I Capture the Castle, first edition, some spotting to fore-edge, original cloth, a few small patches of fading, dust-jacket, spine ends and corners chipped, tape repairs to verso, upper panel with chip to foot affecting 2 letters of author's name, a few chips, closed tears and creasing to … I will fill it with words of only one syllable. Cassandra wittily describes life growing up in a crumbling castle, with her father who suffers from crippling writer's block, her glamorous but ineffectual step-mother and her vain but beloved sister Rose. For some reason I especially liked reading about their meals, both before and after the Cottons came along to provide them with better food. Poor Stephen omg. I certainly would not have gathered everything that I did from this at the age of 13 or 14. Was it a bit "consciously" naive? Penguin Books Australia A Penguin Random House Company, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. One of my all time favourites. Unfortunately, that isn't what I experienced. I'm reading it for the first time as an adult, and maybe I would have felt differently about it as a kid, but now I just found it sort of upsetting, and not in a cathartic way. I Capture the Castle, her first novel, was written in the 1940s while she was living in America. by Wyatt Book. i found this book to alternate between delightful and infuriating. By the time the last diary shuts, there have been great changes in the Mortmain household, not the least of which is that Cassandra is deeply, hopelessly, in love. Was it a bit "consciously" naive? Recommended if you like historical coming-of-age fiction. 8,722 reviews. How poor we are since father stopped earning any money. Even the character who spoke those words soon preferred to take them back in favor of the fascinated love he felt towards the beauty of the Mortmains of Godsend Castle. I love. She wrote her first novel, I Capture the Castle, in the 1940s while living in America. – and we have no money at all and we have only barely heard of the twentieth century. Another of my “books about large homes, metaphorical or literal” (see also The Blue Palace) comfort reads. Born Dorothy Gladys Smith in Lancashire, England, Dodie Smith was raised in Manchester (her memoir is titled, “There is only one page left to write on. Also, something you should be aware of, although you will find out pretty soon I believe, is that I suffer from acute logorrhoea, which is a debilitating condition that impels its victim to write a never-ending journal into which is debouched every last possible banal but extremely charming detail of one’s life and that of one’s immediate family, which is, the pulchritudinous Rose, my 21 year old sister, my doughty schoolboy brother, my poor damaged papa who wrote one brilliant book once but has since sunk into a kind of bewilderment, and his nude model youngish wife, the unusual lute-playing nature-communing Topaz whom we love immoderately in spite of her frank farfetchedness, along with various cats and dogs with classically-derived names and a servant boy called Stephen who gauchely is in love with my 17 year old preciousness and whom we do not pay but who contrives to be preternaturally handsome and work for us for free. The reason I'm going to keep it short is because no description could possibly do justice to this quintessentially English coming-of-age story which ranks among the most pleasant surprises I've had, book-wise. Only I think I'll write my book on a computer rather than sitting in the kitchen sink, because it would be so much more comfortable, thank you very much. That's right. Dorothy Gladys 'Dodie' Smith was born in 1896 in Lancashire and she was one of the most successful female dramatists of her generation. Publisher: Penguin. everyone, particularly those with a touch of anglo or gotho-philia. There was a lot I didn't enjoy about this book, but I'll start with the positive. If you assigned a season to this book, which would it be? I'm not exaggerating here -- this book will charm the pants off you, especially if you happen to have two X chromosomes and a bad case of Anglophilia. I smiled upon my first acquaintaince with Miss Cassandra Mortmain, laughed upon further conversation, and felt as if I were there clasping hands with her in the shadows of her crumbling castle near all the way through. To help us recommend your next book, tell us what you enjoy reading. About the Author. I Capture the Castle captures a young woman in that fleeting moment when she understands the world and her place in it. We eat the occasional potato and scrape plaster off the walls. Through six turbulent months of 1934, 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain keeps a journal, filling three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries about her home, a ruined Suffolk castle, and her eccentric and penniless family. Other works include I Capture the Castle, and The Starlight Barking. Dorothy Gladys "Dodie" Smith, born in 1896 in Lancashire, England, was one of the most successful female dramatists of her generation. She wrote Autumn, Crocus, and Dear Octopus, among other plays. Very charming book that I’m very glad I read at last. An absolute classic coming-of-age novel from the 1940s, with an irresistible narrator, which fans of contemporary writers such as Meg Rosoff, Rainbow Rowell or E Lockhart will love. The first half of this was like Jane Austen herself descended from the heavens (godlike) and delivered me, personally, a gift. Refresh and try again. Sign up to our newsletter using your email. When two visiting Americans arrive, all of their lives are turned upside down, and Cassandra experiences her first love. Most people I know encountered it when they were in their teens or younger. She wrote Autumn, Crocus, and Dear Octopus, among other plays. Truly, it will be a sad loss. My name is Cassandra Mortmain, I know it sounds made up but it’s true. I really liked it. While she does 'put away childish things' one by one, she lets us see that adults build their own worlds for themselves, too, no less silly or indulgent than that which she builds for herself. Some people have compared I Capture the Castle to the novels of Jane Austen, and it's just as well-plotted and witty. Books online: I Capture the Castle, 1999, Fishpond.com.au A summary would make it sound slight, trite and predictable, all of which it is, and would not reflect the fact that it's also funny as hell, charismatic, deliciously eccentric, Austenesque and so utterly charmin. I Capture The Castle, the cover read, by Dodie Smith, the author of 101 Dalmatians it declared. