Scan barcode
_maia3_'s review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is my least favourite of Austen's books and I'm only giving it such a high score because I think it's genuinely very interesting to have an Austen book where almost everyone sucks. I find Fanny a rather insipid heroine, and whilst I understand that she is very much a victim of abuse, I don't find her explored to a satisfactory level. The hero, Edmund, is Austen's most unlikeable hero by far. The villians are the most entertaining part of the book, as they (in particular Mary Crawford) give voice to interesting contemporary opinions surrounding religion especially. Even if this was not likely Austen's weird little religious moment as some scholars have said, it really does come off that way sometimes.
Please don't skip out on this book however- it is worth the read if you want more Austen, it was just a personal miss.
Please don't skip out on this book however- it is worth the read if you want more Austen, it was just a personal miss.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Slavery
cleotheo's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Abandonment, and Alcohol
calliejacob's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Incest, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders
anjasshelf's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Incest
Moderate: Child abuse, Slavery, and Colonisation
Minor: Addiction and Infidelity
frantically's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
fanny price supremacy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: War
eggsoap's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
The narration is great, and I really loved the emotion Frances Barber is able to depict in each of the charcoal, but ThisI have completed feelings about the story.
Overall, I did enjoy but the way everything turned out towards the end felt rushed and unsatisfying.
The moral commentary behind Austen's work felt slightly contradictory in Mansfield Park. Fanny relied a lot on her own prejudices in how she responded to the Crawford's and was very withdrawn and over cautious. These are both things that were seen as a character flaws in Lizzie and Darcy, but Fanny is praised for them because they show her 'consistancy' and 'moral conviction'. Fanny is sweet and definitely has a lot of inner strength, but aside from becoming slightly less shy, she doesn't really see much character development and the rest of her flaws tend to be explained away as somehow actually being a good thing in the end.
There was also so much build up of the 'potential for good' in the Crawford siblings, and their genuinely seemed to want to do better that their downfall felt like it came out of nowhere.
The romance with Fanny and Edmund was also unsatisfactory. Austen constantly stressed their platonic connection on Edmund's side, despite Fanny being in love throughout that a few sentences in the final chapter don't convince me that he was able to realise that he was really in love with her all along. We see so much of Fanny's feelings that maybe if we had seen what prompted Edmund to realise he was in love then I could believe it.
The only satisfying part of the ending was that Mrs Norris got sent away and is constantly unhappy.
Overall, I did enjoy but the way everything turned out towards the end felt rushed and unsatisfying.
The moral commentary behind Austen's work felt slightly contradictory in Mansfield Park. Fanny relied a lot on her own prejudices in how she responded to the Crawford's and was very withdrawn and over cautious. These are both things that were seen as a character flaws in Lizzie and Darcy, but Fanny is praised for them because they show her 'consistancy' and 'moral conviction'. Fanny is sweet and definitely has a lot of inner strength, but aside from becoming slightly less shy, she doesn't really see much character development and the rest of her flaws tend to be explained away as somehow actually being a good thing in the end.
The romance with Fanny and Edmund was also unsatisfactory. Austen constantly stressed their platonic connection on Edmund's side, despite Fanny being in love throughout that a few sentences in the final chapter don't convince me that he was able to realise that he was really in love with her all along. We see so much of Fanny's feelings that maybe if we had seen what prompted Edmund to realise he was in love then I could believe it.
The only satisfying part of the ending was that Mrs Norris got sent away and is constantly unhappy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Minor: Child death
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
“She alone was sad and insignificant; she had no share in anything; she might go or stay, she might be in her midst of their noise, or retreat from it to the solitude of the east room, without being seen or missed.”
Jane Austen’s third novel is the most polarizing review-wise, so I was a tad skeptical going in. That being said, the complexities and depth of Mansfield Park is unlike anything in her extensive resume, creating a unique but still amazing read.
Mansfield Park follows Fanny Price, the daughter of a lower to middle class nuclear family, who moves in with her extremely wealthy extended family. Through the exploration of desire, wealth, and ultimately corruption, the “outsider” narrative perspective provides and outlook of society which has stood the test of time today.
Out of all the Austen heroines I have read so far, I think Fanny is my favorite. Where Elizabeth Bennett is fearless and out-spoken, Fanny is timid and shy. These qualities-paired with a good heart and constant anxiety-make her both relatable and lovable.
Jane Austen’s third novel is the most polarizing review-wise, so I was a tad skeptical going in. That being said, the complexities and depth of Mansfield Park is unlike anything in her extensive resume, creating a unique but still amazing read.
Mansfield Park follows Fanny Price, the daughter of a lower to middle class nuclear family, who moves in with her extremely wealthy extended family. Through the exploration of desire, wealth, and ultimately corruption, the “outsider” narrative perspective provides and outlook of society which has stood the test of time today.
Out of all the Austen heroines I have read so far, I think Fanny is my favorite. Where Elizabeth Bennett is fearless and out-spoken, Fanny is timid and shy. These qualities-paired with a good heart and constant anxiety-make her both relatable and lovable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Incest, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Slavery
rikke_bay's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
bookreadingelf's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I loved Fanny as a character. She was very shy, gentle and quite, but strong, even though she was not treated well by her family. She would not change her mind if she feel one way, even when pressured. She observed a lot, but did not speak much, which I liked. I did not like either of the love interests and the plot was a bit bland.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
veganecurrywurst's review against another edition
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? Yes
3.75
I did not dislike the book, although in part it was rather boring. Fanny's shyness are what make her an interesting observer of the other characters. Many other readers criticised the character for not being as active, but I did not mind. Still I would have liked for her to have more of a personality. However, I have to agree with the readers, who did not like the ending. It feels quite rushed and Edmund's change of heart is much confusing. I also was disappointed in how bland Edmund was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Slavery and Medical content