Book #24 of 2016. 
 Technically a re-read. 
 "I am a restlessness inside a stillness inside a restlessness." 
 I don't understand why there are not more people familiar with I Capture the Castle. I fell in love with this book in late middle school, and it still has a grasp on me today. Rereading it now was enlightening; while I used to find Cassandra's feelings about love relatable if a bit out of my grasp, I now recognize that Cassandra and I probably are quite different in relationships. 
 Despite my growing up, Cassandra remains a lovable narrator. Her prose flies off the page, and one can't help but dive into her mind. It is easy to forget that you are not actually reading her journal-- it feels that realistic. This is important because I Capture the Castle is completely character driven, and if our narrator felt anything less than flesh and blood, this story would not have the same resonance. Reading I Capture the Castle is like if you were best friends with Rose from Downton Abbey and she sent you regular letters about what was going on with the Granthams. It's vaguely self-indulgent and gossipy, but in a way that makes you feel affection towards the story teller and warm and fuzzy inside. One of the reasons I picked up this book way back when is because JK Rowling had a note of recommendation on the cover, and I couldn't resist. Reading it with a more critical eye now, I see how JKR gleaned pieces of style from Dodie Smith. 
 A rollicking good time for all.