Mansfield Park by Jane Austen is often known as the most difficult and least-loved of her 6 major novels. It has some very mixed reviews on Goodreads, Barnes and Noble and Amazon. It has been criticized and thrown away half-read by some. Not to mention it's film adaptations have some pretty strong reviews against them as well. But while many have disliked it, it has been dearly loved and cherished by others. While it is disappointing that so many have discarded Mansfield Park, I am glad there are those who have held onto it and seen it's value. That there are those who love it every bit as much as her other novels. That encourages me as I am reading and falling in love with it this weekend.
I am currently half way through my first reading of Mansfield Park... my first of 3 books chosen for "Austen in August" hosted by Roof Beam Reader. And so far, despite a very slow beginning, I am loving every bit of it. I started reading it in bed last night and have spent most of my lazy day today reading (in between short naps, of course!). I have to admit that I am a bit surprised with how much I like it due to having heard and read so many negative things about it. But in reading it and looking more into the back story, as well as digging further into the reviews to find those who do love it, I am glad I chose to be brave and pick it up. I am glad I have stuck with it despite the slow beginning. And I am excited to spend the rest of my evening reading (I have a good 6 hours before bed... plenty of reading time!).
I am enjoying Mansfield Park for a variety of reasons. One thing I like about it is that it is a slow read. And what I mean by that is that I like the fact that I don't feel like the story rushes through details or that Jane Austen rushed the development of her characters. I like that it is a book that is set to an easy pace and tone. Some books I feel are just so busy and fast that you hardly get one character or situation read and understood before it's time to move onto the next (think Hunger Games or Harry Potter which I dearly love). But Jane slows everything down and she takes each piece of the story in her own way, time and fashion. She spends a great deal of time showing the marriage relationships of the 3 sisters in the first chapter and later spends numerous chapters on the play the young people wanted to perform. And she uses that slow pace to set up the story in a great way. She writes in a way that keeps everything tied together, but yet doesn't rush her reader to try and work to keep up with every little detail or character. Some might argue that the slow pace of the book is why they dislike it. And that's fair. But to me I think it's perfect and has added so much to my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
Another thing (or rather a person) I love is Fanny Price. She is so not your typical leading lady. Especially in comparison to Lizzie or Emma. And that may be why so many dislike her. But I love her. She reminds me of myself in some ways. Quiet. On the edge of the scenes. Observant. Respectful. Loving. Loyal. Opinionated, but not outspoken. Content to stay quietly at home. Easily embarrassed. Easily won over with a kind word. And so many other things. Fanny wasn't asked if she wanted to live with her Aunt, Uncle and Cousins. She wasn't asked if she wanted to leave her brother whom she dearly loved. She wasn't asked if she wanted her life to change drastically. But she made the most of it. And she did it with grace and poise. Fanny's character is one that just makes me smile as I read her thoughts or see the actions of her extended family and their friends through her eyes. Her intense loyalty and love to her family even though most of them haven't really earned it is admirable. And of course, my heart can't help but ache as she watches Edmund focus on another lady and push her more into the background than ever before. She may be the leading lady, but yet in some ways she isn't and I can't help but love that about the story.
I may only be half way through it and things could take a turn for the worse, but I am really enjoying and falling in love with the story of Mansfield Park. I won't be able to say it's a favorite til I have read my other picks for "Austen in August," but I can say it's one that I wouldn't mind re-reading one day, not to mention buying a hard-copy for my book shelf. Well, I am off to read some more. I will write again when I have finished!
Happy reading!
I am currently half way through my first reading of Mansfield Park... my first of 3 books chosen for "Austen in August" hosted by Roof Beam Reader. And so far, despite a very slow beginning, I am loving every bit of it. I started reading it in bed last night and have spent most of my lazy day today reading (in between short naps, of course!). I have to admit that I am a bit surprised with how much I like it due to having heard and read so many negative things about it. But in reading it and looking more into the back story, as well as digging further into the reviews to find those who do love it, I am glad I chose to be brave and pick it up. I am glad I have stuck with it despite the slow beginning. And I am excited to spend the rest of my evening reading (I have a good 6 hours before bed... plenty of reading time!).
I am enjoying Mansfield Park for a variety of reasons. One thing I like about it is that it is a slow read. And what I mean by that is that I like the fact that I don't feel like the story rushes through details or that Jane Austen rushed the development of her characters. I like that it is a book that is set to an easy pace and tone. Some books I feel are just so busy and fast that you hardly get one character or situation read and understood before it's time to move onto the next (think Hunger Games or Harry Potter which I dearly love). But Jane slows everything down and she takes each piece of the story in her own way, time and fashion. She spends a great deal of time showing the marriage relationships of the 3 sisters in the first chapter and later spends numerous chapters on the play the young people wanted to perform. And she uses that slow pace to set up the story in a great way. She writes in a way that keeps everything tied together, but yet doesn't rush her reader to try and work to keep up with every little detail or character. Some might argue that the slow pace of the book is why they dislike it. And that's fair. But to me I think it's perfect and has added so much to my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
Another thing (or rather a person) I love is Fanny Price. She is so not your typical leading lady. Especially in comparison to Lizzie or Emma. And that may be why so many dislike her. But I love her. She reminds me of myself in some ways. Quiet. On the edge of the scenes. Observant. Respectful. Loving. Loyal. Opinionated, but not outspoken. Content to stay quietly at home. Easily embarrassed. Easily won over with a kind word. And so many other things. Fanny wasn't asked if she wanted to live with her Aunt, Uncle and Cousins. She wasn't asked if she wanted to leave her brother whom she dearly loved. She wasn't asked if she wanted her life to change drastically. But she made the most of it. And she did it with grace and poise. Fanny's character is one that just makes me smile as I read her thoughts or see the actions of her extended family and their friends through her eyes. Her intense loyalty and love to her family even though most of them haven't really earned it is admirable. And of course, my heart can't help but ache as she watches Edmund focus on another lady and push her more into the background than ever before. She may be the leading lady, but yet in some ways she isn't and I can't help but love that about the story.
I may only be half way through it and things could take a turn for the worse, but I am really enjoying and falling in love with the story of Mansfield Park. I won't be able to say it's a favorite til I have read my other picks for "Austen in August," but I can say it's one that I wouldn't mind re-reading one day, not to mention buying a hard-copy for my book shelf. Well, I am off to read some more. I will write again when I have finished!
Happy reading!
I tried to read MP a while back and found the beginning too difficult to get through (I didn't have a lot of time for leisure reading back then; I knew I would come back to it). It's the only major work of Austen's that I haven't read, so one of these days I'm going to get down to it. I really like your view of it so far; there is definitely merit in a slow book, which I had trouble seeing my first time around. It's always good to see a favorable review of this less-loved novel.
ReplyDeleteI love Fanny Price, too. I'm rereading Mansfield Park right now and enjoying it even more the second time around! Great post.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. Although MP has traditionally been my least favourite JA, it was still a book I enjoyed (for most of the reasons you mentioned above).
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger I found the slower pace a tad too slow, but this time around I love the gradually unfolding of story and character. It feels like the drama is happening in real time.
And, yes, I was rather like Fanny in my younger years too. It took years of determined adult living to overcome many of my inhibitions...I would love to see Fanny Price at age 40!