I Capture the Castle (Join this Ring!)
12 journalers for this copy...
This one was sugggested to me by two people, including bookcrosser luthien1121. So I picked it up from Powells and will start on it shortly. I hope that I am in for a "pleasant suprise" to quote one of the recommenders.
What now? It's being turned into a movie, with that ET kid? Oh well, so it goes.
What now? It's being turned into a movie, with that ET kid? Oh well, so it goes.
I'm half way through....yes, it's a good book. Dense in description, but you can handle it! I'm whizzing through because I want to go see the movie with a friend.
I have so many questions at this point? Is Father writing for real?! Who will it be Neil, Simon, or Stephen--that she falls for and falls in return? I have my hopes, and will keep going to find out if they are fulfilled!
This is a BOOKRING! You don't want to miss this fun! Here are the participants in my US only ring....
1. ellymae58
2. piper1
3. pchemphd
4. oldreader
5. anitanovel
6. sweetsangria
7. pamelajane
8. jas330 <---has had to back out of ring, send on to ruby. thanks
9. therubycanary
10. Krin511
11. flashgirl
12. hbrogan
13. kymberlie
14. ProfPotts
15. fly46
back to me....
I have so many questions at this point? Is Father writing for real?! Who will it be Neil, Simon, or Stephen--that she falls for and falls in return? I have my hopes, and will keep going to find out if they are fulfilled!
This is a BOOKRING! You don't want to miss this fun! Here are the participants in my US only ring....
1. ellymae58
2. piper1
3. pchemphd
4. oldreader
5. anitanovel
6. sweetsangria
7. pamelajane
8. jas330 <---has had to back out of ring, send on to ruby. thanks
9. therubycanary
10. Krin511
11. flashgirl
12. hbrogan
13. kymberlie
14. ProfPotts
15. fly46
back to me....
Designed to spur your creativity, and spawn some truly interesting journal entries…here they are…Questions for the readers of I Capture The Castle
Very early in the story (p. 5) Cassandra writes that her father is “very pathetic.” Do you feel that this impression remains through the book? If not, how does it change as she changes? Do you think he is “pathetic”?
A series of rebuffs occur between the Cotton boys, and the girls, did they seem rational, or irrational to you? How do they help or hinder the story?
Did you want to dip any of the characters in chocolate and eat them up? Did you want to through anyone off a castle wall? Did the treatment or behavior of anyone make your heart sink?
Cassandra uses “Miss Blossom” to say things that she otherwise couldn’t to Rose. Have you ever used such a technique? If so, what were you saying?
The Mortmains are scrapping by, so they resort to some creative ways to entertain themselves, have you ever had to do something similar? How did you feel when things got better?
There are many comical scenes in this tale, which one was your favorite?
Have you seen the movie? How do you compare it?
Cassandra is writing in her journals as a way to “capture” the castle. Do you believe that an event can be captured in re-telling it, or is the act of experiencing it enough?
Very early in the story (p. 5) Cassandra writes that her father is “very pathetic.” Do you feel that this impression remains through the book? If not, how does it change as she changes? Do you think he is “pathetic”?
A series of rebuffs occur between the Cotton boys, and the girls, did they seem rational, or irrational to you? How do they help or hinder the story?
Did you want to dip any of the characters in chocolate and eat them up? Did you want to through anyone off a castle wall? Did the treatment or behavior of anyone make your heart sink?
Cassandra uses “Miss Blossom” to say things that she otherwise couldn’t to Rose. Have you ever used such a technique? If so, what were you saying?
The Mortmains are scrapping by, so they resort to some creative ways to entertain themselves, have you ever had to do something similar? How did you feel when things got better?
There are many comical scenes in this tale, which one was your favorite?
Have you seen the movie? How do you compare it?
Cassandra is writing in her journals as a way to “capture” the castle. Do you believe that an event can be captured in re-telling it, or is the act of experiencing it enough?
Journal Entry 4 by CrazyPooka at -- By Hand Or Post, Ray/Ring, RABCK in Portland, Oregon USA on Wednesday, August 27, 2003
Release planned for Friday, August 29, 2003 at BookRing/Ray: mailed to fellow bookcrosser in Portland, Oregon USA.
Mailed to the first player in this ring...Ellymae58 of Sandiaego CA. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!
Mailed to the first player in this ring...Ellymae58 of Sandiaego CA. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!
This book arrived today in the most coolest, most colorful-est bubble mailer I have ever seen! If my cam was working, I'd take a picture and post it here! Thanks Beth, for brightening up my mailbox!!
