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rileygatlin's review
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
3.0
ec_newman's review against another edition
5.0
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.
maggie7x's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
5.0
raquelzc's review against another edition
3.5
Okay, muy buen coming of age. Me atrevo a decir que es muy rápido, ya que la historia pasa en aprox. 6 meses. Cassandra, nuestra protagonista, es la segunda hija de un famoso autor, un autor que solo escribió un libro y no ha vuelto. La familia Mortmain no tiene mucho, pero se tienen a sí mismos, y eso es lo que Cassandra ve. Cuando llega la oportunidad de que su hermana se case con personas de buena posición (recordemos, libro que sucede en 1930), pues parece ser que la suerte de la familia ira cambiando poco a poco. Lo que no espera Cassandra es que también ella se dará cuenta que esta dejando de ser una niña, y que ella también tiene sentimientos.
Primeramente debo decir que si lo sentí un poco largo. La historia avanza bastante bien, pero lo sentí largo. Cassandra es una narradora muy interesante ya que el formato de este libro es su cuaderno donde está practicando para poder escribir una "verdadera" novela.
Sus pensamientos son muy directos, en ocasiones volátiles, tal como la mente de una adolescente. La relación con su hermana es muy interesante de ver, y en ocasiones se me hizo rara, pero esto más porque yo soy hermana mayor jajajaj. La relación que tiene con su madrastra también es muy interesante ya que es un personaje que no se acomoda a los estándares convencionales de una madre en esos tiempos, y Cassandra está muy consciente de ello. Su padre es prácticamente un recluso. Y claro, Stephen, el hijo de la criada, es un personaje que Cassandra quiere mucho (como amigo) y que en partes iguales le desespera. Su hermano menor Thomas la verdad es que participa poco en su historia pero al mismo tiempo ofrece comentarios interesantes.
Primeramente debo decir que si lo sentí un poco largo. La historia avanza bastante bien, pero lo sentí largo. Cassandra es una narradora muy interesante ya que el formato de este libro es su cuaderno donde está practicando para poder escribir una "verdadera" novela.
Sus pensamientos son muy directos, en ocasiones volátiles, tal como la mente de una adolescente. La relación con su hermana es muy interesante de ver, y en ocasiones se me hizo rara, pero esto más porque yo soy hermana mayor jajajaj. La relación que tiene con su madrastra también es muy interesante ya que es un personaje que no se acomoda a los estándares convencionales de una madre en esos tiempos, y Cassandra está muy consciente de ello. Su padre es prácticamente un recluso. Y claro, Stephen, el hijo de la criada, es un personaje que Cassandra quiere mucho (como amigo) y que en partes iguales le desespera. Su hermano menor Thomas la verdad es que participa poco en su historia pero al mismo tiempo ofrece comentarios interesantes.
monazaneefer's review against another edition
5.0
This book really engulfed me into the English countryside. The prose was beautiful and Cassandra was incredible at describing feelings that I never knew to put into words and it was so wonderful to relive those feelings as I read it. Maybe there were times I had to make an effort or try to feel connected since I already knew everything about the plot and that made it harder for me to find it fresh.
Although I found Cassandra growing up, I felt she circled around love too much in the end. She was so overcome with it she became self-centered and bitter. She became too love-sick. I do like Simon but I think her 'love' for Simon felt more like a kid's crush on an adult. Sadly, what ruined it was the fact that she never got over him. The author never meant for it to be just a crush.
And then...STEPHEN!!! My heart breaks for him. He was such a darling and so loyal to her. I hated when Cassandra took advantage of that, especially when she was trapped in the diner and called for him.
After all that, why do I give it 5 complete stars? I don't know myself heh. This could possibly go either to 4 or even 3 stars. Maybe if I look back on this book, the stars will fall down.
Although I found Cassandra growing up, I felt she circled around love too much in the end. She was so overcome with it she became self-centered and bitter. She became too love-sick. I do like Simon but I think her 'love' for Simon felt more like a kid's crush on an adult. Sadly, what ruined it was the fact that she never got over him. The author never meant for it to be just a crush.
And then...STEPHEN!!! My heart breaks for him. He was such a darling and so loyal to her. I hated when Cassandra took advantage of that, especially when she was trapped in the diner and called for him.
After all that, why do I give it 5 complete stars? I don't know myself heh. This could possibly go either to 4 or even 3 stars. Maybe if I look back on this book, the stars will fall down.
letisrl's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
hawley's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
alice007's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5