Sahara: The Extraordinary History of the World's Largest Desert

Sahara: The Extraordinary History of the World's Largest Desert
Average customer rating:

Makes me want to visit the place!

Rather beautiful and inspirational

A complete turkey!

The best, most sweeping account of the Sahara

Sahara: The Extraordinary History of the World's Largest Desert
Marq de Villiers , and Sheila Hirtle
Manufacturer: Walker & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Ecology | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Africa | Travel | Subjects | Books
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Windswept: The Story of Wind and Weather

Sahara: A Natural History

The Conquest of the Sahara

Sahara Unveiled: A Journey Across the Desert

Men of Salt: Crossing the Sahara on the Caravan of White Gold

ASIN: 0802776787

Book Description

In the parched and seemingly lifeless heart of the Sahara desert, earthworms find enough moisture to survive. Four major mountain ranges interrupt the flow of dunes and gravel plains, and at certain times waterfalls cascade from their peaks. Even the sand amazes: massive dunes can appear almost overnight, and be gone just as quickly. We think we know the Sahara, the largest and most austere desert on Earth—yet it is full of surprises, as Marq de Villiers reveals in his brilliant and evocative biography of the land and its people.

“If you traveled across the United States from Boston to San Diego, you still wouldn’t have crossed the Sahara,” writes de Villiers, painting a vivid picture of this most extraordinary place. He charts the course of Atlantic hurricanes, many of which are born in the Tibesti Mountains of northern Chad, and offers a fascinating disquisition on the physics of windblown sand and the formation of dunes. He chronicles the formation of the massive aquifers that lie beneath the desert, some filled with water that pre-dates the appearance of modern man on Earth. He marvels at the jagged mountains and at ancient cave paintings deep in the desert, which reveal that the Sahara was a verdant grassland 10,000 years ago—a cycle that has been repeated several times.

Woven through de Villiers’s story is a chronicle of the desert’s nations and people: the Berbers and Arabs of the north; its black African south, whose ancestors peopled the greatest empires of Old Africa; and the extraordinary nomads—the Moors, the Tuareg (the famous “blue men”), and the Tubu—who call the desert home today. Illuminated by the eloquent written testimonies of past travelers, Sahara is a glittering geographic tour conveying the majesty, mystery, and abundance of life in what the outside world thinks of as the Great Emptiness.

Customer Reviews:

Makes me want to visit the place!.......2007-01-26

I have never been to the Sahara, or even Africa, and had no intention of doing so until I read this book. Looking at the natural and human history of this area of the world, the book's text is an intersection of the various fields of geology, botany, ecology, geography, history, climatology, and surprisingly, even hydrology. The authors (there are two of them) have written a book that describes this area from North to South, from the Atlantic to the West, to Red Sea in the East. They cover all sorts of topics, from the aquifers that lie below the sand dunes, to describing the insect life above it, to the salt trading paths that criss-crossed these dunes. The book also examines how various human societies have come to live in this desert, sometimes in spite of it. These include native societies such as the Tuareg, Berbers, and more recent ones such as the various Arab nations. The book is written with a slight liberal tilt as one can sense the respect for nature and native societies, and the critique of modern societies. All in all though, it was a very interesting read, and I highly recommend it.

Rather beautiful and inspirational.......2005-08-17

I have no way of assessing this as a Saharan Travel Tips Guide, but whatever some reviewers may think, there are other pleasures on offer in travel literature; this is a lovely romantic and glimmering armchair trip to the Sahara of fantasy and mirage, and form some might be preferable to extensive information on appropriate tyre sizes. Not all travel books ask us to travel corporeally. Some ask us to use our imaginations. This is one, and it's rich and satisfying at that level.