I will read this ASAP. I received one other bookray title today as well. :)
I will read this ASAP. I received one other bookray title today as well. :)
First, I apologize for anyone that has liked or loved this book. I was hoping I would read through it and love it too. But all I can say is..I'm BOOOORRREEEDDD! I feel like I've been reading this book forever, and I'm ....ack!..only on page 36! Since I really don't think I'm going to get through this, I don't see any reason to keep it any longer. I will mail it off to the next recipient on Tuesday.
Thanks for sharing your book with me, CrazyPooka. Maybe I will like the movie instead....
Thanks for sharing your book with me, CrazyPooka. Maybe I will like the movie instead....
Received this book over the weekend. I'm almost finished with another ring book. Will start Castle within 1-2 days. It looks good.
Thanks for the cute bookmark, ellymae58, I love it when there's unexpected surprises in the package. Thanks!!!!!
Thanks for the cute bookmark, ellymae58, I love it when there's unexpected surprises in the package. Thanks!!!!!
I gave this book my best shot. I made it to page 124, but I can't seem to get through the rest. I'm sorry. I know alot of people have really enjoyed this book, but I just want to smack the characters very, very hard. They're living in poverty with not much to eat, but not a one of them will get off their butts and get a job. Maybe it gets better further along, but I can't wait that long.
Thanks, CrazyPooka for letting me have a shot at this book. But I'll pass it along to the next person on the ring. Maybe they'll enjoy it more.
Thanks, CrazyPooka for letting me have a shot at this book. But I'll pass it along to the next person on the ring. Maybe they'll enjoy it more.
Mailing to pchemphd in Flordia today. Enjoy.....
I got stuck half-way through. This book just was not my cup of tea. I'm sending it back out on it's journey after a long delay. (Sorry about that, I kept thinking that I would somehow get interested.) Thanks for your patience, and the book will now start moving again!
just arrived,TBR
This was a surprise to me.Did not realize that it was written in the 40s.Held my interest throughout.Might even see the movie.There was a lot about the writing style that says a lot about the period in which it was written.Much simpler times then.
January 16, 2004-this book was "caught" at the post office! I cannot wait to read it--the first few pages are very promising.
Status: I am about 75% finished and loving this book! I have contacted BXer Sweetsangria and gained her address. I will be working out of town for the next 2 weeks so worse case scenario is that this book will be journaled/ mailed to Sweetsangria on February 6th. Between now and then I will continue to enjoy this book and look for the right combination of time/opportunity to mail this book on. CrazyPooka, thank you so much for starting this ray! This book is exactly what I need right now.
The charactors in this book made me think of the charactors in that HBO series Sex in the City: (Cassandra=Carrie, Rose=Charlotte, Topaz=Samantha and Mrs. Cotton=Miranda). The book was written in the 1940's and the HBO series is current; the theme of a group of woman all in hungry pursuit of men of wealth, charisma and fame is the same. The entire book is written from the endearing perspective of 17 year old Cassandra. I really appreciate how the perspective sharpened as Cassandra matured from a dreamy girl to a young woman. I attribute a lot of the lengthy descriptions and flowery languange that frustrated/bothered/bored other journal contributors to the self indulgent perspective of the dreamy Cassandra. I was pulled along through the story as Cassandra was a charactor I wanted to see through to the end. I enjoyed the book and went out to get two copies as gifts. This book will be mailed the week of February 2, 2004 to the next BXer on the list.
yay! this came in the mail today. I will try to find some time to read this quickly. Thanks Beth for organizing this!
Well, I enjoyed this book, but it didn't go in the direction I was hoping for. I was so surprised with the path that Rose ended up taking, and I didn't care too much for the end. I've decided to answer a couple of the questions that are posted in the back of the book:"did you want to dip any of the characters in chocolate and eat them up?"
- I definately wanted to dip Stephen in chocolate. He was sweet and devoted to Cassandra. I kept waiting for her to fall in love with him. I thought from the beginning that he was the one on the cover kissing her.
"Did you want to throw anyone off the castle wall?"
-There were times I disliked both Rose and the father.I couldn't stand Mrs. Fox-Cotton. I wanted to throw her off the castle wall.
I will pass this onto PamelaJane this week.
I just received this from Sweetsangria. I came to read the journal entries right away to see what others thought of the book. Expecting to be one of the ones who was bored from the start, I began reading it and to my utter surprise, was captivated by the warmth and charm of the primary character! I love the way she says certain things, like when referring to her father's unsociable behavior she says: ". . . it was then that he took a forty year's lease of the castle, which is an admirable place to be unsociable in." I think this has the potential to become one of my favorite books.
