Young Adult Book Reading Challenges discussion

Now that you are done with the book, what did you think? Would you recommend it to other young adults?

What does the title mean to you?

I just finished reading the book, and I have to say I have some mixed feelings on the book. At first it was a little hard to get into, and then I felt it picked up in the middle, but dropped off near the ending. I guess I am a complete hopeless romantic and I felt that I was left still wanting something and not getting it.

Even though many have said this should be considered a young adult novel today, I don't think I would recommend it to other young adults. I feel that the concepts of the story are more suitable to an older audience. I don't think many young adults would be interested in the story. If I wasn't left hanging at the end of the book (or if there was even a sequel), I think that I would have enjoyed this story much more.

I haven't finished reading the book... so I am not going to read other comments yet...

But what did you guys think about the fur coats? When Rose was mistaken for a bear! Even now girls would be so embarrassed to be caught in a situation like that! I can't tell what year this book takes place? Is it taking place in 1948?

I believe that it took place in the 1930's.

I thought that the fur coat incident was hilarious and I totally felt for Rose. I think the story does a remarkable job of capturing that transition from youth to adulthood--it's interesting how, in that day, Rose and Cassandra were still very full of imagination and "play" and then the next thing they know they are off falling in love and getting engaged... I have a full review that I will post soon.

As for the time period, I don't remember there being any talk of WWII so I'm guessing it was in the mid-30s?

As for the title, I think it pertains to Cassandra's attempts as an author, trying to "capture" her surroundings in writing. Thus, she feels she has finally succeeded in "Capturing the Castle" by the end.

The thing about the scene with the fur coat is that is something I could see my sister and I doing when we were younger. We would do anything to protect each other! I find it very sad that the father just gave up writing. I really don't understand why.

I read this book in May for another reading group so I had to go back and read my goodreads review to remember what I liked and disliked about it.

I agree with Jennifer, it was hard to get into and then something was finally happening and then it fizzled out. The only saving grace was that I loved the main character's funny little thoughts and things she said -- she had kind of a quarky sense of humor. I was VERY let down by the ending -- it was pretty lame. Oh well, can't love them all!!

This book is longer then I expected!

LOL... good luck with reading...
I finished it a few days ago, and I agree it was a little hard to get into and I was too let down by the ending.
I wouldn't really recommend it too other YAs because it felt like a book for much older people and I don't think many YAs like reading novels set in the past.

I have about 100 pages to go... I think a YA would only like this book if they are into classics... Jane Austen books are a good example. What do you guys think of Miss. Blossom?

The novel is mainly about the two families, the Cottons and the Mortmains. It is amazing the difference between these two families. One of the things I think readers notice is how English people see Americans and how Americans see the English. Did anyone notice this?

I forgot about Miss Blossom -- that was another funny example of the main character's sense of humor, I thought she was hilarious.

I also wondered as I was reading this if Miss Blossom wasn't kind of a stand-in for their mother that had passed away. The older sister didn't seem to have much of a relationship with their step-mom, maybe Miss Blossom is who they created to fill that role.

That's a really good point Jill. I could totally seeing Miss Blossom representing their mother. When Cassandra realized that she was too old for Miss Blossom anymore and she didn't give her the comfort when she was crying on her, she finally let go of that idea of Miss Blossom as her mother. She then later remembered exactly what her mother looked like, as opposed to the picture.

I just finished. What an ending. First I thought it was crazy that Cassandra even thought she could steal away Rose's man Simon. Who thinks that with their sister? Of course I guess back then there weren't a lot of men but still. I felt so bad for Stephen. Poor guy... I hope he went on to become a famous actor. And Rose ends up with Neil! WHOA!

I, too, thought all the relationships were rather complex and a bit odd and surprising. I mean, it seemed that Cassandra and Rose had such a good relationship... Of course, I suppose she wanted to make sure Rose didn't love Simon and then if she really did love Simon then she perhaps could have thought it was not fair to him or to herself if Rose married him without love.

Speaking of Simon, what did you all think of him??? I found it really hard to like him, or Neil (I thought Simon's behavior with Cassandra on Midsummer's Eve was terrible!) and it was hard for me to think that Cassandra REALLY loved him in terms of a long-term relationship sort of way vs. just a first love. Though, she got mad at Rose for thinking that, so I suppose I oughtn't to! I thought all the relationships were really--erm, not ones I would wish to model. Like Topaz and Mr. Mortmain, eeek!