A complete turkey!.......2005-07-17

It is generally unavoidable to write about history while not having been there, but it is surely indefensible to attempt to describe the geography of a region with virtually no firsthand experience.The authors start off promisingly by dismissing the customary romanticism laid on the Sahara as "outsider thinking": the "pitiless sun" being no more than the "pitiless traffic" of Fifth Avenue. Thereafter great empires of West Africa are well accounted for (lifted from a previous book of the authors?) but beyond that, and their visits to Niger and Timbuktu, they get in a complete muddle. The howlers start from page 9 when we learn that the Tanezrouft is an erg and later that In Salah is "an epicentre of the oil industry" and Leptis was dug out of the sand. The nature of the harmattan wind also happens to contradict all previous sources, Ghat is an all but abandoned Tuareg camp and - get this - the canyon of Iherir contains the Sahara's only perennial river! This is a clanger of Saharan proportions but will hopefully bring some income to the poor village of Iherir when the whitewater brigade turn up.The problem is that the authors have been to the Sahara just a couple of times, more than most it is true but surely not enough to attempt a book such as this? One gets the impression they fell for the enigmatic Tuareg (as you do) and thought "heck, let's write our new book about Sahara and those shimmering courtly nomads!" Anyone who would dare take on such a task surely ought to read French and German. Perhaps this is why the authors quote repeatedly from a limited range of the usual English-language sources: Barth, Nachtigal plus Africanus and other ancients and the few Brits like Clapperton that put pen to paper. But they use these 19th century explorers as if they were as reliable as anyone and relevant today - including ancient spellings; have they not even heard of a Mich 741 map? Having done a lot of their groundwork for them fifteen years ago, Porch's excellent 'Conquest of the Sahara' gets a good work out, while Heseltine's 'From Libyan Sands to Chad' (1955 and a great little classic) is the veritable horse's mouth for Chad and the Tubu (so never mind about Jean Chapelle's 'Nomads Noirs du Sahara' then). And last but not least is the Encyclopaedia Britannica (online version...) for all those last minute queries. What a give away. Elsewhere the embellishment is irritating if to be expected - though you would have thought not in the "moonscape" Aïr, one of the few places in the Sahara (apart from Timbuktu) where the authors have actually been. They certainly do not appear to have visited the desert areas of Morocco, Chad, Sudan, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania or even Egypt, or have nothing accurate to say about these places.But I liked the section on weather and also got a better understanding of the eminence of Old Ghana in the heyday of the trans-Sahara trade. In the end though, the authors prove that they too are outsiders - overlooking or skimming vast parts of Saharan geography like the Gilf Kebir (and not just the 'Western Desert'), the Tassili and Akakus, the distinctive Moorish culture and the Reguibat and the ongoing Tubu rebellion. They extrapolate from maps whose context they misunderstand: we learn that "dunes cover most of Western Sahara" while long-abandoned Tagheza somehow overrules Taoudenni today as a source of salt. They miss out on contemporary political upheavals too, as if they wrote the book 20 years ago. So it is that comprehending the Tuareg rebellion in Niger, (something which has set the Tuareg back years and was one of Micheal Buckley's better achievements in Grains of Sand) isn't allowed to interfere with eulogies on their preternatural guiding abilities, etc; the same, tired old Tuareg schtick.The trouble with making stuff up or guessing is that, besides making a fool of the authors, the reader does not know what else is fictitious and so the book's value is lost. Like it or not, Europe is the source of the greatest works on the Sahara, either through direct historical connection or learning. The definitive work on the Great Desert will, or may already be, written in French or German. This book certainly is not it.

Chris S

The best, most sweeping account of the Sahara.......2003-12-05

This masterful account of the Sahara is hard to surpass. Few books detail the Sahara and when they do they usually take the form of either purely scientific accounts or purely historical accounts. This book is one part history, one part geography, one part travel journal and one part science. The authors detail separate sections on the history of the Sahara, the peoples of the Sahara, the winds, the water, the geography and the wildlife. A special chapter covers the lifestyle of the Taureg tribesman. Special mention is made of the Islamic slave trade and the salt trade. Maps cover the many tribal groups, the amazing geography made up of Massifs and a map dedicated to the underground aquifers. Many wonderful photographs detail everything from a desert Hilton to the beautiful sand dunes to the people and wildlife of the Sahara. The Sahara is as large as the United States and includes a vast array of cultures and landscapes including the Qattara depression, and has over 2 million inhabitants. A must read for anyone interested in Africa, geography or extreme places.

The blue mahoe & other bush :b an introduction to plant life in Jamaica
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The blue mahoe & other bush :b an introduction to plant life in Jamaica
C. D Adams
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Far Eastern Publishers (S) Ltd. ;
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Botany | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000721VBI

The Blue Mahoe & Other Bush: An Introduction to Plant Life in Jamaica
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The Blue Mahoe & Other Bush: An Introduction to Plant Life in Jamaica
C. Dennis Adams
Manufacturer: Sangster's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OCVQNY

The blue mahoe & other bush;: An introduction to plant life in Jamaica
Average customer rating:
The blue mahoe & other bush;: An introduction to plant life in Jamaica
C. D Adams
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Far Eastern Publishers (S) Ltd.; [distributed by] Sangster's Bookstores, Kingston, Jamaica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Botany | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006C5RVY

The Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest: A Romantic Travel Guide, 8th Edition
Average customer rating:

Good for finding special places

Not a bad guide

Dumbed Down Best Places Guide

Best Places - Misses Kisses

Excellent Travel Guide

The Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest: A Romantic Travel Guide, 8th Edition

Manufacturer: Sasquatch Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Love & Romance | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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Weekends for Two in the Pacific Northwest : 50 Romantic Getaways Second Edition, Completely Revised and Updated (Weekends for Two)

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The Best Places to Kiss in Southern California: A Romantic Travel Guide (Best Places to Kiss)

Romantic Getaways in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada

ASIN: 1570613796

Amazon.com

If you're on the lookout for the ultimate places to smooch with your sweetie, look no further. Laura Kraemer and Linnea Lundgren have found, through diligent research--well, someone had to--more than 800 pucker-worthy places throughout Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Using privacy, ambience, and location (or view or setting) as their criteria, they rate each spot for its romantic appeal, and include that more pragmatic, if not very ardor-inducing, factor of price for the restaurants and lodgings they include. Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest is functional as a regular guide as well, because while not every day is full of lust and roses, a B & B that is kiss-worthy when you're in the mood can also be charming and lovely when you just want to hold hands and enjoy the scenery.--Stephanie Gold

Book Description

Looking to get away for some private time with that special someone? The Pacific Northwest is one of the most romantic destinations in the country, with wind-swept beaches, soaring mountaintops, lush forests, dramatic sunsets, and breathtaking views. With literally thousands of places to go, it's not easy to find the perfect getaway. Enter The Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest: A Romantic Travel Guide (8th edition). This completely revised and updated edition guides couples to the most charming locations throughout Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. It features detailed reviews and information on the most charming inns, resorts, Bed-and-Breakfasts, and hotels, plus it provides the scoop on privacy, amenities, views, and decor. This useful handbook also offers restaurant reviews that include menu suggestions and the best places to sit for the ultimate in romantic atmosphere. Twenty maps give an overview of hot spots for couples and the winery reviews aid in choosing a romantic wine tour. Accompanying every review are the Best Places to Kiss trademark lip ratings, featuring all-new rankings for every hotel and restaurant.

Customer Reviews:

Good for finding special places.......2006-12-19

Living in Vancouver, I used this book many times to impress various women and have to say that although the places this book digs up are not inexpensive they are certainly romantic. Without it, I would never have found the most amazing on hill house in Whistler where I was able to propose to my wife to be. I thought this book was awesome and have recommended it to many people.

Not a bad guide.......2006-08-15

On checking the local listings, I had already been to every place listed in this book and the winery listings are very out of date. The Jewel this book listed for Prosser, ,WA is probably the ugliest winery in the Yakima Valley.

Other listings appeared to be fairly accurate but not very well researched. Overall the book would still be pretty useful. Title should be changed to *Good Places....* because the Best Places aren't listed.

Dumbed Down Best Places Guide.......2004-05-15

If you read Best Places: Northwest you do NOT need to buy this book, which is far inferior. Many of the same locales are covered, but the author chooses to stick to the same term throughout: "romantic." Seldom does she choose another adjective. It didn't inspire me to kiss my new husband any more; it angered me that I had bought a dumbed down version of the Northwest books I already have.
Looking for less expensive places to have a "romantic" interlude in the NW? Don't look here. I don't know about the rest of the US, but my honey and I can't go to $$$ or $$$$ places.
Re-write the book to include real people who want to know things we haven't already read in your other books.
Don't buy it. Check it out at the library, but don't waste your hard-earned cash. And come up with true romance that doesn't cost a fortune. That should be the focus.

Best Places - Misses Kisses.......2001-01-17

As the contributing editor for "Oregon" on Suite101,com, I'm always on the lookout for great books about Oregon. Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest is great for what it includes and should probably be broken into three separate books so that more places in Oregon, Wasington, and British Columcia can be featured.

I agree wholeheartedly with the picks included. There are just so many great restaurants and B abd B's that are missing.

An entry in Bend, Oregon states that Bend is known better for outdoors kissing spots than cozy restaurants, yet I can name Kayo's Dinner House, Le Bistro, and McGrath's Fish House right off the bat that are left out.

In addition, I don't know if this would be considered a best place to kiss in other people's books, but growing up in Bend, the two best kissing spots were on top of Pilot Butte (might be closed to cars now) and Pioneer Park. Neither were included.

