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Gone with the Wind

Margaret Mitchell

4.29 · Rating details · 1,031,114 ratings · 18,840 reviews

Scarlett O'Hara, the beautiful, spoiled daughter of a well-to-do Georgia plantation owner, must use every means at her disposal to claw her way out of the poverty she finds herself in after Sherman's March to the Sea.

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Mass Market Paperback, 1037 pages

Published April 1st 1999 by Warner Books (first published June 30th 1936)

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Dec 31, 2008 Annalisa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club, historical-fiction, classics, movies, favorites, setting, character

It takes guts to make your main character spoiled, selfish, and stupid, someone without any redeeming qualities, and write an epic novel about her. But it works for two reasons. First of all you wait for justice to fall its merciless blow with one of the most recognized lines in cinema ("frankly my dear, I don't give a damn"), but you end with a broken and somewhat repentant character and you can't be pitiless. Secondly, if you were going to parallel the beautiful, affluent, lazy, spirited South It takes guts to make your main character spoiled, selfish, and stupid, someone without any redeeming qualities, and write an epic novel about her. But it works for two reasons. First of all you wait for justice to fall its merciless blow with one of the most recognized lines in cinema ("frankly my dear, I don't give a damn"), but you end with a broken and somewhat repentant character and you can't be pitiless. Secondly, if you were going to parallel the beautiful, affluent, lazy, spirited South being conquered by the intellectual, industrious North, what better way to do that than with characters who embody those characteristics? You come to feel a level of sadness that the South and Scarlett lost their war and hope that they will rebuild.

I enjoyed the picture of pre-war South outside of what you learn in history class approved by the nation that won the war. If the South had won, we would have an entirely different picture painted. A story of lush lands and prosperity abounding with chivalry and gentility by a (too) passionate people. If you visit the South today, you can see that all these generations later the wounds of the war and the regret at losing the way of life are still fresh. But if it had not been the civil war, it would have been by other means that the lazy sprawled out way of life would have been conquered by our efficient, compact, modern lives.

I enjoyed the picture of plantations that did not abuse slaves to the extent that you read about in many memoirs. There was still a disrespect in that they viewed "darkies" as ignorant and childish and worthy of being owned, but there were those who cared for those in their trust. And the North who came down riling up the lowest of the slaves to flip the oppression did not want any contact with a race they feared. Prejudice takes many faces. Slavery is such an important part of American history, but I don't know that I agree with the format in which it is taught (at least the way it was taught to me). We take young, tolerant children and feed them stories of racism and abuse and then tell them the world is naturally prejudice (that they are prejudice) so don't be. White children start feeling awkward and aware and black children start feeling mistreated and aware. We manage to teach children about Indian and Holocaust history without the same enthusiasm to end racism by breeding racism. There has to be a better way. But I digress.

I also enjoyed Mitchell showing the volatile formula in which the KKK was aroused, that it wasn't just a disdain for free darkies but a need to protect their women and children from the rash anger now imposed on them through this new regime. Not that there are any redeeming qualities in the KKK, or even the Southern rash justice by pistol shot to curb wounded pride, but it was interesting to learn the wider circumstances in which it arose. The entire picture of the Southern perspective from the hierarchy of slaves to the disdain of the reconstruction was enlightening. The post-war difficulties, that sometimes it's harder to survive than die, were some of my favorite epiphanies of the story. What everyone in the South went through, both white and black, after everything was deconstructed and they didn't know how to rebuild. It wasn't just about freeing slaves but about rebuilding an entire way of life and sometimes change, even good change, can be this scary and destructive.

My one complaint about the book was at times the description was lengthy. I'd get a grasp for the emotions of Scarlett that are supposed to describe the emotions of all Southerners or the description of the land at Tara as a representation of the rich red soil all Southerners love and then Mitchell would go on for paragraphs or pages rehashing that feeling to pull the most emotion out of you. It worked, but sometimes I think she could have done so in fewer words.

I view Scarlett as a representation of the South in which she loved. She did not care from whence the wealth came or believed that it would ever end. Because she was rich and important, she would conquer. As the Yankees attempted to rebuild the South, fresh in their embitterment at a war they did not want to fight, you can both see their reasoning and feel for the Southerners who were licked and then stomped on in their attempts to gain back of their life. You see that in Scarlett. On one hand you don't pity her and think she needs a lesson in poverty and on the other hand you want her to survive. Either she can lie down and cling to her old ways or she can debase herself and rebuild. Survival, not morality, is her strongest drive.

Oh Scarlett. We all know people like her. People who unscrupulously use their womanly charms to get ahead and carry a deep disdain for those bound by concepts of kindness, morals, or intelligence and most especially for those who see them for what they are instead of being manipulated. People who care for nobody but themselves and who find enjoyment in life not in what they have, but in conquering the unattainable that is only desirable because it is out of reach. I loved how Mitchell showed Scarlett's decline from a religious albeit not believing girl who allowed her rationalization and avoidance to carry her from one sin to the next of intensifying degree. An excellent portrait of the degradation of character.

Initially I thought she was the only character who wasn't growing, actually digressing. But by the end she does grow up. In no regard is this greater than in her eventual desire to be a mother. Turning from her ravenous post-war desire to survive to her acceptance of life and the people around her as the way they are, eventually Scarlett grows into the person she was meant to be. As did the South. Prideful and resentful, eventually they had to accept that they lost the war and take what was given them and try to make it work.

Scarlett realizes that Melanie is not the weak, cowardly girl she always assumed but the most courageous character in the book and one who gets her means by influence and persuasion instead of Scarlett's uncivil ways. It is Melly, not Scarlett, who could get anything she desires and her heart is not her weakness but her greatest strength. Finally Scarlett values the importance of love and sees that it does not make one weak but deep to possess it. OK, I won't go that far. She's not intelligent enough to analyze love, but she grows up enough to fall for it anyway, to realize she needs people.

