Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
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Post by Kristie on Apr 2, 2009 21:05:12 GMT -5
I have seen the movie version of I Capture the Castle that you're talking about, with Bill Nighy and Romola Garai. I don't really remember much about it. I remembered the kiss between Simon and Cassandra, but I can't exactly remember how the story ends. But I really did like the movie. This is one time when I don't remember enough about it to make me angry at it for any differences.
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Isa
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Post by Isa on Apr 3, 2009 7:40:47 GMT -5
So far most of the differences I've noticed don't really bother me, except maybe that Neil doesn't seem to despise Rose the way he does in the novel. I still haven't finished the book so I don't know how the story ends, and that's why I stopped watching the movie, I was afraid they were letting on too much...
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Isa
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Post by Isa on Apr 7, 2009 7:48:27 GMT -5
So what did you guys think of the end of the novel? I'm sort of torned... I'm glad it wasn't a "and they lived together happily forever" sort of ending, but at the same time the novel leaves so many things unresolved. What will happen to Stephen? And do you think Cassandra and Simon will ever get together? Somehow I don't see it happening. Cassandra is still young and has plenty of time to fall in love again, preferably with someone who doesn't hanker for her sister. I was glad to see Rose and Neil end up together though, and the fact that Rose would go for the younger brother even though he's not as rich sort of redeemed her in my opinion.
Another thing I liked about this third part is that the story sort of took on a life of its own. In the first part, it was easy to see the influence of Austen and the Brontës, but in the last part it moved away from the classics and became a more unique novel. All in all, it was a really good read!
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Post by Carma on Apr 7, 2009 10:31:25 GMT -5
OK, it's because there's this scene in the movie where Cassandra imagines she's walking with Stephen and they get to this little meadow full of bluebells and she says they get there at "twilight", so I thought perhaps Stephenie Meyer had seen the movie and had her famous "meadow dream" after that. And she did say she pictured Edward looking like Henry Cavill when she was writing the novel, so I guess it would make sense... Then later, there's a line where Cassandra wishes on the "new moon", and Simon plays Debussy's Clair de Lune for her. It just seems like a whole lot of coincidences! I hadn't thought of that.... It might make sense.. since Stephenie Meyer says one day she woke up with that meadow scene in her head.. maybe she did watch that movie! And the ending... I also don't really see Simon and Cassandra together, although it would've been nice if they did... I'm a bit confused about the kiss though, why would Simon kiss Cassandra?
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Apr 9, 2009 22:32:07 GMT -5
I really don't know how I feel about the ending. I will never really know since I saw the movie first and knew what happened with Rose. On the one hand, I really do like how it's not a predictable ending with Rose and Simon living "happily ever after" as Isa said. However, I wish I knew what happened between Cassandra and Simon--there is an equal possibility that they never see each other again or that they did, in the end, end up together. The way we don't know what happened between Cassandra and Simon makes the book seem, to me, like there is no closure--but I suppose it is up to the reader to pick which ending they want for those two characters.
I am glad that Cassandra finally stood up to Rose though, when they argued at the flat. I was very proud of her for not letting Rose do whatever the heck she wanted for once. Unfortunately, the feeling in Cassandra didn't quite last and she felt guilty when I felt she shouldn't have.
Anyone else love the part when Cassandra and Thomas locked Mortmain in the tower? I absolutely loved that part, even though I knew it was coming
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Post by Dominique on Apr 10, 2009 5:59:13 GMT -5
Anyone else love the part when Cassandra and Thomas locked Mortmain in the tower? I absolutely loved that part, even though I knew it was coming I agree, I thought that part was great
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Isa
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Post by Isa on Apr 10, 2009 6:02:09 GMT -5
lol, yes, that was a funny part and I love how Thomas takes control of the situation, makes me wish there was more of him in the novel. The part where Cassandra starts talking about the book and how she doesn't understand it seemed a little long, though... What do you make of the fact that Thomas gets it right away and Cassandra doesn't? I felt bad for her, especially the way Simon kept on insisting it was important that she would understand, and it just made her feel dumb...
About the ending too, isn't it a bit weird that Dodie Smith would create one of the most perfect characters ever in Stephen (dropdead gorgeous, incredibly generous and selfless, capable of the greatest love) and in the end we don't have a clue what happens to him! I like the open ending when it comes to Simon and Cassandra because, as Kristie said, it's up to the reader to pick whatever ending they prefer. But I'd very much like to know that Stephen's found a way to be happy, at the very least...
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Katelyn
First short story featured in regional newspaper
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Post by Katelyn on Apr 10, 2009 21:18:18 GMT -5
I've always wondered whether Dodie Smith ever intended to write a sequel to I Capture the Castle? I must say, there are very few novels that, after reading that novel, I actually feel there needs to be a sequel.
But, oh, how I wish Dodie Smith had written a sequel to I Capture the Castle! I wish she had set a part of it in America and a part of it in England, and in it, I wish she had followed the lives of the Mortmain sisters after being separated.
I actually think that I Capture the Castle is more of a love story than a romance, and the main couple in this story, I feel, isn't Cassandra and Simeon, but Cassandra and Rose and likewise, Neil and Simeon.
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Apr 13, 2009 8:30:01 GMT -5
I've always wondered whether Dodie Smith ever intended to write a sequel to I Capture the Castle? I must say, there are very few novels that, after reading that novel, I actually feel there needs to be a sequel. But, oh, how I wish Dodie Smith had written a sequel to I Capture the Castle! I wish she had set a part of it in America and a part of it in England, and in it, I wish she had followed the lives of the Mortmain sisters after being separated. I actually think that I Capture the Castle is more of a love story than a romance, and the main couple in this story, I feel, isn't Cassandra and Simeon, but Cassandra and Rose and likewise, Neil and Simeon. I suppose I think this would be better with a sequel too. I am sure many people probably think so and, seeing as the book is 60 years old, I'm actually somewhat surprised that there hasn't been an other-author sequel. I know those sequels are never the same--there are so many for Austen's novels, but you can tell the author is different. But I'd like to see another author's interpretation of what happens next since I was unsatisfied with Smith's ending.
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Isa
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Post by Isa on Apr 14, 2009 7:22:42 GMT -5
If I were to write the sequel I think I'd find a way to make Cassandra fall in love with Stephen in the end ;D
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