In Washington, Centralia's got a very cozy B and B I'd love to go back to visit (no Centralis entries) and Ocean Shores isn't even mentioned.

That said, the most annoying factor of the book is its organization. Within each section, (e.g., Vancouver and environs) towns are listed all higgledy piggledy! Ladner comes after West/North Vancouver, which is followed by Tsawwassen, then Point Roberts. It took me longer than it should have to find what I was looking for.

The write-ups are fair and show little bias. It is very journalistic, without any real personal stories. I really wanted to know why each spot was chosen.

What's there is good and even great for some areas. It's too bad there are gaps.

Excellent Travel Guide.......2000-08-02

This is a terrific travel guide for true romantics. I have used it on many trips and have never been disappointed. A great companion book to take along is The Romantic's Guide: Hundreds of Creative Tips for a Lifetime of Love.

Book Description

The rapid expansion od industry and the excessive demands made on limited natural resources have caused genuine concern at all levels of society. In the past this concern has concentrated on plants and animals and their relationships with their environments, but now attention is also turning towards microorganisms whose role is crucial to so many natural processes - from global life and mineral cycles through to the production of beer and milk products. After a brief introduction to microbiology this book concentrates on the ecological aspects of microbial life covering a wide variety of topics including structure, behaviour, growth, dispersal, interactions and how microbes act as symbionts and pathogens. Such a wide-ranging interdisciplinary approach will appeal to undergraduate and graduate students of microbiology, plant and animal ecology, agronomy, forestry and environmental sciences. Professionals working in the same fields will also find it informative as will those working in plant pathology and soil, aquatic, medical and food microbiology.

Through the Molecular Maze
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Through the Molecular Maze
Basinajian
Manufacturer: Bio-Venture Associates
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General & Reference | Chemistry | Science | Subjects | Books
General & Reference | Chemistry | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1879336006

Through the molecular maze: [a helpful guide to the elements of chemistry for beginning life science students]
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Through the molecular maze: [a helpful guide to the elements of chemistry for beginning life science students]
Allen E Breed
Manufacturer: W. Kaufmann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Chemistry | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0913232254

Book Description

Much mathematical modelling has involved the assumption that physical systems are approximately linear, leading to the construction of equations which, although relatively easy to solve, are unrealistic and overlook significant phenomena. Models assuming nonlinear systems, however, lead to the emergence of new structures that reflect reality much more closely. This second edition of Nonlinear Science, covers several important areas of nonlinear science, and places a strong emphasis on applications to realistic problems. It includes numerous new topics such as empirical results in molecular dynamics, solid-state physics, neuroscience, fluid dynamics, and biophysics; numerous new exercises and solutions; updated sections on nerve impulse dynamics, quantum-theory of pump-probe measures, and local modes on lattices. With over 350 problems, including hints and solutions, this is an invaluable resource for graduate students and researchers in the applied sciences, mathematics, biology, physics and engineering. This is the latest title in the Oxford Texts in Applied and Engineering Mathematics, which includes a range of texts from the undergraduate through to the graduate level. Most titles should be based on taught courses which explain the mathematical or computational techniques required for the resolution of fundamental applied problems. Other books in the series include: D. W. Jordan and P. Smith: Nonlinear ordinary differential equations: an introduction to dynamical systems 3rd Edition; I. J. Sobey: Introduction to interactive boundary layer theory; A. B. Tayler: Mathematical Models in Applied Mechanics (reissue); Ramdas Ram-Mohan: Finite Element and Boundary Element Applications in Quantum Mechanics; Lapeyre et al: Introduction to Monte-Carlo Methods for Transport and Diffusion Equations; Isaac Elishakoff and Yong Jin Ren: Finite Element Methods for Structures with Large Stochastic Variations

Customer Reviews:

