I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith

This is a classic novel about coming of age and the discovery of love.  The novel is set in an old castle inhabited by a destitute family and their young servant and is narrated by one of the daughters.  The characters are all very well drawn and easy to relate to which makes this book surprisingly gripping given the far from unusual plot.  For me the most interesting character was the father, a writer who has not written a word in years and whose mercurial personality impacts on the whole household.  However, the two daughters are also intriguingly portrayed and the complexity of their personalities gives this book real depth.   The writing, in particular the dialogue, is excellent.   A very enjoyable and worthwhile read.