I Capture the Castle
Registered by worldbooknight on 4/23/2012
7 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by worldbooknight at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, April 22, 2012
Released 12 yrs ago (4/23/2012 UTC) at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This book is a gift. It is one of 1 million which has been given in the UK & Ireland as part of World Book Night 2012 to spread the joy and love of reading. We are glad that you are now part of this great book’s journey, hope that you enjoy reading it and, once you have done so, passing it on to someone else who might enjoy reading it too.
World Book Night 2012 is all about introducing new readers to books and we’d ask that you please share this book with someone who does not read regularly and help inspire in them a love of books. When you pass it on, ask the next reader to record their own thoughts on this book by visiting www.worldbooknight.org and entering the unique identifying number.
World Book Night 2012 is all about introducing new readers to books and we’d ask that you please share this book with someone who does not read regularly and help inspire in them a love of books. When you pass it on, ask the next reader to record their own thoughts on this book by visiting www.worldbooknight.org and entering the unique identifying number.
Journal Entry 2 by smallbluepebble at Ilford, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, April 23, 2012
I loved I Capture the Castle when I first read it over twenty years ago and I'm glad to say Dodie Smith's words have lost none of their magic. I hope you enjoy this story just as much as I did. I would love to hear what you thought of Cassandra and her family. Please leave a note here before giving the book to someone else you think might enjoy it.
Wow! My first 2012 WBN book. Thank you so much smallbluepebble. I will start reading this straight away. Then after reading I will share it with others. I'm so excited to read this!
Editorial Reviews....Amazon.com Review
Seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain wants to become a writer. Trouble is, she's the daughter of a once-famous author with a severe case of writer's block. Her family--beautiful sister Rose, brooding father James, ethereal stepmother Topaz--is barely scraping by in a crumbling English castle they leased when times were good. Now there's very little furniture, hardly any food, and just a few pages of notebook paper left to write on. Bravely making the best of things, Cassandra gets hold of a journal and begins her literary apprenticeship by refusing to face the facts. She writes, "I have just remarked to Rose that our situation is really rather romantic, two girls in this strange and lonely house. She replied that she saw nothing romantic about being shut up in a crumbling ruin surrounded by a sea of mud."
Rose longs for suitors and new tea dresses while Cassandra scorns romance: "I know all about the facts of life. And I don't think much of them." But romantic isolation comes to an end both for the family and for Cassandra's heart when the wealthy, adventurous Cotton family takes over the nearby estate. Cassandra is a witty, pensive, observant heroine, just the right voice for chronicling the perilous cusp of adulthood. Some people have compared I Capture the Castle to the novels of Jane Austen, and it's just as well-plotted and witty. But the Mortmains are more bohemian--as much like the Addams Family as like any of Austen's characters. Dodie Smith, author of 101 Dalmations, wrote this novel in 1948. And though the story is set in the 1930s, it still feels fresh, and well deserves its reputation as a modern classic. --Maria Dolan
Editorial Reviews....Amazon.com Review
Seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain wants to become a writer. Trouble is, she's the daughter of a once-famous author with a severe case of writer's block. Her family--beautiful sister Rose, brooding father James, ethereal stepmother Topaz--is barely scraping by in a crumbling English castle they leased when times were good. Now there's very little furniture, hardly any food, and just a few pages of notebook paper left to write on. Bravely making the best of things, Cassandra gets hold of a journal and begins her literary apprenticeship by refusing to face the facts. She writes, "I have just remarked to Rose that our situation is really rather romantic, two girls in this strange and lonely house. She replied that she saw nothing romantic about being shut up in a crumbling ruin surrounded by a sea of mud."
Rose longs for suitors and new tea dresses while Cassandra scorns romance: "I know all about the facts of life. And I don't think much of them." But romantic isolation comes to an end both for the family and for Cassandra's heart when the wealthy, adventurous Cotton family takes over the nearby estate. Cassandra is a witty, pensive, observant heroine, just the right voice for chronicling the perilous cusp of adulthood. Some people have compared I Capture the Castle to the novels of Jane Austen, and it's just as well-plotted and witty. But the Mortmains are more bohemian--as much like the Addams Family as like any of Austen's characters. Dodie Smith, author of 101 Dalmations, wrote this novel in 1948. And though the story is set in the 1930s, it still feels fresh, and well deserves its reputation as a modern classic. --Maria Dolan
If ever there was a book that inspires you to start writing a journal, this one will be it.. Charismatic 17 year old journal-writing Cassandra Mortmain, and her unique family, live in a ramshackle castle in the English countryside with hardly any furniture, or food, no electricity, leaks in the roof, hardly any towels, having to patch up worn out clothes etc. Yet they are happy and manage their lives around all this, whilst hoping their father will write a second book, (since his first one had been a best seller several years before).
