thebeab 's review for:

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense 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

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- absolutely delivered on premise of YA coming of age story e.g. Mrs Button the mannekin becomes an embarrassing relic of her childhood once she takes on an adult mindset - great!
- Brilliant twists I didn't see coming
- Fantastic characters, loved the MC, her father, sister, the Americans, the MC was so witty and funny and smart but made stupid and interesting "heat of the moment" mistakes that sent the plot in interesting and unanticipated directions
- beautiful descriptions and gorgeous prose
- insanely satisfying ending -

I love that she DOESNT end up with Simon (who was a cad!) You know they're in love with each other BUT he has quite some making up to do so I love that they don't neatly end up together -

so forward thinking considering this book was written in the 1940s.