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Rating: 
Summary: Not Austen's best, but still wonderful
Review: After having read (and loved) Jane Austen's more famous novels EMMA and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, I found MANSFIELD PARK a true delight despite its smaller feel. Fanny Price is taken in by her wealthy aunt and uncle as charity to her more lowly-married mother, and is raised with her cousins with the idea she needs refinement and education to become as good a woman as her lesser social standing will allow. Fanny is nervous and self-effacing, struggling with her new situation until her cousin Edmund makes her feel more at home. Gradually, she feels like a part of the family, although the nagging sense of unworthiness always asserts itself. As cousins marry and suitors appear, as scandals arise and emotions become known, Fanny finds herself in the equivalent of a Victorian soap opera. Fanny is undoubtedly one of Austen's less assertive characters, although she does mature into a woman who knows what she wants and will accept no less. I loved Fanny and her honesty, the little girl who fears the stars in her eyes and still manages to grow up into a respectable - and respected - woman. Her complexities are subtle and understated, making the reader work at times to understand her motivation, although anyone who has felt like an outcast even once, or anyone who respects honesty, will identify with her. In true Austen fashion, the observations are witty, with pointed social analysis and cynicism dressed up in sly humor. Fanny's aunts in particular are skewered, but no one, not even Fanny, is spared. Readers picking up this novel for the sheer delight of it will find it difficult to put down, as its language is accessible and free-flowing. Students and book club members who must pay closer attention to themes and other literary issues may want to consider the role social standing and money play; the evolution of Fanny's character (and whether she is sympathetic); the techniques Austen uses to evoke humor; and the courtship protocol for Victorian England and how the characters both work within, and violate, the social rules. I highly recommend this book for teenagers and adults alike, especially those whose literary tastes run toward the classics.
Rating:
Summary: Not Austen's best, but still wonderful
Review: After having read (and loved) Jane Austen's more famous novels EMMA and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, I found MANSFIELD PARK a true delight despite its smaller feel. Fanny Price is taken in by her wealthy aunt and uncle as charity to her more lowly-married mother, and is raised with her cousins with the idea she needs refinement and education to become as good a woman as her lesser social standing will allow. Fanny is nervous and self-effacing, struggling with her new situation until her cousin Edmund makes her feel more at home. Gradually, she feels like a part of the family, although the nagging sense of unworthiness always asserts itself. As cousins marry and suitors appear, as scandals arise and emotions become known, Fanny finds herself in the equivalent of a Victorian soap opera. Fanny is undoubtedly one of Austen's less assertive characters, although she does mature into a woman who knows what she wants and will accept no less. I loved Fanny and her honesty, the little girl who fears the stars in her eyes and still manages to grow up into a respectable - and respected - woman. Her complexities are subtle and understated, making the reader work at times to understand her motivation, although anyone who has felt like an outcast even once, or anyone who respects honesty, will identify with her. In true Austen fashion, the observations are witty, with pointed social analysis and cynicism dressed up in sly humor. Fanny's aunts in particular are skewered, but no one, not even Fanny, is spared. Readers picking up this novel for the sheer delight of it will find it difficult to put down, as its language is accessible and free-flowing. Students and book club members who must pay closer attention to themes and other literary issues may want to consider the role social standing and money play; the evolution of Fanny's character (and whether she is sympathetic); the techniques Austen uses to evoke humor; and the courtship protocol for Victorian England and how the characters both work within, and violate, the social rules. I highly recommend this book for teenagers and adults alike, especially those whose literary tastes run toward the classics.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Descriptions, No Plot
Review: I found when reading this book the story strayed from it's main character, Fanny, and went on for several pages, and sometimes entire chapters, about points which are irrelevant to the story. I also found the writer using excessively long sentances, and drawing out passages which could have easily been put in many less words.
I also found that the story seemingly goes nowhere. There is little or no character change, and there really is no conflict in the story line.
So if you want a dro pdead boring story with no action whatsoever, read on, dear reader, read on.
Rating: 
Summary: An enjoyable read for Jane Austen fans
Review: I'm 14 and I've recently read "Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and Sensibility" after seeing most of the movies (or TV shows, specifically for Pride and Prejudice). I find that "Pride and Prejudice" is my favorite, it's very entertaining and the story line is amazing. The first thing I had read was "Sense and Sensibility" but it was slower, it was still good, but "Pride and Prejudice" is the best. After reading those I bought "Mansfield Park" and "Persuasion". I have recently finished "Mansfield Park" and I thought it was very good, but it wasn't her best. I would only suggest "Mansfield Park" to those who have already read "Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and Sensibility". Soon I will be starting "Persuasion" I am hoping to read all of Jane Austen's books, eventually. The beginning of "Mansfield Park" is very slow, I'd say the first 100 pages were very slow. Since I saw the movie first I kept wondering "when will Henry Crawford start to like Fanny?" and during about half the book, he wasn't even interested in her. But eventually he does and that's where it really gets interesting. So if you have started to read it but stopped reading it because it is slow, I would suggest you pick it back up and begin reading it. It takes awhile to get into, but it's worth it.
