Comfort Read: I Capture the Castle

After an 8 am final (yes, a final at 8 am on a Saturday, not good if you don't live on a college campus), I needed to relax. The best solution I found was a hot bath and one of my favorite novels, I Capture the Castle. I'm surprised it's not more well known. Written by Dodie Smith, author of the famous children's book One Hundred and One Dalmatians, it tells the story of a family living in a deteriorating old castle in the English countryside during the 1930s. Cassandra is the 17 year old protagonist/narrator. Her father is an eccentric writer who hasn't published anything since his first novels' success over a decade ago and they are now living in "genteel poverty". Their landlord's rich American family comes to take over the estate and Cassandra's older sister Rose is determined to marry one of them.
Though incredibly simple in its premise the story is told in such a beautiful way, Cassandra's narration feels so familiar as she records her daily observations. It quietly explores what it means to grow up and how your relationships change with the people you love. Certain moments are extremely funny as well.
Everyone I've recommended it to has found something to love about it. Every time I read it I find a new nuance, or connect differently to a different character. There was a film of it made in 2003 which was pretty decent, but leaves out a few characters and doesn't fully express Cassandra's internal self as well as the book. Essentially: read it.

Weekend Viewing Guide

On Saturday night the first episode of Doctor Who premiered in the US. Many fans breathed a sigh of relief- though still warming up, both Matt Smith and Steve Moffat presented an excellent first effort. The show had energy, Amy and the Doctor had great chemistry and a story arch for the whole season has already been hinted at. Prisoner Zero tells him "the silence is coming," that someone is leaving cracks in time. I've already seen the second and third episodes that have aired in the UK and can say without giving away much, that cracks appear in those episodes as well. Amy's memory also proves to have inexplicable gaps that the Doctor doesn't understand in the third episode. On the Doctor's radar in the end of the first episode something that looked like one of the cracks blipped across the screen, but I could be wrong. It was late when I was watching. When watching Who attention to detail is extremely important, but some people get carried away. I don't want to be one of those people, but it's easy to make wild speculations in a show like this.
The trailer for the fourth episode shows the return of River Song and the Weeping Angels, both pet creations of Moffat from his episodes "Silence in the Library/The Forest of the Dead" and "Blink." Rehearsals have been running late for me on Saturday nights, so the DVR and I are becoming best friends.
This Sunday was the first part of Small Island on Masterpiece Classic. I've never read the book, but find the story very interesting and would like to read it now. Masterpiece has been struggling to re-define itself and bring in a younger audience, they seem to be hitting their stride with this season's stories taking place in the early part of the 20th century around the World Wars. I eagerly anticipate what their next season will bring.

Monday Morning Drive

After a small family Masterpiece Theatre Party at my dad's last night, I crashed in my old bedroom at his house. The mattress was more uncomfortable than I remembered and in the middle of the night I found myself sitting out on his balcony trying to keep my candles from blowing out. My breath came in clouds and I could hear oceans of water pouring through the rain gutters. But I couldn't sleep.
This morning I woke up and the house was empty except for me. I hadn't slept there in an age and it was strange. I would have loved to stay there and wander around the little town all day, but I had to behave as a responsible adult and come home, there are a million things to do.
The drive was beautiful though. Bits of color are starting to burst out from the naked winter branches and a light fog hung over everything like a canopy. I felt like I was in I Capture the Castle, it always seemed to be raining in that book- a damp but lovely English countryside. It was all very serene. I normally don't like driving on back country roads, they make me nervous, but I didn't mind it at all today.
And in case you were wondering: Sharpe's Challenge was quite good, and Sean Bean was hunky as usual. Cornwell is one of my father's favorite authors and he loved it.