I Capture The Castle - Dodie Smith

I Capture The Castle
Dodie Smith

Chosen by a bookclub member, I Capture The Castle came highly recommended. And like most things that come highly recommended, it created an expectation the story failed to deliver. Initially enchanted by the setting and the characters, I thought I will be embarking on a quaint tale of pre-war England. And although there were a few amusing episodes (all involving the eccentric novelist father), I did not fall in love with the tale.

The heroine, the seventeen year-old Cassandra Mortmain lives in an old sparsely furnished castle with her desperately romantic older sister Rose, her one-hit-wonder novelist father James, her beguiling stepmother Topaz, her school boy brother Thomas and the poetry reciting, gorgeous live-in help Stephen (who also happen to be in love with her). With little money, the Mortmains have a tough time to make ends meet. Their fortunes take a turn when a new family moves in to the nearby manor house. The new owners turn out to be rich Americans whom to Rose's delight, have two eligible sons and she quickly sets out to snare the oldest brother.

So far so good.

Unfortunately this is where the fun ends. Rose whines with irritable regularity, James's inability to get started on his next book is frustrating and I just about tore my hair out over Cassandra's foolishness in not returning Stephen's love. There is an unexpected twist near the end which promises to spice things up. But I guess being English and proper, Smith manages to resolve it in the most unsatisfying yet politely civilised manner. 3 stars