is certainly not that. I approached it with apprehension, as I remembered liking it the least of the bunch. I was very pleasantly surprised: yes, there is a slow part in the later middle, but on the whole, this is a compelling story about class and family, and I found it very absorbing. It's one of the heavier novels, and the most understated. The characters are complex, and with the exception of the loathsome Mrs. Norris, it doesn't feel as clear what we are supposed to think of them.
For example, Mary Crawford is a very different romantic rival than Lucy Steele. Fanny's dislike of her is very understandable, but she was probably the character (besides Fanny) that I liked the most. She reminded me a bit of Elizabeth Bennet: a high-spirited, intelligent young woman who is aware of the realities of gender in her world, and is genuinely trying to figure out what will make her happy. Her regard for Fanny seems genuine, and if she is insensitive and selfish at times, she appears to be trying to be a good friend to her. She goes too far in wishing Tom might die so Edmund can inherit, but she is layered and interesting. Henry is also more complex than the typical Austen "villain"/romantic foil character, not quite a Frank Churchill, but possessing more redeeming qualities than Wickham or Willoughby.
I'm of two minds about Edmund. On one hand, he is SO much better than everyone in his family, very much a product of neglectful parenting, and I like his genuine kindness to and affection for Fanny. On the other hand, his convictions lack the strength of Fanny's, and it's hard to respect his "deeply held beliefs" which he gives up so easily because of his attraction Miss Crawford, then returns to when she rejects him. I loved Fanny this time around--I think she gets unfair criticism for being timid and against the play--I found her an intelligent, observant, loyal, and resilient young woman. Once again Austen demonstrates a deep understanding of how people are shaped by family and circumstance, this is the crux of the book, and it is gratifying to see Fanny eventually gain the appreciation she so deserves.
Edmund and Fanny are not a very romantic or passionate match. Her enduring love and loyalty to him is irreproachable and makes complete sense. His love for her is a little harder to get behind--he seems to like that he has formed her opinions, he rejects a woman who challenged him and goes from seeing Fanny as a sister to a wife a bit too quickly for comfort. I don't think he quite deserves either woman, and their marriage seems likely to be what their dancing together was: "sober tranquility," which nevertheless will probably suit them both very well.
I struggled with where to rank this, because I found Northanger Abbey to be generally more enjoyable throughout, but the highs of this were higher, the story more complex and interesting, and the characters more compelling. For that reason, I think this is my final ranking:
1) Pride and Prejudice
2) Sense and Sensibility
3) Emma
4) Persuasion
5) Mansfield Park
6) Northanger Abbey
All 4 or 5 stars on goodreads!
Some thoughts/observations:
- Mr. Rushworth's fixation on his costume for the play (and insistence he doesn't care what he wears) is pretty entertaining, and classic Jane Austen mockery of the wealthy.
- I really feel for Maria! Her punishment (similar to Lydia Bennet's) seems to outweigh her transgression (given the role of poor parenting in creating it), though possibly Austen is making a commentary about how easily a woman could lose everything, and the gendered double standard of the time.
- It's a little cute when Sir Bertram comes home and Lady Bertram has butterflies, even though they've both been terrible people up until that point. Very abrupt turnaround, but I kind of bought it, especially since their development into less selfish people continues to progress: Sir Bertram even reflects on how his parenting led to his children being who they are.
- I didn't remember this as funny, but I did laugh out loud twice! Once at Mr. Yate's "final performance" and once at Sir Thomas's reflections about Mrs. Norris.
- Mr. Crawford is an interesting Austen villain, he is similar to Wickham and especially Willoughby in character, but the plot progresses in reverse: Fanny is aware of his dubious character (far less dubious than the other two!) from the start, before he does the unforgivable (running away with Maria). A romance between Henry and Fanny would have been very interesting, but as is, I have nothing but admiration for how she sticks to her guns in refusing him. She is often compared unfavorably to Elizabeth Bennett, in this they are pretty similar! He does seem to be sincere in his affection for Fanny, though his vanity is not terribly attractive.
- This book touches both on classism (the Prices' situation) and colonialism, which it is clear is the source of wealth for Sir Thomas and probably Mr. Rushworth, but it's really hard to interpret what Austen's message is. Certainly not condemning enough for a modern audience.
- I've read somewhere that Austen was criticizing the theatre, which is definitely a possible reading. However, I thought the play "Lover's Vows" was more a commentary on how art can reveal people's real desires and true characters, and what happens when parents don't instill values in their children. I loved it as a device, and it was one of my favorite sections of the book.
- There were really no ridiculous side characters in this book, which I love in other books, but I think added to the subtlety of this novel, which was a major strength.
I know this is widely considered to be the worst JA, but I just don't agree--I love it more every time I read it! It's Cinderella, a tale for which I certainly have a weakness (but don't we all?), but more so it is such an interesting look at a family and all of the dynamics of gender and class within it. I also respect the hell out of JA for writing this after P&P, and I liken it to Fleetwood Mac creating Tusk after Rumours. Rumours is PERFECT. Apart from Silver Springs not being on it, there is not a second wasted--similar to P&P, every WORD is a delight. Tusk is a massive, messy, sprawling creation, with variety and depth and weirdness. I love when an artist tries to do something so creatively different after creating a masterpiece, and in both cases while I don't love it quite as much, I loves how it extends the conversation within the body of work.