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith was the first novel by this British author. It is a coming-of-age tale, if one must categorize it, but it was few and far between that I was reminded of that fact. It is difficult for me to say why I found. It's what would happen if an early-twentieth-century Jane Austen were to grow up in a dilapidated castle and get into financial trouble, and that's all I'm going say about it, except that I want to be Cassandra Mortmain when I grow down. . Originally published in 1949, this delightful novel by the author of the much-loved One Hundred and One Dalmatians, still retains its freshness today. It wraps us up in mingled dreams, fantasies and reality and lets us decide which is truly which, while we watch a family trying to do the same. The Hundred and One Dalmatians was adapted into a 1961 animated film and a 1996 live-action film, both produced by Disney. I Capture the Castle … Dodie Smith, author of 101 Dalmations, wrote this novel in 1948. Although the book itself takes place throughout an entire year, it gives me a distinct feeling of early spring. This is going to be the shortest review I've written on this site in a while. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. She fills three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries. Through six turbulent months of 1934, 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain keeps a journal, filling three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries about her home, a ruined Suffolk castle, and her eccentric and penniless family. "Every time I meet someone who also loves I Capture the Castle, I know we must be kindred spirits." You can watch my full recommendation here -, The descriptions of the castle and the voice were great; I thought I had outgrown this sort of coming-of-age story centered around a wide-eyed, precocious young girl. I first read it as a teenager, but whenever I go back to it I find something new. We eat the occasional potato and scrape plaster off the walls for pudding. No, I did not. I Capture the castle was a disappointment. If you love reading as much as our colleagues, then your summer fun itinerary will most likely include books. So, was it worth all the heartache I was subjected to on GoodReads? “When I read a book, I put in all the imagination I can, so that it is almost like writing the book as well … She wrote Autumn, Crocus, and Dear Octopus, among other plays. Please don't let that suffice as a reason for you to pass this one up. When two visiting Americans arrive, all of their lives are turned upside down, and Cassandra experiences her … Welcome back. I Capture the Castle tells the story of seventeen-year-old Cassandra and her family, who live in not-so-genteel poverty in a ramshackle old English castle. We’d love your help. Dorothy Gladys "Dodie" Smith was an English children's novelist and playwright, known best for the novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians. About the author (2011) Dorothy Gladys 'Dodie' Smith was born in 1896 in Lancashire and she was one of the most successful female dramatists of her generation. Perhaps. I'm glad I finished my reading year of 2014 with this book because this was amazing! March 31st 1998 I was expecting to absolutely adore this and am so sad that I hated it :( This was honestly just SO boring and unnecessarily long and I didn't care for any of the characters. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. But halfway through the book I stopped being able to fully relate to Cassandra. This coming of age novel has been beloved by young adults ever since it was published in 1948. (To be clear, I did read lots of other books in the meantime.) Cassandra, the 17-year-old narrator, lives an eccentric existence in a crumbling castle in … . I think it's the constant mentioning of mist and new beginnings that does it. The descriptions of the castle is just so perfect and enchanting. Buy I Capture The Castle (Vintage Classics) New Ed by Smith, Dodie, Grove, Valerie (ISBN: 9780099460879) from Amazon's Book Store. Now, would you please excuse me while I go read Hemingway and then kill something with my bare hands. A beautiful, deluxe edition of Dodie Smith's beloved novel, I Capture the Castle, featuring a new foreword by New York Times bestselling author Jenny Han, a stunning new cover, and designed endpapers that is perfect for devoted readers and those discovering this timeless story for the first time. It’s written in diary format by Cassandra, our main character. Verified Purchase Taking place in the 1930s, I Capture the Castle is the story of Cassandra Mortmain, the daughter of James Mortmain, an author who once wrote an … In my Vintage edition of ‘I Capture the Castle’ there is an introduction by the excellent Valerie Grove in which she tells of Dodie Smith writing this, her first novel, in California in 1945 in ‘a fever of nostalgia’ for England. I Capture the Castle Mentions in Our Blog 7 Books J.K. Rowling Loves Published by Beth Clark • November 16, 2018 Long before she became the queen of Twitter or the beloved author of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling was (and still is) a voracious reader...a habit she shares with the majority of the world's ultra-successful people. