I Capture the Castle
10 journalers for this copy...
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
Journal Entry
2 by
AM10000 at
A Bookcrosser in A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, February 15, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (2/15/2008 UTC) at A Bookcrosser in A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sent today as part of an ALS. Enjoy! :)
Yay! It's here!
I believe I'm going to read this one very soon.
Thank you AM10000!
--------------------------------------
Reserved for JennyC1230
Rescue those books challenge 2009
I started reading this book a few months ago, I actually started it at least three times, and couldn't get past the first page. When I finally decided that I was going to really make an effort, since it had wonderful reviews, I was able to get halfway through it, the problem was, I wasn't able to dedicate more than a half an hour in a row to it. I was enjoying it enough to decide to put it aside, until I could dedicate some serious reading time to it.
I am grateful I did, it really is a wonderful book, the main character is real and likeable, the father's "situation" is intriguing, and the style is very pleasant. I wish I had had the opportunity to read this in a literature class, where I could explore it in more detail, since I am sure there is a lot to be said about it.
I promised it to JennyC1230 and I already have her address, I'll be sending it this week. Enjoy!
Journal Entry
5 by
blackteiwaz at
A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (12/23/2009 UTC) at A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent today to the next reader! Enjoy! :)
I received this in the mail today. Thank you for remembering to send it to me! I appreciate your generosity. Thank you also for the postcard and magnet. It looks like an interesting book!
Information on the author:
Dodie Smith (1896-1990)
I tried reading this book and I just couldn't get into it for some reason. I read about 20 pages, but couldn't make it through.
I am going to save this for a bookbox.
Journal Entry
8 by
JennyC1230 at
Woodstock, Georgia USA on Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Journal Entry
9 by
heartthumper at
Hutchinson, Kansas USA on Friday, November 2, 2012
I obviously pulled this out of the ABC book box and neglected to register it. I apologize. Looks like it's been on my shelf for over two years. After a couple false starts, I just finished it. It was hard to get into, but in the end I enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing.
Journal Entry
10 by
heartthumper at
-- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, November 2, 2012
Released 11 yrs ago (11/2/2012 UTC) at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Merry Christmas, jax987654321! Just finished, sending it with an ornament for the ornament exchange. Hope you have a great Christmas!
Journal Entry
11 by
jax987654321 at
Ealing, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, November 9, 2012
Was kindly sent this as an addition to the christmas decoration exchange. Thank you!
Journal Entry
12 by
jax987654321 at
Ealing, Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
I read this because it is number 82 on the BBC top 200 (2003). I feel it deserves its place, although I did find it a slow burner at the beginning, however by the end I couldn't put it down. It would make a fantastic film, if this hasn't already been done. Thanks for sharing this and I am very glad to have read it. Another book crosser has already asked for this, so this will be sent out to them fairly quickly.
I always look at other journal entries after reading the book and journalling it myself. Interesting that other readers had the same issue as me, in that it is a bit of a slow burner!
Journal Entry
13 by
jax987654321 at
Ealing, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, January 21, 2013
Released 11 yrs ago (1/21/2013 UTC) at Ealing, Greater London United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
posted this morning. I hope it arrives as I've just realised I used an old online postage stamp.
Journal Entry
14 by
greenbadger at
St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Friday, January 25, 2013
Received as a book swap. Thank you very much, jax987654321! I am looking forward to reading this.
Journal Entry
15 by
greenbadger at
St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Thursday, February 27, 2014
Wonderful. The delightful story, told through the diary of the teenaged Cassandra Mortmain, living in a castle with no income, with her father who once wrote a brilliant book, her eccentric step-mother, her romantic sister and the son of their housekeeper. When two Americans come to live nearby, one of whom has inherited the castle, their lives are changed forever. Funny, beautiful and moving.
Journal Entry
16 by
greenbadger at
St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, June 21, 2014
Released 9 yrs ago (6/21/2014 UTC) at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Put into the 'books beginning with I' bookring. I hope the next reader enjoys it as much as I did.
Journal Entry
17 by
Billbooks at
Malvern East, Victoria Australia on Thursday, July 3, 2014
Have kept this book from the 'I' bookring.
Journal Entry
18 by
Billbooks at
Green Sage Cafe in Templestowe, Victoria Australia on Friday, February 13, 2015
Released 9 yrs ago (2/14/2015 UTC) at Green Sage Cafe in Templestowe, Victoria Australia
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Being released as part of the great cull of 2015 where 10 books were randomly selected from the TBR to be moved on. Being released at the Green Sage Cafe
Journal Entry
19 by
marmee463 at
Templestowe, Victoria Australia on Saturday, February 14, 2015
This little book was released in 2008 in California, it has travelled far before finally reaching Templestowe, where it will rest awhile before setting out again. As the main character is Cassandra, and I have a Cassandra in my life, I shall place it on to Mt TBR.
Journal Entry
20 by
marmee463 at
Templestowe, Victoria Australia on Saturday, March 21, 2015
This is a quaint, if somewhat dated story. Readable. I will send it on its way again shortly.
Journal Entry
21 by
marmee463 at
Deli 1884 in Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Friday, May 22, 2015
Released 8 yrs ago (5/23/2015 UTC) at Deli 1884 in Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Will release this at the meet-up today.
To the finder of this book -
Please let me know it is in safe hands by journalling that you have caught it, you are under no obligation to read it and Bookcrossing is completely anonymous.
Journal Entry
22 by
Billbooks at
Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Saturday, July 4, 2015
Saw this on a friend's wishlist so have snaffled it
Journal Entry
23 by
Billbooks at
Malvern East, Victoria Australia on Sunday, July 12, 2015
Released 8 yrs ago (7/12/2015 UTC) at Malvern East, Victoria Australia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Returning back to the USA after a world trip. Going to Colledctorkerri as a thank you for all her work on bookcrossing.
Journal Entry
24 by
collectorkerri at
Springfield, Illinois USA on Thursday, July 23, 2015
Received today with a cute clip-on koala wearing an "I Love Australia" jacket. Thanks, Billbooks!
Journal Entry
25 by
collectorkerri at
Springfield, Illinois USA on Tuesday, January 23, 2018
I just downloaded this on audio, so it is available.
Journal Entry
26 by
collectorkerri at
Springfield, Illinois USA on Friday, August 10, 2018
It’s been awhile since I listened to this book. I remember thinking it charming but really short. The family was very likable, but not all that much happens in the book.
I’ve placed the book on the list for my First Sentences Virtual Bookbox.
Journal Entry
27 by
collectorkerri at
Springfield, Illinois USA on Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Sending on to bluezwuzl as part of the First Sentences Virtual Bookbox. Enjoy!
Journal Entry
28 by
bluezwuzl at
Altdorf (Niederbayern), Bayern Germany on Thursday, October 18, 2018
Received from the First Sentence VBB. Thanks for this book - sounds like fun!