Will spend some quality time reading this one over the weekend.
It is finished. Perhaps the best book I have ever read; where do I go from here?
It took me a while to read this book because I found myself savoring every word and not wanting to finish it too quickly. I even read the questions meant for a book group discussion guide but I can't bring myself to attempt to answer them. I want the story to simply "settle over me" without fuss or artificial contemplation.
I would have loved to have been Cassandra in a previous life.
Yes, I will probably watch the movie; if only to immerse myself in the glorious afterglow of the story a bit longer - Hoping upon hope that the movie does the book the justice it so deserves.
It took me a while to read this book because I found myself savoring every word and not wanting to finish it too quickly. I even read the questions meant for a book group discussion guide but I can't bring myself to attempt to answer them. I want the story to simply "settle over me" without fuss or artificial contemplation.
I would have loved to have been Cassandra in a previous life.
Yes, I will probably watch the movie; if only to immerse myself in the glorious afterglow of the story a bit longer - Hoping upon hope that the movie does the book the justice it so deserves.
I know nothing about this book and thank bookcrossing once again for introducing me to something I never would have picked up on my own.
Even though I try to stager my bookrings, I've recieved four this week and will do my best to keep them moving quickly.
Even though I try to stager my bookrings, I've recieved four this week and will do my best to keep them moving quickly.
Just to check in. After not receiving any bookrings for months I got five at once, and have just started this one. It feels like I will be done with it very soon.
To answer the first question about if the father seems ridiculous, I think all the characters so far are absurd. People who lived with a moderate amount of success and then couldn't figure out to live like normal people afterwards. The difference between that period and now is that I assume these characters couldn't just go to the nearest retail outlet, fast food store, or office that needs a secretary and pick up a quick job.
To answer the first question about if the father seems ridiculous, I think all the characters so far are absurd. People who lived with a moderate amount of success and then couldn't figure out to live like normal people afterwards. The difference between that period and now is that I assume these characters couldn't just go to the nearest retail outlet, fast food store, or office that needs a secretary and pick up a quick job.
I'm about half-way through and trying to decide to keep reading or not. I just re-read the journal entries and think I will hold on for a little longer. This type of story just doesn't hold much interest for me. As to Stephen, I don't want to dip him in chocolate, I want to build him a padded place to fall when he throws himself off the castle realizing that Cassandra will never love him. Poor thing.
I just find the characters trite, but that may be because it is written from the perspective of a budding seventeen year-old. I think the reason the author used this format was to keep the book only at the perspective of Cassandra. Also, since she wrote plays before this, she was also used to writing from inside people's heads.
update 6/9 -After re-reading the instructions and realizing I've had this book well beyond the time limit, I gave up and mailed it.
I just find the characters trite, but that may be because it is written from the perspective of a budding seventeen year-old. I think the reason the author used this format was to keep the book only at the perspective of Cassandra. Also, since she wrote plays before this, she was also used to writing from inside people's heads.
update 6/9 -After re-reading the instructions and realizing I've had this book well beyond the time limit, I gave up and mailed it.
Just finished the book a few minutes ago during lunch. I enjoyed Cassandra's observations about herself, her family, and the Cottons. I especially liked the scene when she realizes that she doesn't need "Miss Blossom" any more.
I am now waiting for HBrogan's address - flashgirl asked to be passed over.
I am now waiting for HBrogan's address - flashgirl asked to be passed over.
Mailed yesterday to Hbrogan!
Received yesterday. I've started reading it, and I hope I can get it finished within the three week limit. So far (about one chapter in) I like it, so I don't anticipate it taking too long!
I thought this was a fabulous book, and I can't believe that I'd never heard of it before. It seems like the sort of book that schools should have kids read, and yet it's much more entertaining than most of the books I had to read in school.
I was surprised (and even a little annoyed) at how most of the characters treated Cassandra. Especially Simon and Neil seemed to always be viewing her as a little girl even though she's 17! Maybe it's just the difference in time, but I thought women were to supposed to mature earlier in those days than they do now. Then again, I suppose that one of the major themes of the story is how Cassandra "grows up" over those few months.
I'm looking forward to seeing what the movie did with this material!
I was surprised (and even a little annoyed) at how most of the characters treated Cassandra. Especially Simon and Neil seemed to always be viewing her as a little girl even though she's 17! Maybe it's just the difference in time, but I thought women were to supposed to mature earlier in those days than they do now. Then again, I suppose that one of the major themes of the story is how Cassandra "grows up" over those few months.
I'm looking forward to seeing what the movie did with this material!
I received this recently but forgot to journal it. Oops! Going on my to be read pile.