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Even the character who spoke those words soon preferred to take them back in favor of the fascinated love he felt towards the beauty of the Mortmains of Godsend Castle. I Capture the Castle: Author: Dodie Smith: Edition: illustrated, reprint: Publisher: Macmillan, 1999: ISBN: 0312201656, 9780312201654: Length: 343 pages: Subjects Young Adult Fiction. A book for everyone who is young, poor, fed up and yearning for something exciting to happen. I capture the castle by Dodie Smith, September 1996, Virago Pr edition, Paperback in English - New Ed edition Dorothy Gladys Dodie Smith (1895-1990), born in Lancashire, England, was one of the most successful female dramatists of her generation. Their father was abusive and horrible and nobody seemed to care and they were all so superficial! Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published There was also a cutely Pollyannaesque tone to the cheerful way Cassandra would casually make note of all the things they lacked and had sold off, and her appreciation for the little that they did have. I have loved. Did I care? Cassandra's father was once a famous writer, but now he mainly reads detective novels while his family slide into genteel poverty. For some reason I especially liked reading about their meals, both before and after the Cottons came along to provide them with better food. By clicking subscribe, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Books Australia’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. – and we have no money at all and we have only barely heard of the twentieth century. An immediate success, it marked her crossover from playwright to novelist. Remember all the mockery, hating and questioning of my sexuality that accompanied me starting to read this book? I loved the atmosphere, the setting. She was ‘tormented by the book’ and revisions went on for two years as she painstakingly rewrote every line. What is jellied soup, anyway? By the time the last diary shuts, there have been great changes in the Mortmain household, not the least of which is that Cassandra is deeply, h. Through six turbulent months of 1934, 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain keeps a journal, filling three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries about her home, a ruined Suffolk castle, and her eccentric and penniless family. Iread I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith late. Anyone might think I have made all this up out of my own coquettish head! Buy I Capture The Castle by Smith, Dodie (ISBN: 9781782300229) from Amazon's Book Store. All they cared about was money and status and Cassandra was so horrible to everyone! Did I care? The book is an invocation of Gothic passio. This is going to be the shortest review I've written on this site in a while. So painful, in fact, that it took me something like a year or longer to actually finish the blasted book. We have thought of cooking one of our dogs but that would not do. Here she strives, over six turbulent months, to hone her writing skills. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. I Capture the Castle, her first novel, was written in the 1940s while she was living in America. There was also a cutely Pollyannaesque tone to the cheerful way Cassandra would casually make note of all the things they lacked and had sold off, and her appreci. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read I Capture the Castle. I will love.”, “Noble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression.”. The descriptions of the castle and the voice were great; I thought I had outgrown this sort of coming-of-age story centered around a wide-eyed, precocious young girl. Her first novel, I Capture the Castle, was written when she lived in America during the 1940's and marked her crossover debut from playwright to novelist. Start by marking “I Capture the Castle” as Want to Read: Error rating book. I could go on. Dorothy Gladys "Dodie" Smith, born in 1896 in Lancashire, England, was one of the most successful female dramatists of her generation. And I'm not ashamed to admit it. When a girl of 17 could still be all but untouched by sexuality. She wrote Autumn, Crocus, and Dear Octopus, among other plays. Perhaps. Read this book using Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices. Cassandra wittily describes life growing up in a crumbling castle, with her father who suffers from crippling writer's block, her glamorous but ineffectual step-mother and her vain but beloved sister Rose. "I write this sitting in the kitchen sink" is the memorable first line of this enchanting coming-of-age story, told in the form of Cassandra Mortmain's journal. The appeal of the book is that of a time of innocence . The author: Alistair Maclean (1922-1987) was the son of a minister in the Scottish Highlands, and saw active service in the second world war in the Royal … Longer to actually finish the blasted book famous writer, but I 'll start with the positive 101 Dalmations wrote... Narrators I 've ever met Curious Incident of the Originals - Penguin 's very best classics... Finish the blasted book six turbulent months, to hone her writing skills year of 2014 with this book but! A book for everyone who is young, poor, fed up and unrequited first.... 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