zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on May 21, 2008 20:30:18 GMT -5
Hi all. I want to apologize for being the worst discussion leader ever. I'm working on a huge program at work and on Monday things got completely insane. I've been working all day and all evenings since then, and don't see it letting up for at least a week and a half. I haven't had time to pick up a single book, or read farther in M.P. I will try to catch up over the weekend, and hopefully at least be able to post some more of the questions I had ready. I'm so sorry.
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Post by Carma on May 22, 2008 9:33:38 GMT -5
Thats ok zelda, I think most of us are running a bit late.. I haven't really started the new section yet.. :s I think Crawford is in love with Fanny, and I'm reading it for the first time.. and I also liked the way Sir Thomas acts towards Fanny, he seems to be a good man.. i guess... Funny quote from Mrs. Norris to Fanny: "The nonsense & folly of people's stepping out of their rank and trying to appear above themselves, makes me think it right to give you a hind, Fanny, now that you are going into company without any of us..." (p173). My response: take your own advice Mrs. Norris! [/font][/color][/quote] haha, yes, that exactly the part I meant! Mrs. Norris is just such a weird character.. you never really know what she's going to do next... edited because i can't seem to spell...
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on May 23, 2008 11:26:11 GMT -5
I just finished Section III. I guess I'm liking it better but I'm still not pulled into the story like I feel I should be. Fanny hasn't redeemed herself much in my eyes - I still find her a poor heroine. But I do find myself wanting things to work out for her so I guess that's something.
I'm so glad that we are more able to talk about things than they were back then. I would hate to have to keep all of my feelings to myself like Fanny does. And to have to think of propriety in every conversation. I know we have our own societal norms to keep up, but things must be easier now - especially for women.
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Post by Lucky on May 23, 2008 14:45:42 GMT -5
I'm so glad that we are more able to talk about things than they were back then. I would hate to have to keep all of my feelings to myself like Fanny does. And to have to think of propriety in every conversation. I know we have our own societal norms to keep up, but things must be easier now - especially for women. Totally agree.. that's exactly what I'm thinking about.
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Lu
Administrator
Posts: 5,469
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Post by Lu on May 25, 2008 5:25:33 GMT -5
In Chapter 2 (of Volume II) Austen states very clearly that Mr. Yates has a thing for Julia. My only question would be, where did that come from? Until Austen actually wrote that, I wouldn't have even suspected the two of them paying any attention to one another. I think it could've been more interesting to see how that romance started, even if it's just through Fanny's observations (since she's the main character). It just seemed very random that Julia and Yates were starting to like each other. [/font][/color][/quote] I wouldn't suspect it either, it would be interesting to see how it started. Maybe something will happen later...I've read Mansfield Park before but I can't remember about it. Is Crawford actually in love with Fanny? I didn't think so - I thought it was still a game to him, but I think you both have read this before so I guess he probably is. I agree that it is Fanny's disinterest that is causing him to actually fall in love with her. If she had reciprocated, he probably would have just written her off. I agree, the fact she hadn't reciprocated really made the difference. I'm so glad that we are more able to talk about things than they were back then. I would hate to have to keep all of my feelings to myself like Fanny does. And to have to think of propriety in every conversation. I know we have our own societal norms to keep up, but things must be easier now - especially for women. You're right Michelle. It's sad that Fanny hasn't anybody to talk to, except her brother William (..even if I'm not sure he knows about her feelings for Edmund) but he's not always there with her. That reminds me a bit of Anne Elliot. I finished section 3 just a couple of days ago. I really like this quote from Fanny to Edmund (almost at the end of section 3): “I should have thought,” said Fanny, after a pause of recollection and exertion, “that every woman must have felt the possibility of a man’s not being approved, not being loved by some one of her sex at least, let him be ever so generally agreeable. Let him have all the perfections in the world, I think it ought not to be set down as certain that a man must be acceptable to every woman he may happen to like himself.I totally agree with Fanny and I think other Austen's heroines, such as Elizabeth Bennet, would agree as well
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Lu
Administrator
Posts: 5,469
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Post by Lu on May 31, 2008 3:41:55 GMT -5
What dou you guys think of the conversation between Miss Crawford and Fanny (chapter 36), before they parted? I find it interesting and I don't think Mary chose the right words to persuade Fanny to marry her brother (if that was what she meant to do), saying things like "that very few young ladies have any affections worth caring for" to defend him.
