This was a charming tale set in England in the 1930's told by a 17 year old narrator. I liked Cassandra Mortmain. I loved how she forced herself to journal because she wanted to learn to write, which makes sense since her dad was a famous author, if only of one book. We learn a lot about Cassandra and her family through her journal. It's been quite awhile since I read Pride and Prejudice, but this book reminded me of that one. I thought both books were "quaint", but I didn't love them. This was certainly not a difficult book to read - it was "written" by a young girl - but it took too long to read it because I was always setting it down to do something else. This clearly means that I wasn't overly invested in it!
The "class system" was very important in England, and the Mortmains were of a certain class because James Mortmain' book sold well, especially in America. But then he threatens his wife with a cake knife (temper of a true artist/genius), spends three months in prison, buys a rundown castle, Mrs. Mortmain dies young "of perfectly natural causes" (Really?? What young woman in her 20's (?) dies of natural causes??) and they plunge into poverty. So, it's the 1930's and they are of a certain class, so this in turn means that no one makes an effort to go out and work!! They simply live in poverty, until the son of their former, deceased, servant finds a job to support them. Honestly!! But, different times, different country, right? Hmmmm....I understand why beautiful older sister Rose decides the only way out of poverty for them is for her to marry a rich man. When she finds her rich man, she succeeds in having him fall in love with her - and I do believe that she wanted to help her family live a better life, along with herself. I was thrilled, though, that in the end she chose love over money! That was certainly her redeeming quality!
I loved Stephen!! He was kind and devoted and handsome to boot! Why, why, why couldn't Cassandra have loved him?? Cassandra was quite in tune to her feelings as a young girl. She could have basked in Stephen's "worship" of her, but she cared enough about him to be honest with him - despite one weak moment when she kissed him in the woods. I liked both Simon and Neil too - and in the end, things happened the only way they should. Cassandra showed her maturity by letting Simon go - temporarily. ;) I believed that he would, in fact, be back.
We are so "jaded" now. Or maybe it's just the way books are written now versus the way they were written in the 1940s. This was such a "sweet" book, despite the poverty, the mental health issues of James Mortmain, the death of a young mother (Mrs. Mortmain), unrequited love, falling in love with a sister's fiancee, the sister falling in love with the fiancee's brother - and yet everyone forgives from the heart, loves each other and moves on with their life. Authors just don't write books like this anymore! I am actually surprised that I didn't like the book more than I did. I love character studies. This book just didn't hold my attention - and the chapters were very, very long!
Wendy's Rating: ***1/2
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