Keeping The Castle [Hardcover]

Patrice Kindl (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 14, 2012

Seventeen-year-old Althea is the sole support of her entire family, and she must marry well. But there are few wealthy suitors--or suitors of any kind--in their small Yorkshire town of Lesser Hoo. Then, the young and attractive (and very rich) Lord Boring arrives, and Althea sets her plans in motion. There's only one problem; his friend and business manager Mr. Fredericks keeps getting in the way. And, as it turns out, Fredericks has his own set of plans . . . This witty take on the classic Regency--Patrice Kindl's first novel in a decade--is like literary champagne!

“If you’re a fan of I Capture the Castle you will love this sharply funny tale of courtship.  A delicious confection.”  -- Polly Shulman, author of Enthusiasm

“Take one Austenian heroine in desperate financial straits.  Put her in a crumbling castle, give her two evil stepsisters and some very unsuitable suitors.  Make it funny!  Patrice Kindl’s Keeping the Castle is an absolute charmer!”  -- Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club

Editorial Reviews

Review

Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW In her first book in 10 years, Kindl (Lost in the Labyrinth) creates a sharp-witted comedy of manners set in 19th-century England that mirrors the narrative voice of Jane Austen. Seventeen-year-old Althea Crawley’s mission is to secure a husband rich enough to repair the family’s crumbling castle, since her wealthier live-in stepsisters aren’t much help. (They “did feel some obligation to contribute towards their upkeep, but the sum was ever in dispute, and tardy in payment.”) Althea’s best prospect for a suitable fiancé is newcomer Lord Boring, but much to her annoyance, at social outings and parties she finds herself paired with his brash and outspoken companion, Mr. Fredericks. The banter between Althea and Mr. Fredericks will clue in readers that they are, in fact, a perfect match, something it takes Althea a while longer to recognize. Althea’s tongue-in-cheek commentary regarding the selection of a suitor and her razorlike quips are abundantly entertaining, but it is the heroine’s remarkable ingenuity and compassion for loved ones—including her widowed mother, younger brother, and an artist friend, Miss Vincy—that make her so endearing. Ages 12–up. (June)

Booklist STARRED REVIEW   Seventeen-year-old Althea Crawley is facing a plight familiar to characters in Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle (1949), Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and PBS’ Downton Abbey: “Perhaps one day women might be able to choose their husbands with no thought of money and position, but not in this day and age in Lesser Hoo, Yorkshire, England.” Althea is on a quest to marry rich so that she may secure the family’s only inheritance, a dilapidated castle on the edge of the North Sea. She also bears the burden of supporting her widowed mother, four-year-old brother, and two sour, wealthy stepsisters, who refuse to contribute financially to the household. Marriage prospects in tiny Lesser Hoo are slim, to say the least, until dashing and wealthy Lord Boring arrives on the scene. Matters are further complicated by a revolving cast of potential suitors, including Lord Boring’s cousin, Mr. Fredericks, who is the Mr. Darcy to Althea’s Elizabeth Bennet. As with any respectable story set in England in the nineteenth or early twentieth century, the ending is jam-packed with revelations, only some of which are surprising. In her first novel in a decade, Kindl (Goose Chase, 2001) writes with sharp, effervescent, period-specific language that is so spot-on readers may find themselves adopting a British accent. This witty take on classic Regency romances is frothy fun for YA Anglophiles.

(Ann Kelley )

School Library Journal STARRED REVIEW  This droll tale set in 19th-century England will earn smiles of recognition from those familiar with Pride and Prejudice. Althea Crawley's only hope of saving her family and their castlelike home from their state of genteel poverty is to ensnare a wealthy husband using the two sole tools at her disposal: her youth and her beauty. The 17-year-old soon sets her sights on dashing Lord Boring, but obstacles arise, including her scheming stepsisters and Boring's seemingly boorish cousin, Mr. Fredericks. Though the bulk of the action revolves around socializing—visits, picnics, riding parties—these events are infused with enough drama and social maneuvering to keep the plot moving smoothly. Witty dialogue, particularly the barbed exchanges between Althea and Mr. Fredericks, recalls Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy's sharp banter but will also be accessible to readers who have not yet encountered Austen. Kindl uses sly humor to take aim at societal customs and standards. For example, Althea questions a rich suitor about why her appreciation of his wealth is mercenary while his enjoyment of her physical beauty is admirable. Althea is a worthy heroine with sharp-eyed views on matrimony that set her apart from more typical dewy-eyed protagonists. The dilapidated castle setting, the Crawleys' desperate circumstances, Althea's amusingly wicked stepsisters, and a touch of romance all bring this archly humorous story to vivid life. A treat for both fans of Austen and newcomers alike.

(Mahnaz Dar )

Kirkus Review A romp of a Regency romance told through the discerning voice of a witty teenage beauty whose family needs to her to marry for money.. . . Kindl respects the conventions of the genre while also gently mocking it. ...While the happy ending comes as no surprise, the path to it is funny as well as satisfying, with many nods to Jane Austen along the way.

