I write this sitting at the kitchen sink' is the first line of a novel about love, sibling rivalry and a bohemian existence in a crumbling castle in the middle of nowhere. Cassandra Mortmin's journal records her fadingly glamorous stepmother, her beautiful, wistful older sister and the man to whom they owe both their isolation and poverty - Father. The author of one experimental novel, and a minor cause celebre, he has since suffered from writer's block and is determined to drag his family down with him. But if the iron has entered Father's soul it hasn't penetrated Cassandra's ...
I Capture The Castle (Vintage Classics)
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This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met (J.K. Rowling )
A delicious, compulsively readable novel about young love and its vicissitudes. What fun! (Erica Jong )
Much more fun than the reader has any right to expect (THE WEEKLY STANDARD )
Dreamy and funny...an odd, shimmering timelessness clings to its pages. A thousand and one cheers for its reissue. A + (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY )
A delicious, compulsively readable novel about young love and its vicissitudes. What fun! (Erica Jong )
Much more fun than the reader has any right to expect (THE WEEKLY STANDARD )
Dreamy and funny...an odd, shimmering timelessness clings to its pages. A thousand and one cheers for its reissue. A + (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY )
Book Description
I Capture the Castle has inspired writers as diverse as Armistead Maupin and Joanna Trollope and remains a classic tale of the triumph of youthful naivety over middle-aged cynicism.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 50 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
One of my favourite books of all time, 'I Capture The Castle' is a poignant, warm novel about an impovrished 1930's family living in a crumbling old castle. The narrator, 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain, is one of the most engaging, charismatic heroines I have ever read, chronichling her eccentirc families ups and downs with honesty and wit. A tale of love, heart-break, family and growing up, 'I Capture The Castle' is supposed to have been written for a teenage audience but can, and should, be enjoyed by anyone of any age.
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By raw umba
Format:Paperback
I was given this book as a gift and I must admit that if I had seen it in the shops, I wouldn't have bought it myself. It just goes to show that sometimes other people know you well because I really loved it! I would recommend it because it's really unusual but not boring. It's incredibly well written and the characters are totally believable, if eccentic! It's the journal of Cassandra who lives with her impoverished family in an old castle She charts her relationship with her older (and annoying!) sister, her little brother, her mad stepmother who enjoys walking around naked to get in touch with nature and her novelist father who suffers from writer's block. Cassandra seems to be the only sane person in the book but she has her own shortcomings. Read the book to discover what happens when she falls in love ... You won't be disappointed.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Simon Savidge Reads
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
`I Capture The Castle' is at its heart both a coming of age tale (and you know how I feel about those) and also a family drama. Set in a crumbling old castle we hear the tale of the Mortmains, a family who are living on pretty much nothing, through the eyes of the youngest daughter Cassandra. Ever since their father stopped writing (after his one big surprising and rather cult hit Jacob Wrestling) and the death of their mother Rose and Cassandra, along with their step mother Topaz and lodger Stephen, have resorted to selling their furniture in order to be able to eat.
As well as shedding light on her families past, in the journals we the reader are privy to, she also writes of the arrival of the Cotton brothers Simon and Neil who become the Mortmains landlords through inheritance. It is from this point that you feel and begin to learn that the Mortmains lives could be about to change but could it be for the worse or for the better. If Rose and her family have their way it will be for the better as she decides she must marry the eldest brother Simon, however things don't always run according to plan do they? I shall say no more of the plot for fear I would give anything away.
What I will say is expect the unexpected and keep going. Why do I say that? Well, to be honest, after a flying start with the Mortmains and the wonderful narrative of Cassandra, who is one of the most original characters and voices I have read in some time. At some point after part one had ended and part two began I started to become a little bored. I am not sure why either. It wasn't that the book is very descriptive or that the subtle plot went a little slowly, because I love both those things when done well as this is. If anyone says it's because I am male I will come and find you and really tell you off.
It wasn't Dodie's fault because her writing is utterly superb proof of that is the fact that Cassandra could have easily become a precious little madam who needed a slap instead she was a funny, wry and intelligently observant young woman who you wanted to spend time with. I think it might have been that I was finding it a little contrived and slightly obvious in the way the story was going. Now it will not plot spoil if I say carry on because Dodie gives us the ending you probably wouldn't think at all and I am very glad she did. In fact it was the twists and turns from the end of the second part onwards that saved the book for me and almost gave it a complete turnaround and left me very glad I had read it.
As well as shedding light on her families past, in the journals we the reader are privy to, she also writes of the arrival of the Cotton brothers Simon and Neil who become the Mortmains landlords through inheritance. It is from this point that you feel and begin to learn that the Mortmains lives could be about to change but could it be for the worse or for the better. If Rose and her family have their way it will be for the better as she decides she must marry the eldest brother Simon, however things don't always run according to plan do they? I shall say no more of the plot for fear I would give anything away.
What I will say is expect the unexpected and keep going. Why do I say that? Well, to be honest, after a flying start with the Mortmains and the wonderful narrative of Cassandra, who is one of the most original characters and voices I have read in some time. At some point after part one had ended and part two began I started to become a little bored. I am not sure why either. It wasn't that the book is very descriptive or that the subtle plot went a little slowly, because I love both those things when done well as this is. If anyone says it's because I am male I will come and find you and really tell you off.
It wasn't Dodie's fault because her writing is utterly superb proof of that is the fact that Cassandra could have easily become a precious little madam who needed a slap instead she was a funny, wry and intelligently observant young woman who you wanted to spend time with. I think it might have been that I was finding it a little contrived and slightly obvious in the way the story was going. Now it will not plot spoil if I say carry on because Dodie gives us the ending you probably wouldn't think at all and I am very glad she did. In fact it was the twists and turns from the end of the second part onwards that saved the book for me and almost gave it a complete turnaround and left me very glad I had read it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Coming of Age Tale, woven with Masterful Skill
I Capture the Castle, introduces the reader to Cassandra Mortmain, the book's 17-year old narrator. Cassandra is an aspiring writer, living with her eccentric and bohemian family... Read more
Published 7 days ago by L. Clarke
5.0 out of 5 stars
I loved this story
This book is the tale of 17 year old Cassandra Mortmain's growing up in the 1930s. It has a wonderfully vintage feel about it as the impoverished family of once-successful author... Read more
Published 19 days ago by Ignite
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most enjoyable read
I saw the film when it was first released and enjoyed it very much, but having recently read the book can honestly say it was as good as the film if not better. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jean Dey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Charming Book
Beautifully written - you can't help but love all the slightly eccentric characters. Perfect for book clubs - I would definitely recommend.
Published 1 month ago by Zoe 1985
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful quirky classic
Beautifully written - the writing is perfect without a grammatical error which makes for such relaxed reading! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ruth Young
5.0 out of 5 stars
You'll never forget this book.
Highly misleading to label this a book for the young reader. It may be, but it warrants re-reading throughout your life. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Pook
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not recommended
| read this book on a friend's recommendation - however i would not recommend it. Very old-fashioned and rather ridiculous.
Published 3 months ago by MRS CA HUTAHAEN
4.0 out of 5 stars
Coming of age
The Mortmain household is unusual and Cassandra - the young narrator - is an unusual girl. The challenge of rural poverty colours most of their life in a rented castle but things... Read more
Published 3 months ago by JoTownhead
4.0 out of 5 stars
I'm missing Cassandra already
I was recommended this novel by another author called Harriet Evans, who said that she was jealous of people who had yet to read it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Hannah Dexter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
A great book .made me cry and smile at the same time. I recommend it to anyone over ten . I still think they would enjoy it but might not get as much out of it as they could. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Isobel Simmons
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