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

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!

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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!

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.

Putting this book into Booklady331's ABC Bookbox.

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.

Merry Christmas, jax987654321! Just finished, sending it with an ornament for the ornament exchange. Hope you have a great Christmas!

Was kindly sent this as an addition to the christmas decoration exchange. Thank you!

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!

posted this morning. I hope it arrives as I've just realised I used an old online postage stamp.

Received as a book swap. Thank you very much, jax987654321! I am looking forward to reading this.

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.

Put into the 'books beginning with I' bookring. I hope the next reader enjoys it as much as I did.

Have kept this book from the 'I' bookring.

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

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.

This is a quaint, if somewhat dated story. Readable. I will send it on its way again shortly.

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.

Saw this on a friend's wishlist so have snaffled it

Returning back to the USA after a world trip. Going to Colledctorkerri as a thank you for all her work on bookcrossing.

Received today with a cute clip-on koala wearing an "I Love Australia" jacket. Thanks, Billbooks!

I just downloaded this on audio, so it is available.

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.

Sending on to bluezwuzl as part of the First Sentences Virtual Bookbox. Enjoy!

Received from the First Sentence VBB. Thanks for this book - sounds like fun!