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ninetalevixen 's review for:
I Capture the Castle
by Dodie Smith
content warnings: precanon parent death, ableist language
"Why is summer mist romantic and autumn mist just sad?"
This is a greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts combination of Anne Shirley of Green Gables (narrator), Little Women (interpersonal relationships), and Jane Austen's work (plot). It's unpretentiously insightful, unaffectedly charming, poignantly wistful.
Perhaps one of its greatest strengths is in how wholly believable it is, in its realism: complex, flawed characters; a plot progression that makes sense rather than seizing shock value or maximum drama; satisfying but imperfect resolutions.
Rather than trying to impose her views on the world, the narrator is thoughtful both as observer and participant, unafraid to admit lack of knowledge or to tackle Big Questions. Like any (real or well-written) teenager, Cassandra Mortmain contains multitudes — sometimes she's infinitely patient and forgiving, other times her spite or resentment bursts out; her self-awareness and genuine desire to be kind absolutely endeared her to me through the highs and the lows.
And she (Cassandra/Smith) is a great writer. I've read a lot of books told in journal format; this one is executed particularly well, balancing hindsight with narrative continuity and coherence. There are vivid descriptions of setting and emotion, not so much that it bogs down the story.
For me it did take a while to really get into it, but once it took hold I was well and truly hooked. I Capture the Castle is the kind of book you want to settle down to savor, whether by sunlight on a grassy mound in the open air or by candlelight in a cocoon of blankets.
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CONVERSION: 12.25 / 15 = 4.5 stars
Prose: 8 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 9 / 10
Emotional Impact: 8 / 10
Development / Flow: 7 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: N/A
Intellectual Engagement: 4 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: 5 / 5
Memorability: 4 / 5
"Why is summer mist romantic and autumn mist just sad?"
This is a greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts combination of Anne Shirley of Green Gables (narrator), Little Women (interpersonal relationships), and Jane Austen's work (plot). It's unpretentiously insightful, unaffectedly charming, poignantly wistful.
Perhaps one of its greatest strengths is in how wholly believable it is, in its realism: complex, flawed characters; a plot progression that makes sense rather than seizing shock value or maximum drama; satisfying but imperfect resolutions.
Rather than trying to impose her views on the world, the narrator is thoughtful both as observer and participant, unafraid to admit lack of knowledge or to tackle Big Questions. Like any (real or well-written) teenager, Cassandra Mortmain contains multitudes — sometimes she's infinitely patient and forgiving, other times her spite or resentment bursts out; her self-awareness and genuine desire to be kind absolutely endeared her to me through the highs and the lows.
And she (Cassandra/Smith) is a great writer. I've read a lot of books told in journal format; this one is executed particularly well, balancing hindsight with narrative continuity and coherence. There are vivid descriptions of setting and emotion, not so much that it bogs down the story.
For me it did take a while to really get into it, but once it took hold I was well and truly hooked. I Capture the Castle is the kind of book you want to settle down to savor, whether by sunlight on a grassy mound in the open air or by candlelight in a cocoon of blankets.
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CONVERSION: 12.25 / 15 = 4.5 stars
Prose: 8 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 9 / 10
Emotional Impact: 8 / 10
Development / Flow: 7 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: N/A
Intellectual Engagement: 4 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: 5 / 5
Memorability: 4 / 5