Cassandra is a seventeen year old girl who lives with her family in a decaying castle. With little money Cassandra spends most of her time observing the lives of those around her and capturing the daily life in the castle. With the arrival of new neighbours Cassandra begins a journey of self-discovery that is documentated in her diaries.
I Capture The Castle is an enchanting story of first love, friendship, family and self-discovery. Cassandra is an extremely likeable and generous narrator and her thoughts and observations are provoking, charming and genuine. I love this new edition with an updated cover that perfectly illustrates the book's story. A modern children's classic
This is a lovely book; quite deserving of its place in the hearts of many of its readers and its status as a classic. It does have some slap-worthy characters but is probably the better for that. A very enjoyable read.
This is the second time I have read this book, I think everytime you read it you find a new meaning and something that you can resonate with.
It is beautifully written and such a clever, innocent and brutally honest account of raw ungoverned feelings. You get a real sense of how feelings can awaken within. You begin to see the torment of unrequited love.
I can't begin to describe the agony you feel, the excitement you feel and the love you feel for each character. It is a window into the life of a girl/ woman coming in the world. The hearts she breaks and the people she touches, knowingly and unknowingly. Her perspective is beautifully portrayed.
A wonderful novel!
I Capture the Castle is definitely my favourite book of all time. I first read it when I was twelve and every time I've read it since, I gain something new from it.
It's a quintessential British tale about an eccentric family, and every single sentence is a gem. You can disappear into this book effortlessly - the characters are so intensely loveable. It's both romantic and extraordinary and this is the perfect book for you if you relish the idea of living in a castle, no matter how crumbling it is...
It's an absolute classic and a witty portrayal of 30's life that can't fail to make you smile.
I honestly can't express how wonderful this book is, so you'll just have to read it and see if you can !
Set in the 30's with an impoverished bohemian family at its core and characters that really leap off the page. This is mostly due to the use of first person narrator as its written from Cassandra's perspective but also the wonderful story that emerges through this narrative.
Be captivated by Cassandra and Rose Mortmain like I was and you wont regret it, you will find yourself so absorbed with the book you will be laughing one minute and crying the next.
A wonderful story about growing up, falling in love and finding yourself.
More famous for 101 Dalmatians this Dodie Smith gem needs to be read!
A superb novel about growing up and its hopes and fears. I came to it through the excellent BBC film, but it actually sold over a million when it came out in the early 1950s.
I have probably read Dodie Smith's timeless coming of age story about twenty times by now. Passed down from my grandmother to my mother to me this is a book that spans generations, and will endure as a classic and a favourite for many more to come. Whilst I treasure my battered hand-me down copy, I am always looking for special editions to give as gifts. This beautiful Collector's Library edition is perfect for any special present - be it for a new reader experiencing this wonderful story for the first time or someone (like me) who has read it many times over.
I LOVE THIS BOOK! Poignant coming of age story, narrated by the intriguing Cassandra. Immerse yourself in her world - share the highs and lows of her madcap family. This book never fails to make me laugh out loud especially the 'bear' scene. Truly original - READ IT!(Waterstones Reading Oracle)
I would give this six stars if I could! As soon as I read this it became (and has stayed) my favourite book. Perfect for teenager girls - and any adult who can remember being a teenage girl - this coming of age story is timeless. It is such a witty book, filled with eccentric characters and brilliant lazy English summers and, lets face it, who wouldn't want to live in a castle?! I can't recommend this book highly enough.
In between helping her genius father to write his new novel and sorting out confused romances Cassandra finds time to write her diary, leading us through her eccentric family's everyday life. The perfect book to read on a summer evening.
