Reviews with content warning for Slavery - Mansfield Park

This may be a controversial opinion, but this is by far my favorite Austen book. Our main character, Fanny Price, is a shy Regency-era Cinderella--sweet, kind, and above all, principled. At a young age, her wealthier aunt and uncle adopt her as an act of charity, and henceforth neglect her and show her marked disrespect (which she bears pretty well, with the help of her beloved cousin Edmund). Years later, two outsiders by the name of Henry and Mary Crawford - a glamorous brother-sister duo from fashionable London - enter the grounds of Mansfield Park and proceed to bring chaos in their wake. Everyone is swept other the Crawfords' spell except Fanny, who watches with shyness and concern and does what she can, up until the point Henry Crawford targets her to trifle with.

This book probably won't end the way you want it to--in many ways, I'd say it's a tragedy of a failed redemption. But it's a masterpiece of characters, and is probably the book that instilled in me from a young age that it's not my job to 'fix' anyone. I definitely recommend it, but make sure that you know that you're not getting Pride and Prejudice here. Mansfield Park and Fanny Price stand on their own, with a quieter and more refined strength.

Content Warnings

anjasshelf's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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bookishchristiana's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

“Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings."
&
“Her own thoughts and reflections were habitually her best companions.” - Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

And just like that, I've finished all of Jane Austen's complete novels and honestly then end was a little underwhelming. If you know me, you know that Jane Austen (along with Sally Rooney) is my absolute favourite author. However, Mansfield Park won't be reaching even my top 50 any time soon. It was an enjoyable story; one of Austen's comedic works. As always, the comedy hits just right, and the misadventures of every character are very entertaining. However, I found the main character pretty boring (very one-dimensional 'good girl') and the love interest almost just as boring. Their age gap and the fact they are closely related also did not endear me to their inevitable relationship. I didn't really feel I was routing for anyone. The parental figures and older relatives were actually my favourite parts, I would've much preferred a story centring their dynamics. I would rate this book probably just behind or on the same level as Northanger Abbey, it comes nowhere close to Emma or Pride and Prejudice. This is a short review as I honestly don't have much to say besides that it was a book that I read and sometimes enjoyed. See you soon, maybe - C x

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_maia3_'s review

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dark lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is my least favourite of Austen's books and I'm only giving it such a high score because I think it's genuinely very interesting to have an Austen book where almost everyone sucks. I find Fanny a rather insipid heroine, and whilst I understand that she is very much a victim of abuse, I don't find her explored to a satisfactory level. The hero, Edmund, is Austen's most unlikeable hero by far. The villians are the most entertaining part of the book, as they (in particular Mary Crawford) give voice to interesting contemporary opinions surrounding religion especially. Even if this was not likely Austen's weird little religious moment as some scholars have said, it really does come off that way sometimes.
Please don't skip out on this book however- it is worth the read if you want more Austen, it was just a personal miss.

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