I agree with you guys about Miss Blossom being a bit of a stand-in motherly figure.

I thought what Simon did on Midsummer's Eve with Cassandra was terrible too. I mean he was engaged to her sister! Plus sometimes I was confused in the book with the terms "making love" and "kissing". And was Stephen going to have sex with Cassandra when he kissed her. The book stated that he was taking off her dress!

Yes, I, too was confused about the terms "making love" and whether that means the same thing as it does today.

I think that Stephen and Cassandra were going to have sex--especially owing to his reaction and that he was so concerned about her reaction and also implying that they were going to get married. I am more confused at his motives for doing it with Leda--I thought that was rather out-of-character for him. I think we are to assume she was a mere substitute for Cassandra but, still... EWW!

Wasn't Leda married as well? Not that it matters but I think that makes it more out of character for him. She was much older then all of them right? And I think Leda was jealous of Stephen liking Cassandra, and that is why Leda was so mean to her.

I thought it was crazy Cassandra and Thomas locked their dad in the tower. The man seems a little off... plus what is his book about? It sounds like a puzzle book?

So, I'm just curious... Do you guys think we are SUPPOSED to like Neil and Simon??? I mean, usually in these sorts of YA romances we are supposed to be swooning over the guys just as the protagonist is doing. I'm wondering if the author had that intent with this book and we are just bringing modern sensibilities to the reading? Of course, it's only a few of us who have weighed in on the subject so maybe there are some Neil and Simon fans out there? And, if so, what makes you a fan?

This is one of my favorite books, so I'm a bit biased, but I'll own up to being a Neil and Simon fan. The end of the book isn't a fairy tale ending; it's poignant and sweet and shows someone who was wise enough to not believe in Happily Ever After just because it tidies up the plot. Cassandra loves Simon and wants to be with him, but she's operating in more of a real world approach than as a romantic novel heroine who gallops off into the sunset with the man when he asks. Human beings don't have just one single reason for ANYTHING that they do; and you can feel attracted to someone and interested in them, despite being involved with someone else. I thought it was entirely possible for Simon to kiss her and for her to kiss him back, even though it wasn't on the up and up. People get carried away by circumstances, or situations where they might not otherwise behave in the way they proceed. I'm sure everyone in one way or another has given in to a spur of the moment impulse and then later went "Oh, crap. THAT wasn't one of my best behaviors." I mean, think about high school; there are all kinds of dramas about people making out with other people's boyfriends/girlfriends, etc. How was this really any different? I thought the author did a nice job of showing realistic human behavior in more interesting and eccentric characters than the rest of us get to know. Also, I like Neil because he IS rude to Rose; she IS behaving like a gold digger! Add to that the VERY typical cat-and-dog behavior of two people who are attracted and then wind up together at the end (again, very common behavior in high school from what I have observed over the years), and it all makes sense.

The part where they lock their father in the tower is one of my very favorite parts of the book. I couldn't stop laughing through the whole thing. Also, I *adore* Cassandra's--well, the entire family's--awareness of what she calls Topaz being "bogus." It's another good example of the real world--you can see that someone is pretentious and melodramatic and silly, but it doesn't mean you don't love them anyway. I think the perfect example of this is when Topaz says in her "plummy" voice to Mortimer something about doesn't he long to be an old, old man in an inn by a fireside, and he responds "Yes, with arthritis. My dear, you're an ass."

For all that I love this book, I don't tend to recommend it to very many people, largely because of the writing style that other people have mentioned. The characters in this book to me are a bit more complex than modern YA writing tends to be, as the language in the book is more heightened than much of what we see produced today. It's not inaccessible by any means, but it's got a better vocabulary and more involved descriptive style than a lot of the kids with whom I interact have patience for. I agree that if the YA in question doesn't mind reading the classics they'd have no trouble with this, but it does require a certain willingness to go with a different writing style than the more straightforward modern approach.

Delanie, thanks so much for offering your impressions on the book. It was great to hear from someone who is a Neil and Simon fan! ;-> I do think it's great how the characters are portrayed with flaws and yet most are still very likable. I love Cassandra, even if I don't always agree with her! ;-> I agree that the relationship themes are timeless, too. I also thought it was really brave and wise of Cassandra NOT to let Simon propose to her at the end; I think this is where we see that she really did love him in a mature way and wanting the relationship to have solid ground. I was especially glad that Rose and Cassandra made up at the end because I thought their sister-friendship bond was really special and one of the highlights of the book.

