I Capture the Castle

Rating:
Summary: A Rediscovered Treasure
Review: I just read I CAPTURE THE CASTLE for the first time and it was definitely one of those "Where has this book been all my life?" reading experiences. It was a true joy. I had read A HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIONS when I was a child and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed this book because that wry, witty writing style is just as present in that "children's" novel. Cassandra Mortmain had such a strong voice and she's now one of my favorite female characters of all time.

Rating:
Summary: Not more thoughtless praise--a truly critical review
Review: As I said, this isn't just happy words doting upon this book. As a critical review:

Reasons I did NOT like this book:

1) I felt almost disappointed in the length. I read the 350 page novel in 4 hours and then had no more text to read and therefore felt very disappointed.

I choose not to list the reasons I enjoyed this book--I've already sworn not to simply praise it. Find out for yourself!

Rating:
Summary: I Capture the Castle has captured my heart.
Review: I cannot think of a book which has made me laugh, cry, daydream, and fight the urge to finish reading instead of savoring each word as long as possible. The book works on so many levels, but I won't bother mentioning them. Mostly, it shows Cassandra developing her writing skills and maturing into a lovely sensible young woman. The descriptions are sometimes so breathtaking that I reread them and just closed my eyes to visualize what this place must be like. While I wish there were a chance that a movie could be made about it, so much would be lost without the words Cassandra writes. This is a book that I will recommend to others; it was as close to perfect as I have found for some time.

Rating:
Summary: Dodie Captured the Castle!
Review: I Capture the Castle, an absolutely delightful story by DodieSmith, also the author of 101 Dalmations, which was popularized byDisney's film adaptations. Dodie was born and raised in England (rather evident from this tale!), but wrote I Capture the Castle in the '40's while living in America. For some reason, ICtC has been out of print for many years. I join many of the literary populace in their cheers of gratefulness for the recent re-printing!

I Capture the Castle is the story of Cassandra Mortmain, a seventeen-year-old aspiring writer, who lives with her family in a rapidly deteriorating castle in the middle of the English countryside. ICtC is her diary, sharing with readers not just a story, but the intimate thoughts and marvelous details recorded by a girl in transition to womanhood.

Uproariously funny, I laughed until tears ran down my cheeks. Cassandra's escapades were certainly WORTH recording! Her comments about the people in her life kept me constantly in stitches. Mr. Mortmain, Cassandra's father, is a one-time-published author; a man who everyone considers to be brilliant, but who does nothing to support his family and goes through life like a zombie. Then there is Topaz, Cassandra's stepmother-- though young enough to be a sister. Topaz is a nude modelist for "great" paintings and is invariably eccentric, down to her midnight romps "communing with nature" out in the country. Rose, Cassandra's elder sister, is a lamentable character; and Thomas, the brother, as sweet as can be. Then there are the love interests: Stephen- the family man-of-all-work, and the Cotton Brothers- a breath of fresh air from America.

But I'd better stop there. I wouldn't want to give the story away! Then again, Dodie created so many wonderful twists and turns, that "giving away the story" would be neigh unto impossible!

If you want something light, humorous, and quick, yet possessing elements of the serious and thoughtful, you are in for a very good time with I Capture the Castle. END

Rating:
Summary: Cassandra is one of the all-time great characters
Review: If you've ever thought it would be cool to live in a castle, this book is a must-read. It's romantic without being at all sentimental, and quite funny to boot. I thought it sagged a little in the middle, but things definitely picked up toward the final quarter. And Cassandra just killed me -- what a fun, bright narrator!

Rating:
Summary: Dodie Captured the Castle!
Review: "I write this sitting in the kitchen sink. That is, my feet are in it; the rest of me is on the draining-board, which I have padded with our dog's blanket and the tea-cozy. I can't say that I'm really comfortable, and there is a depressing smell of carbolic soap, but this is the only part of the kitchen where there is any daylight left. And I have found that sitting in a place where you have never sat before can be inspiriting-- I wrote my very best poem while sitting on the hen-house. Though even that wasn't a very good poem. I have decided my poetry is so bad that I musn't write any more of it."

So opens "I Capture the Castle," an absolutely delightful story by Dodie Smith, who is also the author of "101 Dalmations," popularized by Disney's film adaptations. Dodie was born and raised in England (a fact that is rather evident from this tale!), but wrote "I Capture the Castle" in the '40's while living in America. For some reason, ICtC has been out of print for many years. I join many of the literary populace in their cheers of gratefulness for the recent re-print!

"I Capture the Castle" is the story of Cassandra Mortmain, a seventeen-year-old aspiring writer, who lives with her family in a rapidly deteriorating castle in the middle of the English countryside. ICtC is her diary, sharing with readers not just a STORY, but the intimate thoughts and marvelous details recorded by a girl in transition to womanhood.

Uproariously funny, I laughed until tears ran down my cheeks. Cassandra's escapades were certainly WORTH recording! Her exceedingly truthful comments about the people her life kept me constantly in stiches. Mr. Mortmain, Cassandra's father, is a one-time-published-author; a man who everyone considers quite brilliant, but who does nothing to support his family and goes through life like a zombie. Then there is Topaz, Cassandra's excentric step-mother, though young enough to be a sister. She is a nude modelist and engages in all sorts of interesting romps, including "communining with nature" at midnight, also in the buff! Rose, Cassandra's sister, is a lamentable character, and Thomas, her brother, as sweet as can be. Then there are the love interests: Stephen, family man-of-all-work; and the Cotton Brothers, a breath of fresh air from America.

But I'd better stop there. I wouldn't want to give the story away! Then again, Dodie created so many wonderful twists and turns, that "giving away the story" would be neigh impossible!

If you want something quick, light, and humorous, yet possessing elements of the serious and thoughtful, you are in for a VERY good time with "I Capture the Castle."

Rating:
Summary: I wish I could give it more than 5 stars!
Review: This book is extraordinary! =) I've bought copies for friends, lent it out to people I know, etc. It's just a great book.. One of the best I've read in a *long* time. =) Don't pass this one up!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've EVER read!
Review: I read this book as a teenager in the 60s, and still, on occasion, pick it up for a "change of pace." It never fails to charm and please me. It's a complete "escape" book -- you won't find anything like it on today's best seller lists.

Now, if some publisher would just reprint "The Peaceable Kingdom," I'd be a fulfilled and happy person. I lent my copy to a "friend," and never got it back! Hard lesson learned.

Rating:
Summary: A sweet book with wonderful, quirky characters
Review: This was light reading at it's best. The spunky narrator keeps things moving right along with great characters whom you'll come to love!

Rating:
Summary: A lovely bit of what makes life worth living
Review: When I origionally searched the internet for any traces of "I Capture the Castle," a year ago, none were to be found. Can you imagine my joy when I found it here? My gradmother read "I Capture the Castle" when she was a girl in the 40's. My mother read it when she was a girl in the 60's. I read it as a girl in the 90's. Through three generations, "I capture the Castle" has been--and still is--our favorite book. I am overjoyed to see that it has been brought back to print. It has been long, long overdue.