I also think that MP has some of the best character development in its heroine (Emma of course is perhaps the peak of this, with Pride and Prejudice also doing a phenomenal job). Fanny has sort of the reverse arc of Emma in that she really finds her voice (she is SO BRAVE when she stands up to Sir Thomas and refuses to marry Henry Crawford). And I LOVE #FeministFanny, in her exquisite takedown of the patriarchy in dating culture:
"Let him have all the perfections in the world, I think it ought not to be set down as certain that a man must be acceptable to every woman he may happen to like himself."
No author has more accurately or consistently spoken to the utter frustration of modern courtship (particularly through the lens of entitlement in men, looking at YOU John Thorpe!) as Jane Austen.
This is currently my 4/6 in my comprehensive JA ranking (sorry Persuasion).
2020 Reread:
I read that Jane Austen wrote this book as a contrast to Pride and Prejudice, which she wrote before it, and considered "light and bright and sparkling." Mansfield Park is certainly not that. I approached it with apprehension, as I remembered liking it the least of the bunch. I was very pleasantly surprised: yes, there is a slow part in the later middle, but on the whole, this is a compelling story about class and family, and I found it very absorbing. It's one of the heavier novels, and the most understated. The characters are complex, and with the exception of the loathsome Mrs. Norris, it doesn't feel as clear what we are supposed to think of them.
For example, Mary Crawford is a very different romantic rival than Lucy Steele. Fanny's dislike of her is very understandable, but she was probably the character (besides Fanny) that I liked the most. She reminded me a bit of Elizabeth Bennet: a high-spirited, intelligent young woman who is aware of the realities of gender in her world, and is genuinely trying to figure out what will make her happy. Her regard for Fanny seems genuine, and if she is insensitive and selfish at times, she appears to be trying to be a good friend to her. She goes too far in wishing Tom might die so Edmund can inherit, but she is layered and interesting. Henry is also more complex than the typical Austen "villain"/romantic foil character, not quite a Frank Churchill, but possessing more redeeming qualities than Wickham or Willoughby.
I'm of two minds about Edmund. On one hand, he is SO much better than everyone in his family, very much a product of neglectful parenting, and I like his genuine kindness to and affection for Fanny. On the other hand, his convictions lack the strength of Fanny's, and it's hard to respect his "deeply held beliefs" which he gives up so easily because of his attraction Miss Crawford, then returns to when she rejects him. I loved Fanny this time around--I think she gets unfair criticism for being timid and against the play--I found her an intelligent, observant, loyal, and resilient young woman. Once again Austen demonstrates a deep understanding of how people are shaped by family and circumstance, this is the crux of the book, and it is gratifying to see Fanny eventually gain the appreciation she so deserves.
Edmund and Fanny are not a very romantic or passionate match. Her enduring love and loyalty to him is irreproachable and makes complete sense. His love for her is a little harder to get behind--he seems to like that he has formed her opinions, he rejects a woman who challenged him and goes from seeing Fanny as a sister to a wife a bit too quickly for comfort. I don't think he quite deserves either woman, and their marriage seems likely to be what their dancing together was: "sober tranquility," which nevertheless will probably suit them both very well.
I struggled with where to rank this, because I found Northanger Abbey to be generally more enjoyable throughout, but the highs of this were higher, the story more complex and interesting, and the characters more compelling. For that reason, I think this is my final ranking:
1) Pride and Prejudice
2) Sense and Sensibility
3) Emma
4) Persuasion
5) Mansfield Park
6) Northanger Abbey
All 4 or 5 stars on goodreads!
Some thoughts/observations:
- Mr. Rushworth's fixation on his costume for the play (and insistence he doesn't care what he wears) is pretty entertaining, and classic Jane Austen mockery of the wealthy.
- I really feel for Maria! Her punishment (similar to Lydia Bennet's) seems to outweigh her transgression (given the role of poor parenting in creating it), though possibly Austen is making a commentary about how easily a woman could lose everything, and the gendered double standard of the time.
- It's a little cute when Sir Bertram comes home and Lady Bertram has butterflies, even though they've both been terrible people up until that point. Very abrupt turnaround, but I kind of bought it, especially since their development into less selfish people continues to progress: Sir Bertram even reflects on how his parenting led to his children being who they are.
- I didn't remember this as funny, but I did laugh out loud twice! Once at Mr. Yate's "final performance" and once at Sir Thomas's reflections about Mrs. Norris.
- Mr. Crawford is an interesting Austen villain, he is similar to Wickham and especially Willoughby in character, but the plot progresses in reverse: Fanny is aware of his dubious character (far less dubious than the other two!) from the start, before he does the unforgivable (running away with Maria). A romance between Henry and Fanny would have been very interesting, but as is, I have nothing but admiration for how she sticks to her guns in refusing him. She is often compared unfavorably to Elizabeth Bennett, in this they are pretty similar! He does seem to be sincere in his affection for Fanny, though his vanity is not terribly attractive.
- This book touches both on classism (the Prices' situation) and colonialism, which it is clear is the source of wealth for Sir Thomas and probably Mr. Rushworth, but it's really hard to interpret what Austen's message is. Certainly not condemning enough for a modern audience.
- I've read somewhere that Austen was criticizing the theatre, which is definitely a possible reading. However, I thought the play "Lover's Vows" was more a commentary on how art can reveal people's real desires and true characters, and what happens when parents don't instill values in their children. I loved it as a device, and it was one of my favorite sections of the book.
- There were really no ridiculous side characters in this book, which I love in other books, but I think added to the subtlety of this novel, which was a major strength.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No