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Welcome to the May 2012 Reading Circle for I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith It is assumed that you have read the book before reading posts in this thread, as the discussion might give away crucial points, and the continuous use of spoiler tags might hinder fluent reading of posts. I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith Synopsis (from fantastic fiction): This is the journal of Cassandra Mortmain; an extraordinary account of life with her extraordinary family. First, there is her eccentric father. Then there is her sister, Rose - beautiful, vain and bored - and her stepmother, Topaz, an artist's model who likes to commune with nature. Finally, there is Stephen, dazzlingly handsome and hopelessly in love with Cassandra. In the cold and crumbling castle which is their home, Cassandra records events with characteristic honesty, as she tries to come to terms with her own feelings. The result is both marvellously funny and genuinely moving. Some basic questions to consider: 1. Which story was your favourite, and why? 2. Who was your favourite character (from one story or from each story), and why? 3. Was there a particular part that you enjoyed or disliked more than the rest? 4. Was this the first book you've read in this genre, or by this author? Has it encouraged you to read more? 5. Were there any parts or ideas you struggled with? 6. How did you find the experience of reading a collection of short stories? Were you able to engage with the characters in the same way? 7. Overall, did you find it an enjoyable experience? I am looking forward to reading it with you all, happy reading