I Capture the Castle

Reader reviewed by Mairi

Cassandra Mortmain's greatest aspiration is to be a writer like her father used to be, a long time ago. He once wrote a critically acclaimed novel, Jacob Wrestling, but never published anything else, and so the income of the Mortmain family dwindled into nothingness. Cassandra now lives with her older sister Rose, her younger brother Thomas, and her stepmother Topaz in a crumbling castle that her father bought back when he still had money.

I first saw this book at a friend's house and, after flipping through it, was intrigued, but I hesitated to read it because I was looking for a light YA book, and how could a book from the 40s be a "light YA book"? Quite easily, in fact- one of the things that impressed me most about this book was that it could quite easily have come off the press yesterday. Cassandra, unlike many of the female protagonists present in novels from the 40s, is a genuinely flawed character.

I would highly recommend this story to anyone who appreciates the versatility of YA books.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

Once in a while youll come across a book that really resounds with you and stays on your mind for days after youve read it. I CAPTURE THE CASTLE is this type of book.

17-year-old Cassandra lives with her impoverished family in a romantic but run-down castle. Her father is James Mortmain, author of the wonderfully philosophical JACOB WRESTLING, now studied by college students worldwide, who now would rather hole up in his gatehouse than attempt to write another book and thus supply the family with more income. Cassandras stepmother Topaz is a stunningly attractive woman very devoted to her husband, and Cassandras older sister Rose is a glam girl who dreams of a rich life.

Just when life seems like it has bottomed out, salvation arrives in the form of two young American brothers who own the lease to the Mortmains castle. Neil and Simon immediately enter the Mortmains lives, and Rose is soon swept up into visions of a glamorous life by marrying one of the brothers. She has her eyes on Simon, the older one who is enraptured by her.

Cassandra observes the courtship amusedly from her position on the sideline, writing avidly in her journal. Her concerns are not so much getting a comfortable life through marriage as they are about figuring out her feelings for family friend/caretaker Stephen and trying to improve her writing skills. Therefore, she is not prepared for becoming a full-time participant in the game of love after Rose marries Simon and things supposedly start getting better for their family.

Cassandra is a wonderfully witty and thoughtful narrator, the early-twentieth-century equivalent of Jessica Darling, for fans of Megan McCaffertys writings. Its hard to put this book down, and Cassandra will be a protagonist you will want to emulate and be friends with.