Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

11 reviews

heresyourletter's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Infidelity, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, and Slavery

The main character comes from a lower-class background and after being sent to live with her rich aunt and uncle, is denigrated for her manners. As an adult, she in turn looks down on the manners of her parents when she returns home to visit them. One of the main characters owns a plantation in Antigua. It is implied that he is a slave owner. The slave trade is also briefly mentioned. One minor character is an alcoholic who curses mildly throughout his chapters and is said to make crude jokes at his daughter’s expense. The main character is romantically pursued by a man to whom she repeatedly tells that she’s not interested and is constantly pressured by her family to marry. Brief mention of the death of the main character’s sister, who was a child at the time.

Main character is a Cinderella-type figure who is mistreated throughout the book. Lots of conservative Christian morality throughout, but tempered slightly by your typical Austen satiric wit.

bessadams's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Incest, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Infidelity, Slavery, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Child death

anjasshelf's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Sexism, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation

bookishchristiana's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

 “Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings."
&
 “Her own thoughts and reflections were habitually her best companions.” - Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

And just like that, I've finished all of Jane Austen's complete novels and honestly then end was a little underwhelming. If you know me, you know that Jane Austen (along with Sally Rooney) is my absolute favourite author. However, Mansfield Park won't be reaching even my top 50 any time soon. It was an enjoyable story; one of Austen's comedic works. As always, the comedy hits just right, and the misadventures of every character are very entertaining. However, I found the main character pretty boring (very one-dimensional 'good girl') and the love interest almost just as boring. Their age gap and the fact they are closely related also did not endear me to their inevitable relationship. I didn't really feel I was routing for anyone. The parental figures and older relatives were actually my favourite parts, I would've much preferred a story centring their dynamics. I would rate this book probably just behind or on the same level as Northanger Abbey, it comes nowhere close to Emma or Pride and Prejudice. This is a short review as I honestly don't have much to say besides that it was a book that I read and sometimes enjoyed. See you soon, maybe - C x 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Slavery, and Colonisation

calamityin's review against another edition

challenging slow-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Moderate: Incest, Infidelity, and Colonisation

Minor: Confinement

fjordpingvin's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Colonisation

Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, and Slavery

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

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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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Incest

Moderate: Child abuse, Slavery, and Colonisation

Minor: Addiction and Infidelity

sdemo08's review against another edition

challenging tense medium-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

5.0

As a modern day reader, I did not enjoy this one but I shall persist on my quest to read more classics. It may be this held more favorable reception closer to its debut but goodness it was not for me.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Infidelity, Racism, Slavery, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

imrath's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Infidelity, Slavery, Colonisation, and Classism