I've never read Emma, although I have read P&P, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Northhanger Abby. (That last one easily wins the snark category.) It's really a shame because I LOVED the Kate Beckinsale version. What did you think of the book Pattertwig's Pal?

I really like the book. It is good. Emma the character drives me nuts sometimes but that doesn't distract from the appeal of the book.

I've finished Emma.

Spoiler

Harriet ended up with Mr. Martin.

Now, I'm reading Mansfield Park. I'm liking it a lot so far.

The weird thing about reading Austen's works is that it has me rooting for things I wouldn't in real life. For example, in real life I don't like huge age differences in couples but I wanted Now it isn't legal for cousins to marry but I would like to see Fanny and Edmund get married (Mansfield Park).

Now it isn't legal for cousins to marry but I would like to see Fanny and Edmund get married (Mansfield Park).

It's still legal in about half the states of the US and various other countries.

I'm reading my way through Mansfield Park as well, and it is definitely very interesting. I've heard all sorts of complaints about the main character, Fanny, as not being as strong-willed as other Austen heroines, but while she's not as outspoken as Lizzy and the rest, she is definitely very perceptive of the people and situations around her and capable of holding her moral ground when others around her falter... and she does speak her mind at times. I think more of the second half of the story will be on her being more able to stand up for herself. Which she'll need pretty soon as I'm at the part where...

Also, the whole scene with the play is hilarious, moreso if you equate it as the Victorian equivalent of a wild college party.

I'm also finding Mansfield Park to have a lot of similarities with some of the more modern romantic comedies I've seen (particularly from anime)... hard to tell why, though I've read that Fanny has been sort of a codifier of the "shy girl" archetype...

It's still legal in about half the states of the US and various other countries.

I really should learn to check my facts. I did ask my sister and she agreed with me. It is illegal in the state I'm in.

I've heard all sorts of complaints about the main character, Fanny, as not being as strong-willed as other Austen heroines, but while she's not as outspoken as Lizzy and the rest, she is definitely very perceptive of the people and situations around her and capable of holding her moral ground when others around her falter... and she does speak her mind at times.

That's interesting. I like Fanny a lot. She reminds me a lot of myself. I suppose she's not as strong-willed as others but strong-willed can also mean stubborn. If she can hold her moral ground when others are faltering, that is strong-willed enough. The back of my book says, "the complexly drawn Fanny Price emerges as one of Jane Austen's finest achievements ..."

Also, the whole scene with the play is hilarious, moreso if you equate it as the Victorian equivalent of a wild college party.

I'm at that part right now. I got really confused for a bit because at first it seemed like Edmund was for it and then almost immediately against it. When I read his first statement as being sarcastic it made a lot more sense. I wondered what the views on plays were at that time. To me it sounds like what they are doing would be fun (minus the egos and conflict over parts). It makes much more sense when one thinks of it as a wild college party.

I grew up familiar with Jane Austen, as my older sister was a reader and inspired me to read Pride and Prejudice early on. At such a young age, however, I found her writing to be terribly dull. It wasn't until several years ago that I picked them up again and began to show considerable interest in her classics.

I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to Austen's works - I've only read Pride & Prejudice and Persuasion, the latter of which was read so many years ago that I can't even recall the plot. Currently, I am about half-way through a first read of Emma. I'm enjoying the book so far. I find Emma fascinating and amusing, though frustrating at times. And I like Mr. Knightley very much.

I have seen both versions of Pride and Prejudice, the 1996 version of Emma, and the 1995 adaption of Sense & Sensibility (in which it was greatly surprising to find Alan Rickman playing a non-villain role).

Currently, I am about half-way through a first read of Emma. I'm enjoying the book so far. I find Emma fascinating and amusing, though frustrating at times. And I like Mr. Knightley very much.

That's very similar to how I felt when I was reading it. I'm not sure I found her fascinating though. Actually, I just tended to think of her either as frustrating or not. She is amusing now that I think about it.

I finished the play scene in Mansfield Park.

