I’ve always thought a good writer ought to be able to write about almost anything. It’s a question of insight and observation. Research, too; although not so much the story drowns in too much detail.
And then I read this book and I think it could only have been written by a woman.
And then I read this book and I think it could only have been written by a woman.
(This is a comment in no way intended as any kind of a put-down. Not for so much as a millisecond. I really enjoyed the book, and my only regret is that it’s taken me so many decades to getting around to reading it.)
It’s just that the level of detail in the thoughts of the 17-year-old narrator – her reactions to the men who appear in her life; the meaning of a kiss; what clothes to wear and how to look; what to say and to whom… I’m not sure any man could have described all this with such surgical precision and insight.
One other aspect that interests me: It’s currently being released as part of a Vintage Classics series that also contains The Wind in the Willows; The Secret Garden; Emil and the Detectives; The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and The Silver Sword.
I’d classify all of the above as children’s classics. No question. But does I Capture the Castle belong with them? Is it really a children’s book, a book for young readers? I’d have said you’d have to be at least the age of the narrator to get anything out of it, and that anyone younger would just be bored by all the talk of looks and glances, stolen kisses and the right dresses and who should really be marrying who.
No argument about it being a classic, though.
None at all.
3 comments:
I've read all of those books and I would agree - i think you'd have to be at least a teenager to enjoy I Capture the Castle. I started reading it too early and very quickly got bored - where was the adventure?! and I felt that I'd been tricked by the promise of an exciting castle in the title. Took me years to re-read it and I only got around to it when I was at university. I still didn't care much about the relationship aspect of the story (ok, I know the relationships are a major part lol) but I enjoyed the details like sitting on the draining board to get writing inspiration or talking to the old dressmaking form as a sort of agony aunt. All of the other books had aspects that drew me in straight away.
I wonder if it gets included in children's classics because of 101 Dalmatians. I certainly thought Castle was going to be the adventure you mention.
Yes! That's probably it. I forgot it was the same author. Like James Bond and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang both being by Ian Fleming.
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