guerra_sio's review
3.0
Cassandra wants nothing to do with romance. Living in a rundown castle and relying on her father (and his writer's block) to provide for the family has taught her pragmatism is the way to go, until...
tiffyofthemonts's review against another edition
4.0
Charming and still so sad in its own way. Cassandra Mortmain is such a whimsical narrator with the dreamiest voice. I watched the film just days after finishing this book - to me, it doesn't do it justice.
mels_reading_log's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I did not know what to expect from this book, but I had to keep reminding myself it was written in the 40’s. It felt so modern and the sarcasm and dry humor was perfection. I really love this book and am shocked I didn’t know about it until recently.
marshmallowbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those coming-of-age books that is written as a journal. England in the 1930's. Cassandra Mortmain and her family live very humbly (i.e. pennilessly) in an old castle that is quickly becoming more of a ruin than a residence. Her father wrote a book once, but also went to jail once, and since then has been a bit mopey. To the point that I was pretty bothered by him, to be honest.
I really enjoyed reading things from Cassandra's perspective as she does what she can to keep the family functioning, even though she is only a teenager. Her dad, called Mortmain, is a hermit who doesn't want to be disturbed. Topaz, her step-mom, is a rather eccentric, artsy person but really loves Mortmain. Rose, the older sister, is a dramatic romantic who can't be pressured to help out with much (think Amy from Little Women or Marianne from Sense and Sensibility). Thomas is the little brother going to school and helping out where he can - he's a good kid, no qualms there. Cassandra's also dealing with the puppy love of Stephen, another teen who lives with them because his mother was their maid before she passed away.
And then they get new neighbors who are also their new landlords. A family with two bachelor sons from America who upon their arrival reminded me that the story took place in the 20th century, not the 19th (reading about people living in a crumbling castle really challenged my awareness of the timing of the story). Not only do they bring with them funny American accents and vocabulary and riches they are willing to share with the Mortmain family, they also bring about change and questions and nothing will be the same again.
I really enjoyed reading things from Cassandra's perspective as she does what she can to keep the family functioning, even though she is only a teenager. Her dad, called Mortmain, is a hermit who doesn't want to be disturbed. Topaz, her step-mom, is a rather eccentric, artsy person but really loves Mortmain. Rose, the older sister, is a dramatic romantic who can't be pressured to help out with much (think Amy from Little Women or Marianne from Sense and Sensibility). Thomas is the little brother going to school and helping out where he can - he's a good kid, no qualms there. Cassandra's also dealing with the puppy love of Stephen, another teen who lives with them because his mother was their maid before she passed away.
And then they get new neighbors who are also their new landlords. A family with two bachelor sons from America who upon their arrival reminded me that the story took place in the 20th century, not the 19th (reading about people living in a crumbling castle really challenged my awareness of the timing of the story). Not only do they bring with them funny American accents and vocabulary and riches they are willing to share with the Mortmain family, they also bring about change and questions and nothing will be the same again.
lisaloulaa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
lrmoore's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
5aru's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I'd like to start off the review by stating that I am very biased by how much I dislike Simon as a love interest. Honestly, he's fine. But he's no Stephen, you know? And Stephen really was done so dirty.
Still. Cassandra's character (and the women of the story in general) are masterfully portrayed throughout. Images of girlhood and womanhood coming in flashes, mixing comedy and incalculable wisdom, showing the many and often contradictory facets of the self without any judgement regardless of their unlikeability, their fickleness, their performativity. Dodie Smith really captures what it is all like, even if I feel the last few chapters do not do the rest of the book true justice.
Still. Cassandra's character (and the women of the story in general) are masterfully portrayed throughout. Images of girlhood and womanhood coming in flashes, mixing comedy and incalculable wisdom, showing the many and often contradictory facets of the self without any judgement regardless of their unlikeability, their fickleness, their performativity. Dodie Smith really captures what it is all like, even if I feel the last few chapters do not do the rest of the book true justice.
rebeccatc's review against another edition
4.0
Entertaining story told in the first person by Cassandra, a teenaged girl living with in an extremely rundown castle in England in the 1930's. Her description of their poverty was shocking but often amusing. Later, she and her sister engage in romantic entanglements with two visiting Americans. Cassandra's descriptions of her first love were very real and moving.
mlw6628's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75