Every Student in Science and Engineering should read this.......2004-04-02

This book has a very important mission. It is to break through the conventional approach to science and engineering in which mathematical representations of systems are almost always linearized. When faced with a nonlinear equation today, most students immediately race to solve the problem with a computer, thereby missing the opportunity to ever observe new qualitative structures that emerge from the nonlinear mathematics. To go past this bottleneck, the author starts with a historical review of the experimental and theoretical developments in nonlinear science which often amazes the students of today since many discoveries were made more than 2 centuries ago! The student is then guided through the relevant linear theory and gently introduced to the classical nonlinear equations that have produced soliton waves which have even made their way into Star Trek! The notion that a wave equation is not necessary to produce traveling wave solutions in is another striking development, which is a critical approach to the propagation of impulses in nerve fibers, for example. Yet the concept itself is introduced by examining the behavior of a candle!
The skills needed for the Backlund transformation, inverse scattering and perturbation methods are introduced, but there are always numbers of well-thought-out problems that cover the basics as well as the more detailed concepts in each chapter.
What is particularly impressive about this book is the wide range of nonlinear phenomena in an incredible number of disciplines that exhibit similar nonlinear behavior. For those who search for cross-disciplinary applications, this book is a marvelous compendium of information.
This text is extremely well written. It can easily be used as a text in a seminar-style class, where one can sense the author's presence as the guiding hand behind the material.

Very Well Written.......2001-04-12

I am currently taking a couse based on this book and am fairly impressed. The book is very interesting to read and Scott occasionally adds some humourous bits or interesting facts that help out alot. However on the mathematics side alot of steps are skipped which makes it difficult to follow at times. However there are a load of references given for each chapter, so if you do get stuck you can go to the source. Overall an interesting book, but not the best for an introduction to the material.

Nonlinear Science: Emergence and Dynamics of Coherent Structures (Oxford Texts in Applied and Engineering Mathematics)

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Nonlinear Science: Emergence and Dynamics of Coherent Structures (Oxford Texts in Applied and Engineering Mathematics)
Alwyn Scott
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OOHV68

Nonlinear Science: Emergence And Dynamics Of Coherent Structures (oxford Texts In Applied And Engineering Mathematics, 8)

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Nonlinear Science: Emergence And Dynamics Of Coherent Structures (oxford Texts In Applied And Engineering Mathematics, 8)
Alwyn Scott
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press(UK)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OL34CQ

I Capture the Castle
Average customer rating:

Bittersweet and lovely

Deserves a second, closer reading

The Movie Was Better!

Wonderful.

LOVED IT!

I Capture the Castle
Dodie Smith
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Popular Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Book Clubs | Specialty Stores | Books
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I Capture the Castle

Cold Comfort Farm

The Little White Horse

The Woman Who Walked into Doors

Rebecca Rebecca

ASIN: 0312201656

Amazon.com

Seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain wants to become a writer. Trouble is, she's the daughter of a once-famous author with a severe case of writer's block. Her family--beautiful sister Rose, brooding father James, ethereal stepmother Topaz--is barely scraping by in a crumbling English castle they leased when times were good. Now there's very little furniture, hardly any food, and just a few pages of notebook paper left to write on. Bravely making the best of things, Cassandra gets hold of a journal and begins her literary apprenticeship by refusing to face the facts. She writes, "I have just remarked to Rose that our situation is really rather romantic, two girls in this strange and lonely house. She replied that she saw nothing romantic about being shut up in a crumbling ruin surrounded by a sea of mud."

Rose longs for suitors and new tea dresses while Cassandra scorns romance: "I know all about the facts of life. And I don't think much of them." But romantic isolation comes to an end both for the family and for Cassandra's heart when the wealthy, adventurous Cotton family takes over the nearby estate. Cassandra is a witty, pensive, observant heroine, just the right voice for chronicling the perilous cusp of adulthood. Some people have compared I Capture the Castle to the novels of Jane Austen, and it's just as well-plotted and witty. But the Mortmains are more bohemian--as much like the Addams Family as like any of Austen's characters. Dodie Smith, author of 101 Dalmations, wrote this novel in 1948. And though the story is set in the 1930s, it still feels fresh, and well deserves its reputation as a modern classic. --Maria Dolan

Book Description

I Capture the Castle tells the story of seventeen-year-old Cassandra and her family, who live in not-so-genteel poverty in a ramshackle old English castle. Here she strives, over six turbulent months, to hone her writing skills. She fills three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries. Her journals candidly chronicle the great changes that take place within the castle's walls, and her own first descent into love. By the time she pens her final entry, she has "captured the castle"-- and the heart of the reader-- in one of literature's most enchanting entertainments.Bonus: Reading Group Discussion Guide included in this edition

Customer Reviews:

Bittersweet and lovely .......2007-07-24

Along with the rest of the literary world, I recently rediscovered this classic after it was republished having sat in obscurity for years. And was promptly blown away. For any lovers of Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables, or even The Age of Innocence, this is a must-read. The plot is Austen's, the characters Montgomery's, and the setting and bittersweet flavor Wharton's. Written as the journal of a cynical but essentially dreamy 17-year-old, it depicts the turning point in both her life and the lives of her family, as they spiral toward decay and complete poverty, the only hope of redemption being offered by the arrival of wealthy, good-looking neighbors next door. Don't expect to find any Mr. Darcys in this book - the Cotton brothers are much more thinly sketched and truth be told despisable heroes than that famous character, but the book rides on the wistful, witty, breathtakingly clear voice and character of Cassandra Mortmain, a heroine who burns in the memory long after the book has been put down, and as such the book is more than worth reading. Doesn't quite achieve the peak of lofty classicism of other more famous books such as Jane Eyre or Pride and Prejudice, but a lovely story which skitters on the edges of childhood, romance, heartbreak, and growing up with grace and near-brilliance. For a book to be a true classic it must contain 1)intensely vibrant, complex, and individual characters, particularly the main one 2)a well-constructed and finely drawn plot, that brings nothing extra in and 3)that extra spark, of style or vision, that lifts a book into something that appeals on some level to all humanity. I Capture the Castle has a good dose of all three but not quite enough. On the first charge, while Cassandra herself fits the bill as nearly as a 17-year old can(unfortunately by the very nature of the age given to her she doesn't quite have the maturity or decisiveness of a woman) most of the other characters feel either over-the-top(her family) or under-drawn(Rose and the Cotton brothers). On the second, there is such a thing as too much detail, and Dodie Smith falls into that trap. On the third, she nearly, nearly reaches that level, particularly in the brilliant ending scene, but not quite; the wider emotions - hate, fear, and the deeper vision, is missing. So, in the end, while this remains a minor classic - the story of a year or so in the life of a girl - it's a brilliant and heartbreaking one. "Three more lines left. I love you."

Deserves a second, closer reading.......2007-06-06

Mortimer Adler (How to Read a Book) recommends reading a book three times to delve deeper into what an author is trying to say through their story. I just finished reading this for the first time. This really deserves a closer read now that I "get" what happens with Rose at the end. (No spoilers here).

I'd seen the movie a while ago and it didn't really do anything for me. I watched the movie again last night and still didn't like it. Sure, the movie was OK, but I don't think it really got to the heart of the story.

I feel the author is really trying to say something here that is summarized at the end during the discussion between Simon and Cassandra about her father's book. This book is a puzzle in itself on purpose. It is not just about a love story, or a child growing up. Dodie Smith is trying to say something about the creative process itself. It will take effort on the reader's part to tease out all the meaning that is layered into the story.

The Movie Was Better!.......2007-05-08

I suppose that I would have liked the book more, had I read it first instead of watching the movie first. I think this book lacked details that I look for in a good book. I did not care much for the time or place that it took place. I felt the book had a slow beginning. That was enough for my husband to quit reading it. Several of my book club members could not get past the fist sentence! As you read on, however, you find that the story gets better as it goes. There is so much drama between the two sisters in this book! It makes it really good! It has some laughs and some serious parts. There were some parts in this book that my book club members disagreed about as far as what Smith was trying to get across to the reader. Overall, I would say that it is worth a try, but I would not read it again. I would, however, watch the movie again!

Wonderful........2007-05-03

Cassandra's lovely prose far transcends her age in the book. Whimsical, fantastic, all in all a wonderful novel that will capture your imagination and render you unable to stop reading.

LOVED IT!.......2007-04-17

A great read with well-developed characters. It's one of those books where you feel a little sad once you reach the end because you've become attached to the characters. A lovely book

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I Capture the Castle

Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000H03UM8

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I Capture the Castle

Manufacturer: The Reprint Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GM607O

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I Capture the Castle

Manufacturer: Little, Brown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000BZQUFI

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I Capture the Castle

Manufacturer: Definitions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GA07Q6

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I Capture the Castle
Sony Pictures
Manufacturer: SONY PICTURES
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM
ASIN: B000WT5Q8A

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I Capture the Castle
Dodie Smith
Manufacturer: The Folio Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J2I15A

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I Capture the Castle
Dodie Smith
Manufacturer: Little, Brown & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000TA6MCG

Product Description

Character is Cassandra Mortmain, a tantalizing compound of sweet innocence, a woman's wisdom, and plain guile. Book Club Edition

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I CAPTURE THE CASTLE
SMITH DODIE
Manufacturer: HEINEMANN / THE REPRINT SOCIETY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000S864S6

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I Capture The Castle
Dodie Smith
Manufacturer: Red Fox
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KKI9F8

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