I guess I'm still puzzled by the scene with Simon's shadow looking like the devil. What do you guys think of that and how should we look back on it after everything that happened???

I thought it was kinda funny when the word "gold digger" was used in the book! Who knew people used that word for that purpose back when the novel was written!

You are right Delanie about high school kissing boyfriends of their friends. But wasn't Simon in his late 20s?

It is crazy how many options Cassandra is left with at the end of this book. Be a writer, marry Simon OR Stephen. Though at the end of the book I felt like she decided to be on her own and not ever bother to marry.

I had forgotton about the shadow looking like a devil. I thought something more would come from that. But he never real was evil. I wonder if it was supposed to be just a child's imagination running wild?

It's always puzzled me, but maybe it's because Simon is the divisive character? Rose in essence tries to sell her soul to him for worldly reasons?

Good reasoning!

What was with the dad always taking secret trips to London?

Yeah, that was a bit odd and never fully explained. I guess he was supposedly gathering ideas for his book? A mark of his eccentric genius? I don't think an affair was really hinted at in the end?

And, that's a great idea for the Simon-devil character, Delanie. Thanks!

This goes back to the thread about men and women... but really no one could question that dad about where he was going. Not even his wife?

I doubt I’ll recommend this to other young adults, mostly because it reads more like an adult novel and also because a lot of teenagers don't like to read much anyway. (That's the sad truth.) I will say I love this and will definitely recommend this to older family members. I doubt I would have ever picked this book up on my own, so I'm glad this was our pick for the month.

Towards the end of the book, Cassandra was having a conversation with Simon about writing in her journal and how it's impossible to express herself without the use of metaphors. He said: “Can you always express just what you want to express, in your journal? Does everything go into nice tidy words? Aren’t you constantly driven to a metaphor?” So it’s called “I Capture the Castle” because it took her three full notebooks to truly “capture the castle,” or express herself. That’s what I think, but I don’t feel like I’m expressing myself correctly.

I agree about not recommending this to a lot of young adults. Sometimes I think YA have too much to do and this book is long and may not hold their attention. I would be glad to hear from any YA that disagree with this.

I love your last sentence Celeste! I thought it was pretty amazing that all three novels seemed to only be in a time frame of like months. 3 months maybe?

You made me curious so I searched the book for dates. The first notebook started in March and the last ended in October. Still, it's a pretty short time frame. Look at how much her life changed within half a year!

I loved the beginning of this book, but after Simon kissed Cassandra, she started to annoy me. Before all that, she was a smart and funny voice, really delightful to read. But then she becomes just some irrational, overly emotional girl who thinks she's in love with a man she used to fear after getting her first kiss from him. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I found it all rather unbelievable that this girl who is so reasonable would become so unreasonable over Simon, becoming a raging hormonal mess. Still, I'll admit that I was afraid it would end with her and Simon getting married, and that didn't happen, so I'm glad for that. And other than that, I did really like the book.

Has anyone seen the movie? I saw it years ago and I remember liking it, but honestly couldn't remember anything that happened in it. So I'm going to watch the movie again soon to see how it compares with the book.

6 months! wow she really does grow up fast! I kinda felt that Cassandra was a little immature with Simon. But maybe because she has no relationship experience.

I just watched the movie and wow they changed most of the ending! Plus they made it into a drama whereas I thought of the book as being primarily funny with some angst at the end.

Yeah, I don't think the average YA reader would have liked it. I don't think many of them would have voluntarily picked this book up like me. But I like to read some classics, and most teens don't.

However, I didn't like it at first. It started off so great with that wonderful starting sentence, but it didn't continue as strongly after that one paragraph.

I think it was the last 50 pages of the book that really made me change my opinion about it. Starting from when they lock up their father. :D OMG, I loved that part! And his second book sounds so interesting--how he's using puzzles and patterns to depict an abstract meaning. Brilliant. I never fell for Simon or Niel, and Cassandra isn't my "role model," but I found everything about the father interesting, as strange as it sounds.

The father's character is interesting. Imagine living with such a person!