Mansfield Park Read-Along: Part 1

Hello!
The lovely Amber at Seasons of Humility is hosting a Mansfield Park Read-Along all through January! As Mansfield Park is one of the Jane Austen works I haven't read yet, I needed to join the fun.

"This is not a very promising beginning." Me, being late and behind on everything this year. Opps. I am so sorry! I will try to remedy that soon.

Um, there might be a few spoilers, so if you haven't read Mansfield Park, please don't read.

Mansfield Park Volume I: Chapters 1-12

Discussion Format: your favorite quotes, general impressions, and three questions to answer for each week's reading

Favorite Quotes:

"'Here's harmony!' said she, 'Here's repose! Here's what may leave all painting and all music behind, and what poetry only can attempt to describe."'
(Then Edmund was just like, "Nice.")

'Mrs. Grant and her tambour frame were not without their use; it was all in harmony; and as everything will turn to account when love is once set going, even the sandwich tray, and Dr. Grant doing the honors of it, were worth looking at.'
(I was laughing so hard! This is why I love Jane Austen.)

General Impressions:

Mansfield Park is said to be Jane Austen's least liked novel. But why? I have seen one movie version of it (that was a looong time ago.) and I can see some things that people might not like but most people's problem is Fanny. I thought, "Okay then. She must not be that likeable."

Oh my word. I am Fanny. It is crazy! Does that mean people don't like me? Hm...
'He knew her to be clever, to have a quick apprehension as well as good sense, and a fondness for reading, which, properly directed, must be an education in itself.'
I mean, I'm not clever, but I do love to read! And, I don't get treated like her as I have a wonderful family, but we are the same person.

Fanny thinks the best of everyone. She always tries to believe the best in each circumstance. She is kind to all around her, though sometimes she can get offended when people insult things close to her heart. (I can just imagine her looking exactly like me when I am upset. A red faced blond. [That Wonderland Creek quote is ssssoooo accurate!]) She loves her home and family more than anything. "...which shows you to be a very good girl; but you must remember that you are with relations and friends, who all love you, and wish to make you happy."

'Her sentiments towards him were compounded of all that was respectable, grateful, confiding, and tender.' I am still trying to sort out my thoughts for Edmund. I like that he is nice to Fanny, but I don't like it when he is weird and thoughtless. Ugh. Why does he like Ms. Crawford? I mean, it's okay to like her, but please don't neglect Fanny. This is a very good description of him: '...for he was not pleasant by any common rule, he talked no nonsense, he paid to compliments, his opinions were unbending, his attentions tranquil and simple.'

Mrs. Grant: I don't know why I am listing her so near the top, but oh well. I really like her. I don't know what it is, but she is just so great! I don't know what makes her that way, but she is one character that I would like to just sit down and talk with for an hour or two. She seems very nice. And all of Ms. Austen's bits with her are gold! "'I pay very little regard,' said Mrs. Grant, "to what any young person says on the subject of marriage. If they profess a disinclination for it, I only set it down that they have not yet seen the right person.'"

I like Mrs. Rushworth, I mean ("Stop saying that!"), she was so nice to think of Fanny, when no one else was. "Miss Price, who had never been at Sotherton yet, and it was a pity she should not see the place."

Maria and Julia: Spoiled is the only word I can think to describe them. They make fun of Fanny for not knowing as much as them, then they are just so annoying!!!

Tom Bertram: I don't really have my thoughts put together for what I think of him. I might remember something from the movie, but I don't know. I like that he danced with Fanny, even if it was to get away from Dr. Grant.

Miss Crawford: I don't know, she is sort of annoying as well. I don't think I have agreed with a single thing she has said.

Henry Crawford: Another annoying person. But, I am triumphant to say that I am taller than him.

Mr. Rushworth: What is trying to be said about him? I think he is very agreeable.

Discussion Questions:

1. Would you consider the Bertram family taking in Fanny to be a kindness in the long run? If so, why? If not, could it have been a kindness if they approached things differently?

Well, that is a harder question than you would think. I think it was sad for Fanny to be separated from her brothers and sisters. But, Edmund is nice to her (sort of), and she has gotten a good education.

2. If you were a governess teaching the Bertram children and Fanny, what lesson would you specifically choose for each of them (as kids or adults)? Feel free to have fun with this!

I think Edmund would have a lot of fun with science. Tom would be good with Geography. Julia, I would teach Math. And I would just try to get some sense into Maria's head. I would teach Fanny history, because she loves it. '...delighted to connect anything with history already known, or warm her imagination with scenes of the past.'

I have no idea why I picked all of those things. It just seemed right.

3. Imagine you had joined the group on their visit to Sotherton. Which part of the tour would you most have enjoyed? Would we find you wandering the halls or meandering through the wilderness?

Definitely wandering through the wilderness. I actually would take Julia's position, because I like to listen to people and walk slowly.

Thank you so much to Amber for hosting this! I am sorry I am so late!

MovieCritic