Finding My Own Blue Castle

I came to The Blue Castle past the midpoint of my life, thrilled when it was recommended to me by a fellow-writer friend. I only wish I had read it sooner. What could be more empowering than to watch repressed, blighted Valancy Stirling, butt of unfunny family jokes for her old-maid status, rebuked by her overbearing relatives even for daring to sneeze out loud, come into her own so gloriously?