Warning: This book is not for everyone. Ah. Gone With The Wind. One of the great classic. Brace yourself- this review is going to be a long one. In the...moreWarning: This book is not for everyone. Ah. Gone With The Wind. One of the great classic. Brace yourself- this review is going to be a long one. In the case of Gone With The Wind, I saw the movie before I ever read the book. My grandmother showed it to me when I was 9, which was probably way to young, but, thankfully I missed most of the bad stuff. I loved the movie right away, and vowed to someday read the book. Before I read the book, I'd watched the movie many, many times, and I loved it more every time. Even now, my heart swells when I hear the theme. So, I decided last summer that I should read it, and when better to read a 1000 page book then summer? I was again visiting my grandmother's house, and I took her battered old copy and settled in a chair. I thought it would drag. But right away, I was pulled in. For all that I hated Scarlett, I wanted to see what was going on (even though I already knew). From the beginning, Ashley pissed me off. He never would tell Scarlett no, but he never told her yes. He leads her on, more or less, giving her false hope. Now, Scarlett shouldn't like him in the first place, but this really bugged me. I have to say, right from her entrance, Melanie was my favourite character. Really, I loved every character. I loved every scene. You'd think the book would get a wandering, not-going-anywhere feel, but there was a forward momentum through the whole book. I kept turning the pages. All the ups and downs, Scarlett's victories, and downfalls, where compelling. The romantic in me loved every part,and somehow, I even loved Scarlett, even though she was so obviously no good!!!!! I liked watching her growth (even when it was negative) and the way the info on the war was drizzled in made this book super believable. I know a lot of people don't like that it's so Southern, and all rah rah Confederacy, but what do you expect from a Southerner? Margaret Mitchell obviously wanted to show the war from the side of the South, but even more, the effects of the war on one woman. She did an amazing job of this. I don't agree with all the opinions in the book, but, really, that's really how many of those people were back during the war. They weren't evil- they were just wrong. But despite this, I loved this book. It's the romance that every other romance wants to be. And yet, it's hard to call it a romance. There's so much else here. This book is very complex. And I love it for it. I will reread it again for sure. GONE WITH THE WIND RULES!!!! (And the movie does too!) But if you think that racism (even realistic, from the time racism) would really tick you off, don't read it. It is a great book, but the racism was freaky! That's all the warning I'll give. E P.S. DO NOT EVER READ THE SEQUEL, SCARLETT. IF YOU LOVED THIS BOOK, THE SEQUEL WILL INFURIATE YOU!!!!! (Believe me- I just read the summary and it MADE ME SO MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT even waste your time. Picture your own ending. The Sequel will likely disappoint.)(less)
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