Janet
19th June 2006, 21:03
I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith
I've read this book as it's the July choice for my ‘bookworms’ group.
It tells the story of seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain and her unconventional family, who live in a run-down old English castle. Although they ‘rent’ the property, the reality is that they haven’t actually paid any rent for years.
Cassandra's eccentric father is a writer whose first book was a critically acclaimed best-seller, but he has since suffered from writers block, and spends most of his time locked in one of the castle towers reading.
Her elder sister, Rose is very beautiful but is vain and bored. She dreams of marrying a rich man. Cassandra and Rose have a bohemian step-mother Topaz, an artist's mode who likes to commune with nature. They also live with their brother Thomas, and Stephen who has stayed with them after his mother died and is like part of the family.
Their landlord dies, and two American relatives of his take over the main house and, after a shaky start, form relationships with the Mortmain family. Cassandra records the events of family life in her notebooks, and also falls in love.
Strictly speaking this is a book for teenagers.
I have to say, I found it dull. The edition I read (ISBN 0099439743) had 416 page, and it wasn’t until 296 that something interesting happened! I was also disappointed with the end.
I try not to read Amazon’s reviews until after I’ve read a book. I find I’m in the minority, because it got 5 stars! :lol:
I’d only give it 3/10!
I've read this book as it's the July choice for my ‘bookworms’ group.
It tells the story of seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain and her unconventional family, who live in a run-down old English castle. Although they ‘rent’ the property, the reality is that they haven’t actually paid any rent for years.
Cassandra's eccentric father is a writer whose first book was a critically acclaimed best-seller, but he has since suffered from writers block, and spends most of his time locked in one of the castle towers reading.
Her elder sister, Rose is very beautiful but is vain and bored. She dreams of marrying a rich man. Cassandra and Rose have a bohemian step-mother Topaz, an artist's mode who likes to commune with nature. They also live with their brother Thomas, and Stephen who has stayed with them after his mother died and is like part of the family.
Their landlord dies, and two American relatives of his take over the main house and, after a shaky start, form relationships with the Mortmain family. Cassandra records the events of family life in her notebooks, and also falls in love.
Strictly speaking this is a book for teenagers.
I have to say, I found it dull. The edition I read (ISBN 0099439743) had 416 page, and it wasn’t until 296 that something interesting happened! I was also disappointed with the end.
I try not to read Amazon’s reviews until after I’ve read a book. I find I’m in the minority, because it got 5 stars! :lol:
I’d only give it 3/10!