Mansfield Park in Around the Year in 52 Books

Jan 06, 2008 Heather L rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020, classics, 2008, book-to-movie

Have just finished a reread and enjoyed it as much as the first time I read it. I had some difficulty applying myself to it for any length of time, owing to the size of my book—a 3-in-1 collection of over 900 pages that tired my hands and arms from holding it too long. I am regretting all the times I passed up the shiny new Penguin editions at the bookstore.

I know many people do not like the character of Fanny, believing her to be too weak and timid, but I disagree. She has greater inner strengt ...more

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Jul 10, 2007 CrystalIsReading on StoryGraph rated it really liked it

Shelves: around-the-world-challenge, classics, audio

For some reason, this is another of Austen's works I THOUGHT that I had read, only to listen to it and realize I'd only ever seen the movie, which wasn't even a great version of this story. Mansfield Park is long. Sometimes the conversation is tedious, probably because Austen is capturing tedious dialogue and how it was such a part of such a sheltered life back then. This book is set in its own little microcosm within Northamptonshire, and it seems to me to capture very well the almost claustrop For some reason, this is another of Austen's works I THOUGHT that I had read, only to listen to it and realize I'd only ever seen the movie, which wasn't even a great version of this story. Mansfield Park is long. Sometimes the conversation is tedious, probably because Austen is capturing tedious dialogue and how it was such a part of such a sheltered life back then. This book is set in its own little microcosm within Northamptonshire, and it seems to me to capture very well the almost claustrophobic nature of society back then. Can you imagine barely having left your adopted home estate YOUR ENTIRE TIME THERE? Years and years. it's just mind boggling. And the thing is that Fannie is happy. She loves nature. She loves the quiet life. Some other people in her life are a bit more trying, but otherwise she's happy. I just can't imagine. And that's part of what's brilliant about this book--showing a glimpse of a lifestyle that we can never experience--and mostly likely never want to, either.
In some ways, this reminded me of Jane Eyre. The central character is pretty and much more submissive, but she is still a character without means but of unalterable integrity. Her core values cannot and will not be compromised. Perhaps she seems like a bit tame of a character for my taste, but I have to respect her unflinching integrity in the face of, for her, overwhelming pressure. Everyone else I wanted to smack more than once. I actually felt bad for the Crawfords. Their lives had taught them things that worked against their happiness, at least in this circumstance, but, especially in the case of Mr Crawford, I felt for him. I almost wished he could win Fannie. That he COULD deserve her. And conflicting feelings like those, as well as my unwillingness to put the book down, are evidence of what a master writer Austen was, no matter how tame she might have seemed on the surface. And that's what keeps me coming back to her work. Mansfield Park may never be a favorite like Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion, but it was certainly an enjoyable book and a deserved classic. ...more

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