"Had Fanny accepted Mr. Crawford this could not have happened.“ (chapter 47) Do you agree with Mrs. Norris? If Fanny had accepted Mr. Crawford, wouldn't he run away with Maria?
I didn't pay much attention to the character of Susan last time I read Manfield Park, but this time I felt her like a sort of missed Austen's heroine and I'd have liked to hear more about her life at Mansfield.
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Post by Carma on May 31, 2008 13:14:26 GMT -5
(I'm sooo far behind, I'll read some tonight.. and maybe next week.. college is killing me..)
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on May 31, 2008 19:51:11 GMT -5
I just finished. The whole novel I felt like nothing happened and then all of the action was packed into the last couple chapters. I felt like maybe that could have been balanced more. I also thought it all happened out of the blue. Who would have guessed that Crawford and Maria would run off and Julia and Mr. Yates. I think maybe that could have been developed more.
I'm glad for Fanny and Edmund (even though marrying my cousin esp. one that was raised more like my brother still seems wrong to me) but I don't feel that strongly about it. It seems that the lesson of the novel is to hang on to unrealistic hopes and be a good person and all of your dreams will come true. I think people need to take action to get what they want in life. It's kind of why I didn't like Elinor in Sense and Sensibility.
Def my least favorite Austen so far. All I have left is Northanger Abbey.
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Post by Carma on Jun 2, 2008 9:28:20 GMT -5
Ok, since I'm a bit behind I might be jumping back a bit. but after the marriage proposal by Henry Crawford, I think Mrs. Norris was really jealous that her niece got a better offer than she ever had...
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Lu
Administrator
Posts: 5,469
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Post by Lu on Jun 2, 2008 15:36:16 GMT -5
haha, you're right. I think Mrs. Norris was also jealous when Fanny was going to go to Portsmouth and Lady Bertram didn't want her to leave, saying that she was useful at Mansfield Park, her answer to Mrs. Norris is great: "I dare say you are very right; but I am sure I shall miss her very much.”
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Jun 2, 2008 19:52:54 GMT -5
I haven't finished reading this and I'm not sure if I'm going to, especially since I've already read it. I just can't make up my mind about which Austen is my favourite. MP has one of my favourite stories, but I really don't like Fanny. I like Elizabeth and Elinor the most of all the heroines, despite how different they are.
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Isa
Administrator
Posts: 6,995
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Post by Isa on Jun 3, 2008 6:07:14 GMT -5
Sorry I haven't been around for this discussion, but I was wondering: have any of you guys seen the Mansfield Park movie (the one with Frances O'Connor)? I thought it was interesting how the writer/director made the character of Fanny more appealing by meshing her personality with that of Jane Austen. Any thoughts on that?
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Lu
Administrator
Posts: 5,469
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Post by Lu on Jun 5, 2008 15:36:08 GMT -5
I haven't seen that movie yet.
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Post by Carma on Jun 11, 2008 11:55:44 GMT -5
haven't seen that movie... If I were to cast for that movie, I'd choose someone handsome for edmund and someone short for henry crawford.. anyway, i finished it and I didn't really like edmund and fanny together, that was just toow eird. I did like that they got rid of Mrs Norris! haha, so mary is getting her punishment I guess.. I liked this book though, I could really relate to fanny, not always, but a lot. I know what it's to turn down a guy and they keep 'following' you.. blah
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Post by Lucky on Jun 13, 2008 10:49:44 GMT -5
anyway, i finished it and I didn't really like edmund and fanny together, that was just toow eird. Yes.. I have the same opinion about this thing - Fanny and Edmund together. I have strange feeling about that.
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