Rating:
Summary: The best of Austen
Review: I've read that Mansfield Park was Jane Austen's favorite of her marvelous works. The heroine, Fanny Price, is virtually flawless. Fanny Price is not boring, even in a quiet country setting. The exciting circumstances around her keeps the novel flowing and her strength under pressure and integrity makes her likable. Austen also puts in the regular amusing characters as she does in all her novels (i.e. Mr. Collins, Miss Bates, Lucy Steele, etc.) In Mansfield Park, a thoughtless aunt and guardian, vain and competitive cousins, an indolent aunt, and so forth test the character's goodness. It is one of my favorite books.
Rating:
Summary: The best of Austen
Review: I've read that Mansfield Park was Jane Austen's favorite of her marvelous works. The heroine, Fanny Price, is virtually flawless. Fanny Price is not boring, even in a quiet country setting. The exciting circumstances around her keeps the novel flowing and her strength under pressure and integrity makes her likable. Austen also puts in the regular amusing characters as she does in all her novels (i.e. Mr. Collins, Miss Bates, Lucy Steele, etc.) In Mansfield Park, a thoughtless aunt and guardian, vain and competitive cousins, an indolent aunt, and so forth test the character's goodness. It is one of my favorite books.
Rating:
Summary: A Darker, More Complex Jane Austen
Review: MANSFIELD PARK is a novel that's very different from Jane Austen's other five. It's darker and more complex and its heroine, Fanny Price, isn't strong, independent, lively and witty like Elizabeth Bennet of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE or Emma Woodhouse of EMMA. While I liked the complexity and introspection of MANSFIELD PARK, I disliked its darkness and lack of wit. I realize that MANSFIELD PARK is the only novel both conceived and written during Austen's more "mature" years, rather than having been conceived and written while she was still a young girl, then rewritten. Most people who do not like MANSFIELD PARK do not like it because of its protagonist, Fanny Price. I have to admit that I'm in the group who simply didn't like Fanny Price. Although I felt sympathy for Fanny when she was treated so coldly at "Mansfield Park," I didn't find her awkwardness, timidness or self-righteous qualities at all appealing. I found Fanny downright dislikeable on some occasions. I disliked Fanny's waffling: when she goes to "Mansfield Park," she wants to be back in Portsmouth (I can understand homesickness), but when she's in Portsmouth, she wants to be at "Mansfield Park." Nothing suits her. Even worse, is Fanny's hypocrisy. I don't think Fanny Price was as "good" as some would believe. In the end, MANSFIELD PARK seems to be about the battle between good and evil and the difficulty in telling one from the other, because both good and evil often wear disguises. It takes a shrewd person to really recognize good and evil at a deeper, non-superficial, level. MANSFIELD PARK is a very good book, but it's certainly not "vintage" Austen. If you're looking for Austen's witty comments on social manners, her sparkling dialogue and her strong, independent heroines, be warned, you won't find any of that here. I think MANSFIELD PARK is definitely a book that should be read, but I also think the reader has to be aware of what he or she is getting into.
Rating:
Summary: An Inspiring Heroine
Review: While this isn't the greatest of Jane Austen's novels and is somewhat light on external action, it is certainly a fine example of characterization, by which I mean that the action takes place inside the heads of the main characters, especially Fanny Price, the heroine. Fanny is 10 years old when she comes to live with her mean-spirited relatives at Mansfield Park, and grows to womanhood in an environment full of condescension and personal challenge. Her story, and her resulting triumph over prejudice and emotional greed, was an inspiration to women when it was written, and continues to be so today. If you are not familiar with Jane Austen's work, don't be put off by the comments of others. Start with one of her more well-known novels, such as Pride and Prejudice or Emma, and then work up to Mansfield Park after you've come to love Austen. If you are one of those women who, like me, devoured Austen's more well-known novels and are now searching for the lesser known work, will enjoy Mansfield Park as well. I give it five stars just for the simple fact that it was written by Austen, arguably one of the greatest writers in the English language, male or female.
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