"A delicious, compulsively readable novel about young love and its vicissitudes. What fun!"

--Erica Jong, quoted on back cover of book

I agree with Ms. Jong's assessment; during the time that I was reading this book I would sit at work looking forward to the hour when I would be able to pick it up again. Both the characters and the setting are interesting and well-written, and protagonist Cassandra Mortmain is absolutely lovable.

Released on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 at ramson's misc. bookbox in bookbox exchange, bookbox exchange USA.

picked out of the bookbox- thank you!

Wonderful! This book was first published in 1948 but it's timeless. It reads like a Jane Austin novel.
Its the story of the family of a once great writer living in desperate poverty in a wonderful historic property. When some rich young Americans move to the neighborhood and life gets interesting.....

Well, I haven't explained it very well- but if you like Jane Austin you'll like this book.
Highly recommended.

This copy of I Capture the Castle is going to journey around our round robin reading circle. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did- It was a find!

Just received in the mail today. Thanks Ardy! Don't worry about the late delivery - I am, as usual, bogged down in books. :)

I have to give accolades to this book. What a great story! Ardy and schmetterling have already described it very well so I don't have much to add. I think this review from the bn.com website says it best:

Hai Yen ([email protected]), September 3, 2003,
I never wanted it to end!
Cassandra Mortmain is such a charming narrator and envelops the reader so quickly into her own world that you can't tell if you're sitting in the living room or within the walls of the castle. She is self-effacing, funny, and captures adolescence's trials and emotions so accurately. The only thing I didn't like about this novel was that it ended too soon. Cassandra is such a lovable character that I was furious with the second half of the book where her story takes a backseat to that of her sister's. What eventually plays out is much below what I had hoped would happen for her. This book is a classic that still feels fresh and that all girls can connect with; there's also a slight touch of Pride and Prejudice in it. I'd read it again. And literary buffs will enjoy the many allusions to fine English literature scattered throughout the pages.

Received in the mail today. Merry Christmas to me!

Will get started soon. Apparently I have a great read ahead of me!

I have finished this great adventure. A new place and time for me , but really an old place.

The voice of Cassandra is so very strong. I often forgot she was seventeen as her concerns were different of a modern teen.

I enjoyed the view of America and its Americans. I enjoy the ride back through Austen and truly loved living in this castle for a while.

Glad I did not miss this great story of a young woman.

Just got this in the mail and will make it next on my TBR list.

1-8-2004--- Starting this today.

1-12-04----Enjoyed this book about a young girl and her first love. Told in an endearing way as if written in a diary and through the eyes of the main character. Glad to have gotten to read it, would never have found it on my own. Also liked the glimpse of the author---she wrote of a dislike of furs and vegetarianism in this book----knowing her to also be the author of "One Hundred and One Dalmations".

Received this week as part of phillycarol bookring

Arrived today. Erk! I forgot this was part of the bookring and I read it as part of another bookring. Oh well, soon to be off to next in ring.

(I did love this book, and hope that the future readers love it, too.)

Happy to receive this new-to-me, older book in the mail today!
Looking forward to reading it - based on previous journal entries.
(Hi Ardy!)
Thanks, AmberLee17!

Sorry for my delay in moving this bookring.
I needed a taste of summer vacation to get into this book.

What a treat - timeless themes, the feel of a Jane Austen, yet more likeable/readable for me; toward the start a feeling of the original Boxcar Children - my all-time favorite - for Cassandra's upbeat attitude in the midst of poverty, family loyalty, a real joy in living, making the most of challenges; a balance of maturity and realistic adolescence.
Full of life, range of emotions.

Not sure of the meaning of the title - but Cassandra's journals did capture the spirit, the ups and downs of her family's life in the castle.

Sending today to djf1968.

Another book in the mail today from JDT. I clearly forgot this was coming my direction -- and recently bought a copy! I'll pass this one along and post my thoughts on the story when I've read my copy. Thanks for sharing!

This arrived in today's mail. I just finished a book, so I'll start this tonight or tomorrow, depending on how firmly my attention is held by the Olympic telecast tonight. :-)

This was a lovely book, but it left me feeling rather melancholy. I found myself wishing that there had been relationships in the story that weren't fraught with potentially heartbreaking complications or significant, deeper meanings. I realize that this comment may sound a little snarky, but I can't think of any other way to put it. It's not that I didn't like the book - I did. Perhaps I was just in the mood for a lighter tone. At any rate, I'll PM brideofmessiah then send the book out this week.

Just arrived in the mail today. Thanks, Rendiru! I'll journal again once I've read it.

Goodness. I thought I'd journalled after I read it. Read this several years ago as part of a book ring here. I really enjoyed it. Shortly after reading it I chanced upon the movie while lying sick on my aunt-in-law's couch on a family vacation. I recognized the movie nearly immediately only from the book. The book was well-written, and reminded me quite a bit of Cold Comfort Farm. The movie adaptation was also well done, IMO. Thanks to schmetterling for setting it free, and thanks to Ardy for starting the ring, and all the others for keeping it going.

Shortly after reading it I loaned it to my dad to read b/c I thought he'd really enjoy it. I don't think he ever got around to it, and it's made it's way back to me in a box full of books for donation. I plan to release it in the wild soon.