1000 Books Before You Die discussion

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

My first read of this book. Some parts seemed unnecessarily long & the end, by comparison, appeared rushed.

I don't remember that much about this one.

Mansfield Park is one that I needed to read twice to appreciate. When I read it as a young person I found most of the characters detestable. Either they were mean or seemed to have no spine. When I read it a few decades later, I found it a much different book. There are characters who are true so true to life, in their prejudices, their pettiness, their capacity to be led by others. And I found poor Fanny To be so sweet and so good, so steadfast in her sense of right and wrong, and so powerless in her world... over anything but the way in which she chose to comport herself, no matter how those around her chose to behave and the choices they made, or the unfairness of their treatment of her.

Jane Austen was such a extraordinary writer that I literally find something new and profound every single time I read and reread her books.