On a scale of 1-5 stars, 5 being the best, how do you rate I Capture the Castle?
* (loathed it)
0%
[ 0 ]
**
0%
[ 0 ]
***
6%
[ 1 ]
****
26%
[ 4 ]
***** (loved it)
46%
[ 7 ]
Gave up on it (explain why below)
13%
[ 2 ]
Not reading this one
6%
[ 1 ]
Total Votes : 15
Author
Message
miranda An Addicted Babbler
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 955 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Paisley, Scotland
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 5:32 pm Post subject:
Yes don't feel bad Mel - this is meant to be fun . I feel bad 'cos I haven't even started it, and it was me that suggested it! I am still reading 'The Book of Lost Things' and enjoying it, but I am not getting a lot of time to read right now because I have just started in my new school AND I don't commute every day now, so that is at least an hour a day of reading lost!
_________________ Currently reading: The Human Stain by Philip Roth
'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.'
Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Posts: 919 Birthday: 23rd December
Location: Dorset, UK
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:40 pm Post subject:
Have just finished the book and have rated it 4 stars. I loved how Casandra described everything in such detail, but still struggled to capture what she was meaning at times hence the title of the book. While reading the book I really had a sense of being there with them, and experiencing their high and low moments.
The reason I didn't give it the full five stars was because I felt that at times some of the characters weren't behaving as I felt they should be, due to the descriptions of them. Luckily that didn't happen very often so didn't spoil my overall enjoyment of the book.
Spoiler:
For example I really couldn't believe that shy sweet natured Stephen would have jumped into bed with Leda.
I liked the fact that the book ended without tying everything up into a neat little bow, as it allowed me to believe the best possible ending for Cassandra that someday soon Simon will come back for her.
. Lisa x _________________ Currently Reading - Want to Play? By P.J Tracy (again)
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:28 pm Post subject:
Yeah
Spoiler:
what happened with Leda and Stephen? Didn't Cassandra describe him looking ashamed when she twigged what he'd been up to with Leda? Made me wonder if she forced herself on him. Or if he was too shy to say no, & felt obliged to bed her considering the money making opportunities she had created for him. I imagine his self confidence grew as well. I remember Cassandra describing him sounding smug about his acting prospects, so he'd started to change. Considering he was supposed to be in love with Cassandra, he didn't wait for her did he? He was off with Ivy. I'd like to know more about Stephen.
Do you think Simon ever came back for Cassandra? He probably returned and stayed close friends with her, but personally I doubt they got together romantically. I thought Neil liked Cassandra anyway, and had more romantic feelings for her than Simon did. But of course that was a clever ruse to keep us from guessing he and Rose were in love with one another.
I know she wrote 101 Dalmatians, but does anyone know if Dodie Smith wrote any other novels?
_________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Posts: 919 Birthday: 23rd December
Location: Dorset, UK
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:56 pm Post subject:
Spoiler:
I think your right in saying he was too shy to say no, & felt obliged to bed her considering the money making opportunities she had created for him. I think in his heart of hearts Stephen always new that Cassandra didn't feel much towards him in that respect, although it was mean to lead him on the way she did for a while.
I thought Neil liked Cassandra as well, but did sense that he was really after Rose. Remember when Neil and rose were talking (possibly at the castle?) and she wasn't really listening, and then Simon cut in and suddenly Rose was interested in everything he had to say. Neil shot her this look, and it was then I realized that he was put out by here behaviour because he'd taken a shine to her.
Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodie_Smith for a list of other novels Dodie Smith wrote. Lisa x _________________ Currently Reading - Want to Play? By P.J Tracy (again)
I've just managed to get this in a swap, so I'm still behind you lot, but looking forward to reading it.
Oh Anne! I wish I'd known, I would've sent you my copy. _________________ Swap List: http://tinyurl.com/33pg6r
Currently Reading "Switchcraft" by Lowri Turner
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 10:09 pm Post subject:
lisa2062 wrote:
Spoiler:
I think your right in saying he was too shy to say no, & felt obliged to bed her considering the money making opportunities she had created for him. I think in his heart of hearts Stephen always new that Cassandra didn't feel much towards him in that respect, although it was mean to lead him on the way she did for a while.
