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A review by lvd92
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.75
I really enjoyed this Austen. It was the manner of storytelling that captivated me. I just loved Austen's voice in this work. As a work of historical fiction, this was an excellent work. Loved it.
I do have some quarrels with it. They did not spoil the fun for me, but they did make this Austen less of a hit with me. First, I never grew particularly fond of any of the characters. Second, I was not here for the love story. Edmund was a tool for not realising his effect on Fanny and not checking himself to make sure he did not encourage her when he himself did not see her the same way. And, he was her cousin. Gross. I also do not fully understand why miss Crawford was supposed to be bad. Sure, some of her expressions towards the end were not pretty, and she may have had alternative motives at times (like most human beings since the beginning of time), but I thought she was a very kind and sensible young woman overall. I was annoyed with Fanny for not being able to overcome her own jealousy and feel more warmly towards miss Crawford. The latter deserved that much given her own affectionate behaviour towards Fanny. Alas. Austen writes satirical works with realistic messy human beings, warts and all. There is no point in me wanting different things for her characters.
Also, just a side note, but it would seem that Austen really did not believe in rakes being capable of bettering themselves xD She does not wish them any happy endings, that is for sure.
I do have some quarrels with it. They did not spoil the fun for me, but they did make this Austen less of a hit with me. First, I never grew particularly fond of any of the characters. Second, I was not here for the love story. Edmund was a tool for not realising his effect on Fanny and not checking himself to make sure he did not encourage her when he himself did not see her the same way. And, he was her cousin. Gross. I also do not fully understand why miss Crawford was supposed to be bad. Sure, some of her expressions towards the end were not pretty, and she may have had alternative motives at times (like most human beings since the beginning of time), but I thought she was a very kind and sensible young woman overall. I was annoyed with Fanny for not being able to overcome her own jealousy and feel more warmly towards miss Crawford. The latter deserved that much given her own affectionate behaviour towards Fanny. Alas. Austen writes satirical works with realistic messy human beings, warts and all. There is no point in me wanting different things for her characters.
Also, just a side note, but it would seem that Austen really did not believe in rakes being capable of bettering themselves xD She does not wish them any happy endings, that is for sure.