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rosiefpb's review against another edition
4.0
Aw I totally loved it, but that's not the ending I wanted at all!
cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
RIP Fanny Price, you would have loved Targaryens.
magik_the_cat's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning of this dragged on and I had no idea what the point of it was (never read a synopsis of the book). It felt like it was just about a poor girl with anxiety and her shitty family but then it got a lot better when Mr. Crawford was introduced. Not my favorite Jane Austen but it's not bad.
winnimartha's review against another edition
5.0
This is my favourite of Jane Austen's novels. I appreciate the wit of Elizabeth Bennett, and I understand why people might be put off by Fanny Price, but I don't find Fanny at all weak or priggish. Fanny is every bit as strong as Elizabeth Bennett, if in a quieter and more thoughtful way. She shows great insight into the people around her and maintains her integrity in the face of overpowering disapproval from those who hold a lot of power over her.
Jane Austen is more than Elizabeth Bennett. Each of her heroines is different, as they should be, and Fanny deserves consideration in her own right, not simply by comparison to Austen's more vivacious heroine.
I like Austen best for her impeccable writing and her insight into her protagonists' emotions, and Mansfield Park is full of both. Every time I finish it, I want to start back at the beginning again.
2019 update: It may not be my favourite of Jane Austen's novels anymore -- right now I'm leaning toward Persuasion -- but I still love it. There's so much real humour, so many characters to examine, motivations to inspect. I felt a bit more sympathy for Henry Crawford this time around, but I still admire Fanny for her resolve. Imagine having been raised and formed as she was, to have her opinions guided by Sir Thomas and Edmund, to be completely at the mercy of her rich relations, and still to resist, even when Sir Thomas accuses her of ingratitude, the thing she dreads the most. Fanny is the most observant of any of them and chooses to be guided by her own standards -- unlike Sir Thomas, who admits at the end that he knew Maria shouldn't have married Rushworth, unlike Edmund who does everything he can to excuse Mary Crawford's opinions. Henry Crawford may, in the end, have convinced her of his worthiness, but his weakness and vanity are his undoing, and it's not Fanny's job to make him a good person. Edmund may have been determined to undertake that charge with Mary, but Fanny was smart enough not to attempt the same with Henry.
Jane Austen is more than Elizabeth Bennett. Each of her heroines is different, as they should be, and Fanny deserves consideration in her own right, not simply by comparison to Austen's more vivacious heroine.
I like Austen best for her impeccable writing and her insight into her protagonists' emotions, and Mansfield Park is full of both. Every time I finish it, I want to start back at the beginning again.
2019 update: It may not be my favourite of Jane Austen's novels anymore -- right now I'm leaning toward Persuasion -- but I still love it. There's so much real humour, so many characters to examine, motivations to inspect. I felt a bit more sympathy for Henry Crawford this time around, but I still admire Fanny for her resolve. Imagine having been raised and formed as she was, to have her opinions guided by Sir Thomas and Edmund, to be completely at the mercy of her rich relations, and still to resist, even when Sir Thomas accuses her of ingratitude, the thing she dreads the most. Fanny is the most observant of any of them and chooses to be guided by her own standards -- unlike Sir Thomas, who admits at the end that he knew Maria shouldn't have married Rushworth, unlike Edmund who does everything he can to excuse Mary Crawford's opinions. Henry Crawford may, in the end, have convinced her of his worthiness, but his weakness and vanity are his undoing, and it's not Fanny's job to make him a good person. Edmund may have been determined to undertake that charge with Mary, but Fanny was smart enough not to attempt the same with Henry.
laur312's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
alisarae's review against another edition
3.0
2nd read, August 2018:
I liked it better than I remembered. But the ending is verryyy Victorian in its lesson-teaching.
1st read, Nov 2014:
My beloved Jane disappointed me!
I liked it better than I remembered. But the ending is verryyy Victorian in its lesson-teaching.
1st read, Nov 2014:
My beloved Jane disappointed me!
mersh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
2.5
This was so long winded for that ending. Tbh i wished Fanny married Henry Crawford or no one at all. That she maintains the filial love and relationship with her cousin Edmund, instead of them marrying in the end.
rashaadtyrone's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kristyloves2read's review against another edition
5.0
It's Jane Austen so it gets a five star, but it's not Pride and Prejudice. I like the story and could only wish that she had given more attention to the story of Fanny and Edmund, but one has to remember the time it was written.
irenexmiller23's review against another edition
4.0
Mansfield Park presents Jane Austen's customary topics of society, class, and morality in a more somber and contemplative light. The narrative centers on the peaceful and devout protagonist Fanny Price, who is forced to live with her affluent relatives. Fanny is not as charming or witty as other of Austen's most well-known heroines, but her strong moral convictions make her stand out.
The book explores the differences between genuine integrity and surface-level charm. The dynamic Crawfords stand in for temptation, but Fanny's self-control and inner fortitude emphasize how important it is to uphold one's morals. Despite having a slower tempo and less comedy than Austen's previous writings, it is a contemplative examination of morality and duty.
Mansfield Park may not have the romantic flair of Pride and Prejudice, but it’s a rewarding read for those interested in deeper moral questions and character development.
The book explores the differences between genuine integrity and surface-level charm. The dynamic Crawfords stand in for temptation, but Fanny's self-control and inner fortitude emphasize how important it is to uphold one's morals. Despite having a slower tempo and less comedy than Austen's previous writings, it is a contemplative examination of morality and duty.
Mansfield Park may not have the romantic flair of Pride and Prejudice, but it’s a rewarding read for those interested in deeper moral questions and character development.