I thought Neil liked Cassandra as well, but did sense that he was really after Rose. Remember when Neil and rose were talking (possibly at the castle?) and she wasn't really listening, and then Simon cut in and suddenly Rose was interested in everything he had to say. Neil shot her this look, and it was then I realized that he was put out by here behaviour because he'd taken a shine to her.
I enjoyed this book. It was an easy read, and I could really "feel" the atmosphere of the castle. I really like the narrator, and the way that she matured as she was writing her journals. I liked the ending as it wasn't obvious, and nor was it trite. It left you wondering what happened over the coming years.
I gave this one four stars, as although I enjoyed it, it wouldn't be something I would read again. I think that it is a book that I would have really related to in my late teens.
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 1:15 pm Post subject:
I agree with you there Mcalpindale. Really wish I'd read this in my teens, although it transported me back to the time. Cassandra is such a sensible person for her age. _________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 955 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Paisley, Scotland
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 6:43 pm Post subject:
About 3 chapters in, and loving it already! _________________ Currently reading: The Human Stain by Philip Roth
'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.'
I read this book last year and loved it-I felt that Smith's writing style really captured the essense of the moment, I could visualise every chracter and every nook and cranny of the castle and the grounds.
For some reason I swapped this on, I wish I had kept it now as I think I will reread it at some point. _________________ Katey
xxx
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:19 am Post subject:
Christopher Isherwood said this about I Capture the Castle:
To say that I couldn't put it down is hardly original, but true... I think it is a book that will be lived in by many people, because you can live inside it, like Dickens"
How true. I read a Folio Society edition of the book and totally forgot to read the introduction by Valerie Grove (don't know who she is!). Will report back if I find anything of interest! _________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 955 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Paisley, Scotland
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:25 pm Post subject:
Finished! i enjoyed this one, I gave it 4 out of 5 because I felt it dragged a bit at the start, but got better.
Spoiler:
I agree that the ending was very good and not at all expected which is always nice.
I thought their father and Topaz were quite annoying esp. when Topaz said something about not minding men being violent with her .
I think the maturing of Cassandra was beautifully handled and reminded me of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' a wee bit.
I was sure this was on the 1001 books list too... gutted it isn't. _________________ Currently reading: The Human Stain by Philip Roth
'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.'
I'm not sure what to say about this one. I did enjoy the story but got intensely irritated with the whole family whilst reading it. Maybe it was just my frame of mind whilst reading it, I'm not sure. Anyway I'll admit that I only skipped through the last few chapters as I just couldnt be bothered with them anymore. It wasnt even that I disliked the characters, just something about their 'airy fairyness' that annoyed me! _________________ Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden
1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 4:45 pm Post subject:
I know what you mean about frame of mind. that's what happened with me and Cloud Atlas. _________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 180 Birthday: 20th April
Location: Middlesex
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 7:44 pm Post subject:
I couldn't finish this book either Mel so you're not the only one! I agree it was very descriptive & I liked Cassandra & her diary entries, but the rest of the characters didn't do anything for me. I kept getting Neil & Simon mixed up, which obviously didn't help. I thought of it as more of an adolescent type of book that I would have probably loved as a teenager. I agree with you Anne when you say it was 'airy fairy! It reminded me in parts of Enid Blyton's Famous Five series but a more grown up version with Cassandra as George! Ah well each to their own. _________________ http://www.readitswapit.co.uk/MyBooks.aspx
Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 676 Birthday: 2nd November
Location: Watford, Herts
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 7:54 pm Post subject:
I ordered this book on greenmetropolis.com at the start of August and the seller posted it to me on 4th August. I just wanted to point out that it's FINALLY arrived!! Only taken a month to get to me!! Oh well, better late than never I suppose. I'll try to get round to reading this one soon. _________________ Currently Reading:
This post is old...but I'll add my thoughts anyway. I bought this book for my teenage daughter a few years ago. She read it and thought it was just OK. Months later when I was desperate for something to read, I picked it up not expecting much and I really enjoyed it, can't remember too much about it only that I thought it was quite different and the characters were interesting.
_________________ Currently reading: Love in the Time of Cholera
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. I feel bad 'cos I haven't even started it, and it was me that suggested it! I am still reading 'The Book of Lost Things' and enjoying it, but I am not getting a lot of time to read right now because I have just started in my new school AND I don't commute every day now, so that is at least an hour a day of reading lost! 
.
that's what happened with me and Cloud Atlas.