I Capture the Castle in Around the Year in 52 Books

Jun 08, 2011 Beth Given rated it liked it

Cassandra lives with her father, sister, brother, and stepmother in an actual castle -- but in spite of their home, this family is definitely not royalty. The father is an author who hasn't written anything in years, and the money has dried up. But then two rich and eligible American brothers move in next door ... ooh la la!

This book is modern classic; Dodie Smith may be better known for 101 Dalmatians thanks to Disney, but this novel certainly has its own staying power (it was published in 1948 ...more

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Mar 08, 2016 Sarah Johnson rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-books, adult-books, classics

The lovesick moments brought the whole novel down, but I guess it was true to being 17. Dare I say it... I like the movie better (which I saw in the theater when it first came out), but I better watch it again to be sure.

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Jun 16, 2017 Christine rated it really liked it

This was lovely and funny. I feel so much affection for Cassandra - she's at her best when she's sharply witty in her observations, and I can forgive her boring wallow in teenage romantic self-pity, since it doesn't last too terribly long, and only occurs after I've gotten to know her well. It also winds up in a very artful way, in my opinion.

This book reminds me of two other books in very different ways.

First, this seems like an inside-out version of We Have Always Lived in the Castle - first-p ...more

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Jan 27, 2018 Camzcam rated it it was amazing

I can’t believe I only recently heard about this 1940s gem. Sweet, funny and melancholy, a coming-of-age story from a delightful young British narrator. It feels one part Austen two parts Bronte but set in a modern, 1930s sensibility. Only after I finished did I discover that the author is most famous for her story “101 Dalmatians!”

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Jun 18, 2022 Ketutar Jensen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It reminds me of Cold Comfort Farm. I didn't have the slightest idea of what I was getting myself into. This is a story of a 17-years old girl and sort of coming of age, her adventures with love, and life, and dealing with her father's authorship. I would say it's a rather typical YA novel :-D It's just set and written in the 1930s, so it's a bit different from what it would be had it been written now.

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Mar 13, 2013 Jason McKinney rated it liked it

An enjoyable, fun novel that doesn't blow one out of the water, as much as simply entertain and enlighten about certain truths of life. Pride and Prejudice was definitely a model for this, but the (mild spoiler alert!) non-simplistic ending here is refreshing. My advice: don't expect too much and you'll enjoy this even more than you might have otherwise. ...more

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Jun 24, 2020 Donna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Overall, 3.5 stars. So much talk about beards. Also, I spent most of the book wondering Cassandra's age. I listened to the audiobook, so I must have missed it. Overall, a very brief listen that was done well enough. ...more

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