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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
emotional
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
It is unoriginal of me to say that I find this the least compelling of Austen's novels, in large part because the leading couple -- Fanny Price and Edmund Bertram -- are rather dull. But there you have it.
I've watched and read many defenses of Fanny and I concede that her circumstances and upbringing would lead anyone to be timid. And I recognize that she could be seen as a model of steadfast morality and honor. But I still wouldn't want to spend time with her.
Thankfully, there are more than enough vibrant and entertaining characters at Mansfield to offset Fanny. And plenty of shenanigans, too.
This isn't a swoon-worthy Austen, but it's beautifully written and brimming with wit. If there were a separate scale for Austen, this would be 4 stars. But in the real world, whatever Jane writes is worthy of a minimum of 5 out of 5!
I've watched and read many defenses of Fanny and I concede that her circumstances and upbringing would lead anyone to be timid. And I recognize that she could be seen as a model of steadfast morality and honor. But I still wouldn't want to spend time with her.
Thankfully, there are more than enough vibrant and entertaining characters at Mansfield to offset Fanny. And plenty of shenanigans, too.
This isn't a swoon-worthy Austen, but it's beautifully written and brimming with wit. If there were a separate scale for Austen, this would be 4 stars. But in the real world, whatever Jane writes is worthy of a minimum of 5 out of 5!
Despite the fact that this SHOULD be the most scandalous of Austen’s book, since one of the main characters gets married and then runs away with a lover, the majority of the book is still just as I remembered it - as dry as toast. I was rather proud of myself for figuring out this time around that the plot is essentially Cinderella plus King Lear, but that wasn’t enough to make me actually like Fanny very much.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
sad
tense
Unlike some others I don’t find Fanny mousy or dull, but I wish Austen would have given us more of her voice. She is helpless and tender, but not weak. How great it would be to have a scene with her and Henry that shows why he fell in love with her - as it is it seems wildly out of character.
Around Fanny swirls the drama of deception and false values, which she sees through effortlessly- making her more of a spectator than a protagonist. The potentially interesting transformations actually belong to the men, Henry and Edmund, but are not quite successful; their changes of heart are too sudden and we’re not privy to their inner lives. Still, I’m impressed by what Austen was trying to do, even if it didn’t quite work.
Around Fanny swirls the drama of deception and false values, which she sees through effortlessly- making her more of a spectator than a protagonist. The potentially interesting transformations actually belong to the men, Henry and Edmund, but are not quite successful; their changes of heart are too sudden and we’re not privy to their inner lives. Still, I’m impressed by what Austen was trying to do, even if it didn’t quite work.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was about halfway through the novel when I realized I was tuning out because I did not like Fanny Price. She was too meek and too pious. Edmund was also not an exciting lead character. And since the two of them were surrounded by pompous, entitled and sometimes rude family members I wondered where on earth they learned morals and manners? So I took a step back and searched for reviews with a positive take on the characters and the story and found a new appreciation. Fanny and Edmund are naturally quiet, introspective, perceptive. Not flashy or expressive. They are both keenly aware of their place in life and have each made peace with the limitations of their situations. Fanny's position at Mansfield Park is so precarious. She makes so many little sacrifices every day but if she didn't she could get thrown out on a whim. And yet, she does have morals and character and she finds her backbone when pressed to do something she feels is not right.
I like her better now and can appreciate her story. But she had no character arc. She started perfect and ended perfect. The people around her changed. Some learned to do better and some self destructed but none were left unaffected by her example.
Read as part of my Jane Austen at 250 challenge. I listened to the audiobook on Librivox, downloaded the free Kindle version and purchased the Penguin Classics paperback.
I like her better now and can appreciate her story. But she had no character arc. She started perfect and ended perfect. The people around her changed. Some learned to do better and some self destructed but none were left unaffected by her example.
Read as part of my Jane Austen at 250 challenge. I listened to the audiobook on Librivox, downloaded the free Kindle version and purchased the Penguin Classics paperback.
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Poor Fanny!
Although Sense and Sensibility continues to be my favorite, Mansfield Park was able to envelop me in Fanny’s emotions and experiences. As a character, she is well written.
Born into a family of many children and not much income, Fanny is invited, as a charity for their sister’s sake, to live with her mother’s sisters, her uncle, and her cousins.
Her oldest brother William has always been closest to her heart, but he is off to sea as a sailor. Finding herself lonely and out of place at Mansfield Park, she comes to rely on and fall in love with, her cousin, Edmund.
I won’t spoil it any further. What follows is a tale of longing for Fanny, and the absolute density of Edmund.
Jane Austen weaves together unforgettable characters and settings. 4 stars.
Although Sense and Sensibility continues to be my favorite, Mansfield Park was able to envelop me in Fanny’s emotions and experiences. As a character, she is well written.
Born into a family of many children and not much income, Fanny is invited, as a charity for their sister’s sake, to live with her mother’s sisters, her uncle, and her cousins.
Her oldest brother William has always been closest to her heart, but he is off to sea as a sailor. Finding herself lonely and out of place at Mansfield Park, she comes to rely on and fall in love with, her cousin, Edmund.
I won’t spoil it any further. What follows is a tale of longing for Fanny, and the absolute density of Edmund.
Jane Austen weaves together unforgettable characters and settings. 4 stars.