I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith
Published: 1948
Source: Chicago Public Library
Through six turbulent months of 1934, 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain keeps a journal, filling three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries about her home, a ruined Suffolk castle, and her eccentric and penniless family. By the time the last diary shuts, there have been great changes in the Mortmain household, not the least of which is that Cassandra is deeply, hopelessly, in love.
Ok so I’m basically failing at our self made 2016 TBR Challenge. But if I’m going down without reading those 10 books, at least I picked up I Capture the Castle. This was just a delightful read. I almost felt like I was a kid meeting Anne Shirley for the first time again. Or Emily Starr and the letter bills that she filled with her writings. So if you enjoy either of those LM Montgomery heroines you should definitely pick up I Capture the Castle.
Yes, Cassandra’s family is kind of ridiculous, but they have a lot of charm. I kind of wanted to poke her father and hug her stepmother – but I still enjoyed them all! Maybe I didn’t love how things played out between Cassandra and her sister, though that could be simply because my sister is my favorite and I couldn’t do those things! This was a short, sweet and sometimes silly read. Definitely one I needed this year. If you need a book to put a smile on your face leading into November I definitely recommend this one. I just spotted Primary Colors on my bookshelf – now more than 10 years waiting to be read. Maybe that will have to be my next challenge attempt for a swing in the opposite direction…
Gun In Act One 
I totally get your comparison to Anne Shirley. I felt the same way too. Alas, the actual details of the novel have faded dramatically over the past few years since I read it. Still, yes, it is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I don’t think its a book that the details will stay strong as Eva says below too – but that’s ok. Definitely a happy read that I needed this fall!
You know what? Whatever, if you don’t cross all your books off the challenge list. You crossed this one off and that’s one less than you had before.
I read this a long time ago. I don’t remember tons about it, except the warm fuzzy feeling you only get from certain books.
Thanks friend! And yes – the fuzzy feeling I took away was good enough for me.
I am your favorite!
Obv. Of course you are. XO
Yayyyyyyy! I’m so glad you read and liked this — it’s such a dear of a book, and I am endlessly grateful to JK Rowling for mentioning it when she did. Apparently that was all it took to get it back in print and back in the rotation of beloved classics. Ah to have that kind of power. 😀
Whoa I don’t think I knew that detail! That is super cool!
I’ve always wanted to try this one! I don’t generally go for classics, but pfft, I will definitely give this one a go someday soon. 😀 I’m glad you really liked it!
No dragons – but you definitely should try it! Short and sweet.
This sounds really fun. I have to research more but I also wonder if it was an influence for A Brief History of Montmaray–I feel like it must have been when the two sound so similar.
Hmm. That I don’t know but this was definitely a fun read!