I came across the following quote in Mansfield Park today. Lady Bertram and Edmund are discussing whether or not Fanny should dine out. Lady Bertram is against it and one of the reasons is that she can't spare Fanny.

Edmund: Suppose you take my father's opinion ma'am.
Lady Bertram: That's well thought of. So I will, Edmund. I will ask Sir Thomas, as soon as he comes in, whether I could do without her.
Edmund: As you please ma'am on that head; but I meant my father's opinion on the propriety of the invitation's being accepted or not.

Sir Thomas agrees that Fanny should go.

Lady Bertram: But can I do without her, Sir Thomas?
Sir Thomas: Indeed I think you may.

I can almost her the tones of voice and imagine the expressions on the men's faces. I found it amusing and funny.

I have finished Mansfield Park, and out of the three Jane Austen books I've read, I'd honestly have to consider it my favorite... which is quite a feat, considering Emma and Pride and Prejudice are both extremely good in their own right! And yet, I think, all in all, I find something more, well, relatable in MP than in the other books.

Anyways, I won't comment too much on this yet (mainly to let others reading this book to finish spoiler-free). Instead, I'll offer a little resource:

Lover's Vows, the play that the folks at Mansfield try to put on. There's a synopsis of that play, as well as notes on how the play relates to the story (and why Edmund is so against it), and the full play itself, too.

I have finished Mansfield Park, and out of the three Jane Austen books I've read, I'd honestly have to consider it my favorite... which is quite a feat, considering Emma and Pride and Prejudice are both extremely good in their own right! And yet, I think, all in all, I find something more, well, relatable in MP than in the other books.

I haven't finished it yet. I'm getting closer though. I think it might become my favorite too replacing Pride and Prejudice. I really like the character of Fanny. I find it more relatable too. I'm at the part where

Spoiler

Henry is trying to win Fanny over and nobody understands why she can't / won't marry him. I had hoped Edmund would be more supportive of her / have seen some of the same behaviors in Henry as Fanny did. Then there is the part of me that wonders if Henry might have actually changed. I still don't think they are right for each other. I think it is in poor taste for him to be so forceful in wooing her.

Thanks for the link to the play. That part of the book is making for sense now. Hardly a suitable topic for a proper household. At least Maria and Henry weren't playing lovers as I had thought. I wouldn't want to act in that play at least not one of the lead female roles.

I finished Mansfield Park. I was surprised by the ending. I was pretty sure

Spoiler

Fanny and Edmund would end up together but I figured it would be because Mary married someone else or refused Edmund. I figured that Henry would move ontosomeone else and prehaps marry. I totally did not see Maria and Henry running off together. I'm glad that Thomas straightened himself out and that Julia and Yates improved. I like how Austen refered to Maria's and Mrs. Norris's living together as their punishment. I'm a bit confused about why Henry ran off with Maria.

All right, now to give my thoughts.

All in all, I think this book is a great portrayal of various aspects of life, of standing up for your values in the face of societal pressure, and of the dangers of romance and bad character. As I mentioned before, I find this book very relatable, even more so than the other Austen novels I've read (which are also relatable, just that this one I feel even more so).

(A final note: one other thing I really liked was how close Fanny was with her older brother, William; I always enjoy seeing close opposite-gender sibling relationships like that.)

Please note that this Special Feature will be closing on Monday, May 28. *nods appreciatively at the dedicated Austen folk*

I'm currently reading Northanger Abbey it is going slowly because I'm reading other books as well.

More about Mansfield Park

I love Jane Austen! I have read several of her books and am attempting to acquire copies of the others so I can read those as well. I also have seen most of the movies.

But, I really wanted to mention a book I just finished reading: Cassandra and Jane. (I don't know if this book has been discussed in previous pages of this thread). It is sort of a biography, but it is a novel. It's a very interesting look at how Jane and her beloved sister lived and interacted. It's very good and I would suggest it to any Jane Austen fans.

Jane Austen is certainly one my favorite authors that I can read again and again. I have recently read The Watsons and Sandition, two unfinished novels (50 pages each). I feel that even though she barely had gotten either story going, she had already laid the premise and characters for what could have been interesting stories.