I'm rereading I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. It's such a charming book. I would love to live in that old rundown castle with its mismatched furniture. (I think I'm longing again to have a house and garden.)
Smith wrote the book in the US in 1948. But these days it seems to be enjoying a Renaissance, especially in the UK.
Have you read it?
The book's main character, Cassandra, has a conversation one evening with her sister Rose about whether Jane Austen or Charlotte Brontë is better.
"Which would be the nicest," Rose asks, "Jane with a touch of Charlotte, or Charlotte with a touch of Jane?"
"Fifty per cent each way would be perfect," says Cassandra.
(Notice: there's no mention of Emily!)
Photo illustration, above, by Julie Kwon.
14 comments:
I love this book!
This is by far one of my favorite books. Dodie Smith is a phenomenal writer with such a way with descriptors. I think one of the reasons it is one of my favorite books is how it can be read repeatedly, over and over again the storyline never manages to loose its luster, there is always something that catches the eye and the ear, some image which catches the eye, some descriptor that catches the ear. I've been wishing I could have my parents ship me my copy for quite some time so I could reread it (again).
yes this is one of my very favourite books! i love it!
I loved 'I Capture the Castle' so much I've read it over and over. Dodie Smith spent part of her young life living in the village right next to ours. I was 'captured' from the first sentence describing that she is sitting in the sink writing her diary!
It's absolutely one of my favorites--and I like the movie as well.
I keep this book in my Conservatory.
The rare moments I can lay on the daybed, I pick it up and am in heaven.
Savoring sentences, remembering scenes from the film.
Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
Absolutely adore this book - re-read it every summer, lying on the grass of my back garden, squinting up at the house in the hope that it changes into the tumble-down castle Cassandra inhabits.
And I'd personally go for 50% Emily and 50% Jane!
I just read this for the first time last year. Love, love, loved it.
i have never heard of this book but must get myself a copy of it soon! thanks for sharing.
Oh! I love this book! I picked it up one lazy summer and instantly fell in love with the characters and the weathered old castle. I could read it over and over again. *sigh* Sometimes I wish I could sleep in the tower or swim in the moat by moonlight.
I've read it at least twice. Love it! Did you know there's a movie, too?
i just read the description on amazon, this is totally going on my "to read" list!
I always wished I could spend a summer with the family. Such a perfect book. (the picture captures their home so well btw!).
I Capture the Castle was my first really favourite book! I read it countless times when I was in school. Super!
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