Do I Still Hate Mansfield Park? (*spoilers*) #janeaustenjuly

My Relationship With George Eliot:

Bonnets at Dawn:

Mansfield Park pt. 1:

Mansfield Park vs. Wives and Daughters:

[bellathereader]

What I love about Mansfield Park is that the virtue and humility of Fanny wins out. It's not popular to think that a character as passive and docile as she is has very much to offer to a modern reader, but is exactly those characteristics that bring her success in the end. She knew her place and she knew how to leverage it. Plus she was strong in her refusal of Henry.

[elizabethbrink]

When I took a Jane Austen class in college, all I can remember of the Mansfield Park discussion is how nearly everyone in the class did not think Fanny deserved to be a heroine! Reading the novel again last year, I realized how rare and valuable Fanny's qualities of faithfulness and humility are. It's more attention-getting to be flashy, but so much of life is behind-the-scenes and it takes Fanny-like virtue to be content in the mundane. Great thoughts Kate! Definitely gotta listen to those Bonnets at Dawn episodes!

[MarilynMayaMendoza]

I also finished Mansfield Park in less than a week. I also love fanny Price.She had a quiet presence and strength of character that the other female characters lacked.I didn’t mind Edmund being the love interest but Where was the love scene at the end? I didn’t appreciate being told that they lived happily ever after. I wanted some satisfaction at the end with a love scene, even a small one. For me that was the one lack that the book head. I didn’t dislike Mr Crawford But saw despite his good side that the crude way he treated women in general was something that Fanny discerned. That was a very interesting take on Chronic illness being part of The story. Aloha

[lorriemerson]

I read Lover's Vows and reread MP last JAJ. I mainly focused on JA's observations on The Ideal Woman. Mrs. Bertram appears to be the Ideal Woman, but her delicacy is indolence that has crippled her and made her weak and dependent. Mrs. Bertram's reliance on her husband's intellect means she does not strive to improve her mind and is unable to oversee or advise her children. In contrast, Fanny is physically delicate with empathy and delicacy towards others that expose inner compassion and fierceness. Fanny strives to improve her mind by following Edmund's study plan and guidance. Fanny's struggles purify her and she becomes an Ideal Woman in all respects.

[DebMcDonald]

It took me years to love MP! When I first started reading Jane Austen I was all about the flashy, dramatic characters - Emma, Lizzie, the Crawfords - and I had to grow up before I could see the strength of Anne and Fanny. I only hope I would have Fanny’s steely resolve. My favourite scene is in Portsmouth and will often read that part again.

[jenniferbrooks]

I’m so glad your opinion has changed! Mansfield Park has always felt like a book I believed you would like.

[amandalavelle]

This fills my heart with joy. I’ve always had a big soft spot for Mansfield Park and constantly feel I had to defend it. It’s probably my third favourite behind Persuasion and P&P. And I love your edition my the way. Yey for underrated Fanny Price xx

[BookZealots]

This is my first year reading Mansfield Park and thus far I'm enjoying it more than last year's books, Emma and P&P. Personally I can relate to Fanny of being pushed in the background and kind of forgotten. She's relatable. Your edition is pretty.

[kathleencraine]

Welcome to the Fanny-ites! I have loved Fanny Price since I first read the novel because I identified with her shy nature as a child. Loved all your comments. I read an intro to MP that suggested MP is about the concept of "home", and how Fanny's idea of where home is changes in the novel. The intro cites the last excerpt you read (which I love), and says that no where else in Austen does a character reflect in the same way on their personal space and love of things about them. Edmund does leave a lot to be desired, but I can't believe that Henry C. would ever have a complete reformation.

[AliceandtheGiantBookshelf]

I'm coming to Jane Austen as an adult, and I'm enjoying reading them for the first time. Before this year I had only read Northanger Abbey. I read Persuasion in April, and absolutely loved it and felt finally ready for Jane Austen. I've just read Mansfield Park for the Jane Austen July read-along and I absolutely loved it. I dentified with Fanny to begin with, when she's so painfully shy and homesick, and I love how her character grows and her love of nature and joy in looking at beautiful things and reading. She's such a quiet heroine. I thought it was a great book, and I was so happy with the ending - Austen wraps everything up so completely!

[taylorrae]

Omg I didn't even think about the Roger/Cynthia thing in Wives & Daughters paralleling the Fanny/Edmund thing! Super interesting. So glad you loved it this time!

[naomisbookshelf]

Middlemarch was rough for me but I loved Mansfield Park when I read it chapter by chapter as a buddy read. It is a book to invest in the first time.

[ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

😍😍😍 This video makes me so
You're making me think about the ending. Everybody seems to hate Edmund, but I actually really liked Edmund. Fanny was his quiet younger cousin that he practically helped raise; it's not abnormal for a flashy new woman to grab a young man's attention, particularly if she sets her sights on him, so I don't fault Edmund for being distracted. He had never been in love with Fanny, so 🤷‍♀️ There was no reason for him to overlook Miss Crawford.
But once he saw Fanny's strength and virtue, I think he fell in love very deeply with her. A pastor's wife needs strength of character and Fanny SHOWED IT! It's not surprising that in the past, nobody noticed her character strength. She was very quiet and shy and "the poor relation" (whom Edmund alone was very kind to, btw). But Fanny had a chance to shine and she DID IT! Capturing the attention of her cousin. That's how I read it. I was thrilled to see a parson as a romantic hero, tbh 😂

[kathleencraine]

Kate, another reason I love your review, is because you remind us of how important re-reading can be! As we change over time, so do our reading experiences and expectations. There are some people who will never re-read because they say it's a waste of their time--too many new books to read. But I think re-reading after a few years, especially a "so-so" book that others have found meaningful, can open up a whole new perspective. Thank you for reminding us of that!

[aekorfker]

That ‘own little corner’ quote is so perfect ☺️🪴

[VoyageofaTimeWanderer]

I find the anti-slavery elements of Mansfield Park very interesting too so will have to listen to that BaD episode because you mentioned elements I didn't pick up on... I would love to see a spin-off retelling based in Antigua in the same vein of Wide Sargasso Sea. Having just read the beginning fragment Sanditon this JAJ as well, with Austen choosing to make one of the main characters be a biracial heiress from the Caribbean, I am so curious if she would have made a more explicit anti-slavery statement if she had completed that novel.

[msrichardsreads]

I never made the connect between Fanny and Molly, but you're right! I love that. I loved hearing your thoughts on this one, and I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[sararoberts]

I am so glad you had a change of heart. Mansfield Park is in my top three of Austen's novels. The first time I read it I was confused (I think I was 13 and this was my second classic/Austen, ) but once I knew more about customs and titles and such I fell in love.

[BeDutch]

I agree with your feelings on Edmund! I think that would have been so cool if Henry had reformed. It would have been neat to see more of his story in that way. A side bonus to that ending would be that Fanny would not have ended up marrying her cousin, which always was a bit cringey, for me.
So glad you enjoyed reading MP this time around!

[sterlingreads]

This was so great Kate! I’m halfway through my 3rd read of Mansfield Park. The first time I liked it. Second time I couldn’t stand Edmund. I couldn’t see what Fanny saw in him. But this time I’m loving it. Now I see Fanny being torn from the only life she knows & Edmund showed so much kindness exactly when she needed it. I’m also reading Jane Austen The Secret Radical by Helena Kelly. And wow it’s a fascinating read 😊