About the Author

Patrice Kindl (www.patricekindl.com) is the author of Owl in Love and Goose Chase as well as other award-winning novels.  She has shared her 1830’s home in a small village in rural upstate New York with a wide variety of creatures: a son, monkeys (she trained them to be aides to quadriplegics), birds, cats, dogs and hamsters. Her current household contains a singing, dancing, talking parrot, a faithful little black and brown dog, an old tiger cat and a very tolerant husband.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (June 14, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670014389
• ISBN-13: 978-0670014385
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1.1 x 7.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #231,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Breezy Read That Relies Too Much on Austenian Elements July 25, 2012

By S. Su

Format:Hardcover

KEEPING THE CASTLE is a quick, Austen-flavored story that you can breeze through in a few short hours. Is it a keeper? Well...I enjoyed the voice and the setup, but felt the story was too short to develop the characters and their predicaments into full and empathizable creations.

Seventeen-year-old Althea lives in a crumbling, laughable faux-castle on a cliff designed by a debilitatingly romantic ancestor. Her family has no money, her two stepsisters are stingy with theirs, their castle is falling apart around them, and they will starve to death unless the practical Althea marries well. Althea sets her sights on the handsome and rich Lord Boring...but in addition to the irritating and unwanted near-constant presence of Lord Boring's cousin Mr. Fredericks, there's a lot more that doesn't go according to Althea's plans.

My favorite thing about KEEPING THE CASTLE was definitely its Austenian influence. Aptly described as a combination of Dodie Smith's lovely I Capture the Castle (another book I loved) and Jane Austen's works, KEEPING THE CASTLE features a spunky heroine whose extreme pragmatism is cause for many moments of laughs and head-shaking sighs. Althea's practical nature make her the perfect foil for the social foibles that typically occur in Austenian novels, but it is when that delightful personality comes up against tired Austenian elements and a too-quick plot development that things stumble for me.

No matter how much I love Jane Austen, there comes a point where Austenian elements tire me out. Unfortunately, I felt like KEEPING THE CASTLE crammed all of the most recognizable elements of Austen's novels into a quick 250 pages, resulting in sensory/familiarity overload for me. First, Althea seeks a rich husband (youth and attractiveness a plus but not required). Later, she attempts to matchmake between two of her new acquaintances. Okay, to be honest, I've only read two of Austen's novels to their conclusions, but combining the most familiar elements of Pride and Prejudice and Emma into one story felt like overkill to me.

Additionally, the short length of the book prevented the characters and plot from developing thoroughly. It was hard for me to ever get a grasp on the attraction between Althea and Mr. Fredericks. Bickering couples are sometimes fun for me to read about, but unlike the change in Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's feelings toward and understanding of each other, Althea and Mr. Fredericks never seem to undergo the same kind of mental evolution. Secondary couplings are also barely explained, with the result that I flitted from one marital revolution to the other in a state of confusion and only polite interest, instead of emotional investment in the characters and their outcomes.

Overall, KEEPING THE CASTLE is a relatively fun and diverting read for a lazy afternoon (or a sleepless night, if you're me), but it doesn't as if it will be a staple of Austenian literature.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh Perspective on Romance - A New Classic June 19, 2012

By Erin C. Spock

Format:Hardcover

I love romance novels, despite genre cliches frequently present (even from the best authors). Even in some of my favorite books, there are those moments where I roll my eyes at plot devices with obvious or contrived outcomes. Nothing about this story was predictable.

Keeping the Castle kept me guessing. The entire story was in first person point of view from the perspective of Althea. She was witty and practical. She would have a shallow moment then hold herself accountable for it, vacillating between kindness and cunning. I was alongside her in her adventures, confusions, plotting, and growing friendships. There was so much more to the story than boy meets girl.

This has become a new favorite. It has the authentic flavor of a classic but with a tight plot and a sense of humor. I never once found myself skimming nor did I feel the lack of steamy content (something I generally enjoy). I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical romance.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Five stars for me, but won't appeal to everyone December 17, 2012

By M. Knapp

Format:Hardcover

A delightful story of Althea Crawley, aged 17, who has taken it upon herself to make a financially good marriage, thereby saving the family castle from ruin. Kindle wonderfully captures the arch style of Austen and the Brontes with convoluted sentences that double back with sly and ironic humor. Althea is an independent sort, full of plots and schemes, but with a kind heart. She is not afraid to chide those with rough manners, nor is she afraid to roll up her sleeves and get to work when called for. Althea lives with her widowed mother, younger brother and two self-centered step sisters. There are eligible bachelor neighbors and cads, cotillions and teas, a sweet girl with a secret and all the usual delights for those who like to read about lords and ladies and heaths and moors and horseback rides and fortunes gained and lost. Easy to recommend for discerning readers in their mid-teens. This book is on the Texas Lone Star reading list, and I hope it will find the right readers. It will not be action-packed enough for many. It strikes me as a book to enjoy tucked in with a sweet beverage and few hours to escape the everyday world.
About me: I'm a middle school/high school librarian
How I got this book: purchased for the library