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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is a delight. The plot makes me laugh and the writing causes me to linger over interesting descriptions with unique turns of phrase and hilarious characterization.
This was a delightful story by the author of 101 Dalmatians (which I read over and over again in my youth---so much better than the Disney versions of course). Funny and poignant. The ending is a bit wrenching but so fitting.
Expected a neat "Jane Austen" ending and liked the bittersweet surprise of not getting it. And it made me laugh at loud at a book for the first time in years. Highly recommended.
funny
medium-paced
My next classic and for some reason I had a feeling this could have been a book I read in high school… but it’s really not looking like it. But that’s okay, because I’m enjoying this so far. I’ve read the first part and I’m loving the way this is told; it feels like our main character, Cassandra’s musings of the castle, which is giving the reader the ins and outs of the place and the people who live there. It’s great set up for whatever is to come. We’ve just met two American boys and I’m so curious if they’re going to stay in the story or if it was a brief stopover. Either way it was very entertaining and I can’t wait to read more!
It’s been a little while since my last update and I’m sad to say I’m not as far as I’d like to be, but what can you do? I’m starting to feel like I have a connection with Cassandra. There was one passage she was writing where she’s talking to her journal like it’s a person and I couldn’t help but laugh and think I do the same. 😂 I’m really enjoying this story, not just for its content, but also the way it’s told. Cassandra has this wonder to her, where she just writes things as she thinks them and it’s bold and carefree and I just love it. The whole Cotton family plot has been fun to read; I’m interested to see where it goes and how it all plays out.
I figured I’d do another mini update before I finish this, since I hope to finish it soon (next week, 🤞🏻). This book is so easy to fall into the story so it’s been really fast-paced. The love triangles that are cropping up are truly blowing me away because I didn’t expect this book to be as scandalous as it’s been. I have to admit I love Cassandra and Simon, even though I feel like I shouldn’t, they’re just SO cute together! Rose bores me, but I think part of that is because we never really got to know her, and because it’s what Cassandra is telling us of her, that we haven’t gotten the best picture. I also feel that way about a lot of characters, especially Stephen. Nonetheless though, I’m enjoying this thoroughly because I never know what is going to happen!
Wow, what a novel! What started as a slow paced, quiet tale around the castle really changed quickly with all these twists and turns that I was 100% living for. My gosh, I had no idea how this novel would end, but the ride it took me on was so much fun! The heart ache and heart break, the betrayals and affairs, and the imprisonment, this had it all, yet it didn’t feel overwhelming in the slightest, which I feel like I’m making it sound. Everything had a reason for it and I really liked that this was a coming of age story where our main character, Cassandra really learned a lot about herself, which is what you want in a good story. So many emotions and so much drama, and it was all so good! I also really liked how this was told in diary entry format, it made it more personal and like Cassandra could really be herself, no holding back. This kind of meant that the secondary characters were very one sided, but it worked here. I could see myself reaching for this novel again in the future.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I ever needed an encouragement to keep a journal, Cassandra Mortmain's perfect voice in these pages is strong enough.
I shouldn't quite relate so much to a 17/18 year old in the early 1900s, but I do. And her story is more than simple.
I need time to process it all.
----
This is one of those books that I really don't remember how I heard about it, but I know I did before I watched the movie (it has Henry Cavill in it, okay? I had to see it). The movie is good, but the book is better (surprise, surprise).
I started this book ages ago and then put it away because it wasn't connecting. I loved the voice of our narrator even then, but I just wasn't in the mood for this type of novel (or the age of it. It required more brainpower than something more modern). I picked it up again last month and devoured it. It is delightful, which is kind of a lame adjective, but there's not other way to describe how enjoyable it is to 'listen' to Cassandra relate the events in her life. She is smart, but makes mistakes, often naive, but starts to recognize her power as a woman. Her descriptions of characters, places and events are delightful (can't help it) to read. Her 'coming of age' is not typical or unoriginal like other books of that genre. The ending itself is not what I expected, but it didn't matter. It was perfect.
The castle itself, her odd family (her brother totally captures my heart by the last section), the setting is just as absorbing as Cassandra herself. Who doesn't want to live in a castle, even one falling apart? Their poverty is abject, but when their fortune changes, Cassandra sees how even money can't fix things, and often simple is better.
There are more lessons and universal truths in this book than just the love story that teaches our protagonist to grow up. It's about family, sisters, love, society, youth and maturity, wealth and the lack of it...This book pretty much has everything and if you don't like it, I'm not sure I can understand that. And I'm usually pretty understanding. :)
Also, you'll probably need to go by a journal after reading this. Just a warning.
I shouldn't quite relate so much to a 17/18 year old in the early 1900s, but I do. And her story is more than simple.
I need time to process it all.
----
This is one of those books that I really don't remember how I heard about it, but I know I did before I watched the movie (it has Henry Cavill in it, okay? I had to see it). The movie is good, but the book is better (surprise, surprise).
I started this book ages ago and then put it away because it wasn't connecting. I loved the voice of our narrator even then, but I just wasn't in the mood for this type of novel (or the age of it. It required more brainpower than something more modern). I picked it up again last month and devoured it. It is delightful, which is kind of a lame adjective, but there's not other way to describe how enjoyable it is to 'listen' to Cassandra relate the events in her life. She is smart, but makes mistakes, often naive, but starts to recognize her power as a woman. Her descriptions of characters, places and events are delightful (can't help it) to read. Her 'coming of age' is not typical or unoriginal like other books of that genre. The ending itself is not what I expected, but it didn't matter. It was perfect.
The castle itself, her odd family (her brother totally captures my heart by the last section), the setting is just as absorbing as Cassandra herself. Who doesn't want to live in a castle, even one falling apart? Their poverty is abject, but when their fortune changes, Cassandra sees how even money can't fix things, and often simple is better.
There are more lessons and universal truths in this book than just the love story that teaches our protagonist to grow up. It's about family, sisters, love, society, youth and maturity, wealth and the lack of it...This book pretty much has everything and if you don't like it, I'm not sure I can understand that. And I'm usually pretty understanding. :)
Also, you'll probably need to go by a journal after reading this. Just a warning.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated