I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith

How I managed to go all these years without reading this book, I really don't know. 

Much as I loved reading Bridget Jones' Diary, (it made me laugh so much!), I Capture The Castle wins hands down for diaries penned by women. It is funny and tragic by turns, clean and yet full of sensuality and suggestion.

Set in the 1930s this is the story of a 17 year old living with her eccentric family in a crumbling castle in the middle of nowhere. It tells of her hopes and fears, her dreams, her loves and how she discovers who she is over the course of a year. 

What drew me to the novel was the opening sentence. "I write this sitting in the kitchen sink." I read to the end of the first paragraph and had to buy the book. This doesn't happen very often with me but I'm glad I did buy the book. It is one I will re-read many times.