I Capture the Castle

Hey all! Sorry this reply was more than a little tardy… I was a little caught up in this little vampire book that came out. I drove to NYC for that one… and then decided to drive to Chicago, too, and stay for part of this other little thing for some other books. You may have heard about them. So I’ve not been around my computer very much of late, but that isn’t the norm and I’ll be back to updating quickly as of today. 🙂



I thought it only appropriate that my first blog about one of Jo’s favorite books would be about one of the two that we’ve probably heard her mention the most, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. I read this one as I was waiting for Deathly Hallows, actually, as I was on a hunt to read her childhood favorites and see what they could tell me to expect about the final Harry installment. Not surprisingly, most of them did exactly that. I Capture the Castle, however, was actually an exception to that pattern – as I read, I had the feeling that it told me much about how Jo must have seen herself as an adolescent, rather than how Harry’s life would progress. I’m getting a bit ahead of myself, though.



This novel has all of the trappings of a traditional fairy tale, and could easily sound like one in a flippant summary. Cassandra lives with her mentally absent father, stunning stepmother and sister (although neither is evil, and their fairy-tale like names show you that… Topaz and Rose, respectively), and younger brother in an isolated and crumbling castle. For the most part the family makes the best of it. Handsome young men move in on a nearby property, complete with dramatic meetings, and a love story of some fashion ensues. That being said, I wouldn’t actually categorize Castle as a fairy tale. It is much more a coming-of-age story, and despite the dreamy setting and situation, it is very much a realistic look at a strong and optimistic family living in relative poverty.



The standout quality of the novel is easily in the characterization of Cassandra. While you witness her first love(s?), she is much too level headed to let that alone dictate her course in life. If last week’s review of Twilight is the angst and head-over-heels-ness of a first love, Castle is the realization that first love has merits, but it is not all there is in life. Cassandra has a unique perspective, taking in life as an observer more than a participant. It’s insightful and funny and awkward and even a little sad at turns, but always enjoyable.



I highly recommend this book as a light read, but one that doesn’t require you check your brain at the door when you open the covers. I’m not sure that it would keep the attention of even some high school Potter fans, but I think that anyone college age or older would enjoy it. And of course, some high school students who are already avid readers of a variety of books will love it – I’ve already passed it around to a few students. There are laugh out loud moments that still stand out to me, but the action is, overall, pretty slow. Who especially would love it? Anyone who is attempting or has attempted a creative venture that didn’t work out as they planned, or for whom life got in the way of that process. I’ll definitely be picking this one up again in the near future.