Then one night, a knock on the castle door brings a big change into their lives with some delightful twists and turns.Cassandra is the narrator in this novel and takes us through many emotions. A story of family life, coming of age and first love. Wonderful story!
I have to say the ending leaves you wondering what happens to Cassandra and the other members of her family. I would have loved it if the author had written a sequel to this book. However, I still gave it a 10 star rating.
This book will be the first book in my 2012 WBN Book Box, and I will be taking it to church with me on Sunday where I hope to find a new reader.
Then one night, a knock on the castle door brings a big change into their lives with some delightful twists and turns.Cassandra is the narrator in this novel and takes us through many emotions. A story of family life, coming of age and first love. Wonderful story!
I have to say the ending leaves you wondering what happens to Cassandra and the other members of her family. I would have loved it if the author had written a sequel to this book. However, I still gave it a 10 star rating.
This book will be the first book in my 2012 WBN Book Box, and I will be taking it to church with me on Sunday where I hope to find a new reader.
I took this book to church with me today, and it has now gone to Gelderland with Kathleen. Kathleen asked me "How long do I have to read this book before I should return it?" and I said she has as long as she likes. She may take her time. So I hope she will enjoy it as much as I did.
This is the review of this book as told by Kathleen:
I loved the book. I found it enchanting, but after reading the whole story, the poor girl ended up with no one! it is a pity the story ended with this book. It would have been nice if there was another book, but then if there was a follow up book, perhaps we would all expect so much from it, and maybe it would not be as good as the first one. I really liked it.
I loved the book. I found it enchanting, but after reading the whole story, the poor girl ended up with no one! it is a pity the story ended with this book. It would have been nice if there was another book, but then if there was a follow up book, perhaps we would all expect so much from it, and maybe it would not be as good as the first one. I really liked it.
Kathleen gave me this book back today at church. She is around 86 years old and I don't think she uses a computer, so I just made her journal entry for her from what she told me. I don't have the book now, but I had to "catch" it again first, before I make new release notes next!
Kathleen gave me this book back, and another church friend took it home to read. This friend is Dutch and so English is not her first language. She did read a couple of the 2011 WBN books, last year, from my book box.
De film had ik al eens gezien en ik wilde graag het boek lezen. Een boek is bijna altijd beter dan de film. Dat bleek ook in dit geval. Ik heb het boek met heel veel plezier gelezen. Het verhaal heeft niet dat snelle wat boeken van nu kenmerkt, maar nog dat hele trage met lange beschrijvingen. Ik heb genoten van de beschrijving van het Engelse platteland en van de karakters.
I received this book back from familywoman a couple of weeks ago. I will write a translation of her review here later with some help from my Dutch husband. I know what is said here, but there are a couple of sentences that I do not know how to put into English!
So watch this space for the review translation......
Translation by Google Translate of the Dutch journal entry above. I don't understand what the last but one sentence means:
"I had seen the film before and I wanted to read the book. A book is almost always better than the film. That also appeared in this case. I have read the book with great pleasure. The story does not have that fast what characterizes today's books, but still that very slow with long descriptions. I enjoyed the description of the English countryside and the characters."
So watch this space for the review translation......
Translation by Google Translate of the Dutch journal entry above. I don't understand what the last but one sentence means:
"I had seen the film before and I wanted to read the book. A book is almost always better than the film. That also appeared in this case. I have read the book with great pleasure. The story does not have that fast what characterizes today's books, but still that very slow with long descriptions. I enjoyed the description of the English countryside and the characters."
Time to pass this book on.....
This book is now reserved for bookcrosser, motherof11
This book is going to fellow bookcrosser, motherof11, via her daughter.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did..
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did..
I picked this book up from my daughter today.
Thank you very much, chamonix44! I'm really looking forward to reading it!
Thank you very much, chamonix44! I'm really looking forward to reading it!
What an absolutely beautiful story!
Thank you so much for sharing this with me, chamonix44!
Thank you so much for sharing this with me, chamonix44!
Journal Entry 16 by motherof11 at Parkeerplaats aan voet van de Lemelerberg in Lemele, Overijssel Netherlands on Saturday, January 30, 2021
Released 3 yrs ago (1/30/2021 UTC) at Parkeerplaats aan voet van de Lemelerberg in Lemele, Overijssel Netherlands
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Left this book on a bench at the parking lot by the Lemelerberg.
I found the book on a bench when I was walking with my family and I was shocked. I was just talking about how bad I wanted to read an english book and there it was. Just laying there. I couldn’t believe my eyes and I was really happy. I still have to read it, but when I have I will tell you if I liked the book and leave it somewhere in the woods where I live on another bench for the next person to read it.
