Mansfield Park

[Kerri]

So, did everyone finished the next book? I just finished it yesterday and am ready to discuss. I guess I have to come up with a discussion question then. Ummmmmm. How about: did you like Fanny Price? There was an introduction in my book and one thing that was discussed was that the heroine of the book was one that you really weren't given the opportunity to like very much. I don't think I liked her that much. She kind of drove me crazy. I did sympathize with her quite a bit and found myself cheering for her. I was very surprised that everything worked out for her in the end because I just didn't really feel like she was deserving. But, since everything did work out for her, maybe she knows something I don't.

Feel free to join in!

[beacooker]

Not really an answer to your question - but what I noticed most about the book (and I read it back in June, so its been a few months) was that the ending was very very abrupt. Like the whole book was about her pining away for whats-his-name, and then they fall in love in 1 paragraph at the end, and Austen didn't even bother to show us the scene, just tell us about it. But, I guess I didn't care all that much for Fanny, so I didn't care too much.

[jane]

While I was all psyched to read the book (I've seen movie adaptions of many of Jane Austen's books and LOVED them) I just couldn't get into the book at all. Where the social commentary and sarcastic remarks of the characters always seemed to translate well onto the screen, reading them off the page, they seemed whinny which was a huge disappointment to me. I had tried a few years ago to read Pride and Prejudice and felt the same way. Guess I'm just destined to watch Jane Austen on the big and small screen. All of this is made more interesting by the fact that I was a history major in college and have enjoyed reading a wide variety of classic literature as well as a ton of historical documents and commentary so I really shouldn't of had a problem reading this. It makes me wonder...

[Little Bit]

Mansfield Park isn't my favorite of Jane Austen's works, but I like it better than Emma.
My favorites are Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, with Northanger Abbey running a close third.

I think I prefer the more comedic novels, in general. Maybe Mansfield Park is just too overtly preachy for me? I don't much care for Persuasion either. Something about their tone is less delightful to me than some of the other works.

Thanks for the inspiration to re-read some Austen!

[BethH]

I read this last month--and totally agree with all comments above. The ending was abrupt and Fanny irritated me. Perhaps it is because I'm kind of an independant, 'go after what you want' kind of girl, her tendency to be a silently pining doormat left me thorougly annoyed.

I am glad I read it though! I need to read some more classics. What's next on our list? :)

[Nirak]

I'm wondering if I can join your book group. I have been reading about 1 month behind you and have enjoyed reviewing your discussions after I have finished. Based on this thread, I think I will skip Mansfield Park and move along to your next book so I can do the discussion real-time. What is the next book? BTW, I enjoyed Mistress of Spices, and The Simple Living Guide got me thinking about a lot of things. I was surprised how much I had simplified on my own over the last few years. The book really validated a lot of my actions.

[Susan]

Boy, am I behind! I'm still reading The Simple Living Guide! YIKES! I am still trying to catch up on the threads on that one. I have just started Mansfield Park so I can't contribute to the current discussion. I have read other books by Jane Austen, most recently Emma which was quite enjoyable.

Questions...should we move the book group to the "Other Stuff" board to get more bboard members involved? Do we want to select a fall read (read over Sept/Oct and discuss in November)?

[SusieO]

As much as I loved Pride and Prejudice and Emma, I was surprised at how much I disliked this book. Not only did I not care for the overly preach and annoying Fanny Price, I didn't care for any of the characters in this book. I would like to have liked the Crawfords, but even they turned out to be too abominable to be likable.

The introduction to the book I read describes Mansfield Park as "the first novel of Jane Austen's maturity." Not sure exactly what that means, except that it is very different from her earlier, comedic novels.

I agree that the ending was very abrupt, and didn't really fit in with the rest of the book. I wonder if maybe the original ending was changed by an editor? Or maybe she just got tired of the characters and just decided to end their story.

I would be up for a fall selection(s). And the Other Stuff board probably would be the best place to discuss.

[LGBurns]

Okay, this is the third time I have read this book and I must admit it would not have been my choice for a Jane Austen novel (my favorites are Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Persuasion in that order). However, I do have some thoughts in defense of Fanny that came to me upon reading the book for the third time.

In the past when I read Mansfield Park, I always felt Fanny was a wimp. However, upon re-reading it I realized that Fanny was raised from the time she was only ten in a house where everyone told her she was inferior and where she was not encouraged by anyone but Edmund. Keeping in mind that in the early 19th century, when the novel was written, women were not particularly encouraged to assert themselves (in Pride and Prejudice it shocks Miss Bingley that Elizabeth walked 3 miles alone), and being told by the author that Fanny was not inclined to always think of herself first, it is no wonder that she grew into the type of woman she did. But is Fanny really a wimp? Would a wimp stand up to everyone, including her uncle and the cousin who she admires so much, and refuse to marry someone who everyone else considers a remarkably eligible man? Fanny stands by her convictions against all persuasion to the contrary. Granted, it is made easier for her because she loves someone else, but she doesn't think she will ever marry Edmund. She sees Crawford for the "blackguard" (as they called them back then, I would use a more choice word now but I fear I would be bleeped) that he is when no one else can. In the end, I admired Fanny because she saw through people's facades for who they really were.

As to the book being preachy, maybe I'm getting stodgey in my old age, but I don't think a book that emphasizes marriage for love over money, true sense and kindness over flashy wit and show, and respect for marriage and family is preachy--I think more people should read such books in our society. While I think that whole "family values" argument is a bunch of bunk (mostly because I prefer a wider definition of family rather than a more narrow one), I do think we have gotten away from the importance of commitment--not just in marriage, but in many things. I think the book reminds us of the consequences of people acting selfishly.

[BevP]

I tried but just couldn't get into this book. Every once in a while I'd catch the smart remarks and actually laughed out loud sometimes but it was soooo slloooww. Maybe I've had too much Harlequine and Stephen King.

Originally, I wasn't going to read it but rented the video and loved it. Oh well, I guess I'm just not meant for the classics. :( I just can't get past what seems to me to be the wordiness of it all. I kept thinking, "Geesh, folks just say what you mean already!" Jane, you and I can watch them all on video.

[KathrynY]

Just bumping this up, hoping that there's interest in continuing the book club for fall. I enjoyed reading the summer book selections, even though I didn't post during discussions.

Oh - I see Heidi just posted a book club thread on the "Other Stuff" board. See you over there!