She sees Ashley not as the strong, honorable character she had always esteemed but the weakest and least honorable character in the book. Anyone who would tease another woman with confessions of love just so he could keep her heart and devotion at arm's length is not truly honoring his marriage vows. The greatest gift he could give his wife was the knowledge that he loved her. And we all know that like any pretty toy, once Scarlett had taken him, she would have discarded him. The debasing knowledge that he is not fit for a rougher way of life doesn't endear him. For all his intelligence, he could have picked himself up by the bootstraps and made something of himself if he wanted to survive. He is a representation of the Old South that had to die but many couldn't let go of, even today. That's the sadness of the loss of the Southern way, still longing for the past instead of moving forward.

Then we come to Rhett, the only character with the ability to conquer Scarlett, who was quite the devil. Just like the ladies in old Atlanta I found myself at times entranced by his charms, but often I did not like or trust him. I was often torn about the way he constantly encouraged Scarlett to fall another wrung on her morality ladder and mocked her emotions, mocked all of Southern civility. What annoyed me most about him was that he showed love by coddling his wife and child until they were spoiled, dependent, but not grateful, and this was his idea of being a good father and husband. And yet I sympathized with him and was often amused by him. More than anything I enjoyed his intelligence as a way for Mitchell to introduce the Yankee viewpoint, using his sarcasm as satire. I loved the whole discussion of his not being a gentleman and her no lady.

More than anything I saw his slow conquering of Scarlett's heart as a parallel to the slow enveloping of the South by the North until they realized they were dependent on their conquerors but could still maintain their fierce spirit, a marriage of North and South. The fact that she could never fully understand him shows the divide between to two philosophies. But does the South lose in this blending? Can't they adopt the intellectual ways of the North and still maintain their civility? Just like Ashley, they would rather have dreamt and remembered than changed.

The characters in the book are so vivid that like or dislike you cannot get them out of your head. There are no more vibrant characters in the history of literature that Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. There is a reason this book is a classic. Everyone should read it at least once in their life to appreciate the civil war and understand the sadness and loss that enveloped the country. ...more

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Aug 11, 2007 Eve Brown rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I honestly do not know whether to give this book 5 stars for being one of the most completely engrossing, shocking, and emotionally absorbing pieces of literature ever written, or to give it 0 stars for being the most tragic, unendingly upsetting, disturbing book I've ever read. I read the last 50 pages or so literally with my mouth wide open, unable to believe that it was really going to be THAT tragically sad. When I finally finished, I walked downstairs in a daze, handed the book to my ...more

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Mar 28, 2018 Matthew rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Historical fiction and classics fans

Shelves: favorites, classic, historical-fiction, own, tear-jerkers, completist-book-club, 2018

Another epic story complete! This was a very good one!

I have read a few huge books in my life. Some are a struggle to get through and others are so captivating they read easier than a 300 page novel. Gone With The Wind falls in the "captivating" category. At no point was I bored with the story or wondering if it was ever going to end. I was fully invested every step of the way - invested to the point that my wife was amused that I spent a lot of time talking back to the book or exclaiming when Another epic story complete! This was a very good one!

I have read a few huge books in my life. Some are a struggle to get through and others are so captivating they read easier than a 300 page novel. Gone With The Wind falls in the "captivating" category. At no point was I bored with the story or wondering if it was ever going to end. I was fully invested every step of the way - invested to the point that my wife was amused that I spent a lot of time talking back to the book or exclaiming when something big or shocking happened. Gone With The Wind was the complete experience.

Before I go further, I will address the uncomfortable part of the book: the depiction of race, dialect, and other Civil War era activities in the South. At times I felt like maybe I shouldn't be enjoying a book featuring a sympathetic view of the South or feeling bad for those who struggled in their losses to the North. However, the story was really interesting and I have seen a lot of people from a wide variety of races give this book 5 stars, so I believe it is generally acceptable to enjoy it for what it is with an understanding of the time period it was written.

The writing: so great! How is it that Margaret Mitchell is only known for this book. I will have to look it up and see if she wrote any others. To write such a large book with a great story, symbolism, character development, etc. like this is pure genius.

The story: I had seen the movie but was not sure if I should expect it to be the same (seems like Hollywood used to stick closer to the source material than they do now.) From what I remember of the move, it is a pretty fair adaptation of the book. I thought the combination of fictional characters and events along side and intertwined with ones that actually occurred was very well done. Because of that I am sure this is a novel that historians enjoy as well.

The characters: Great character studies and development. Watching where everyone starts compared to where the finish was very interesting. It is not often you get to go along on what seems like an almost daily journey with the characters from youth through adulthood. None of these characters have it easy. Seeing how each character handles the struggles of drastic life changes is the heart and soul of this book.

Gone With The Wind lives up to its reputation as a classic. If you have the time for a 900+ page book, you really should check it out.

Side note: finished this while in Greenville, South Carolina - pretty close to Atlanta. Seems appropriate! ...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Fabian rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

I’ve said it some time ago: GWTW the novel is like watching the ten hour director’s cut of GWTW the movie! Hell yeah! All the memorable scenes are there, & the spotlit romance is considerably widened in scope, as is the sturdy social studies lesson on the almighty American Civil War. I mean, everyone has the basic idea correct: the South took a tremendous thrashing. But having the loser’s POV take the forefront, even to the extent of exalting the KKK-- this, more than Scarlett O’Hara’s I’ve said it some time ago: GWTW the novel is like watching the ten hour director’s cut of GWTW the movie! Hell yeah! All the memorable scenes are there, & the spotlit romance is considerably widened in scope, as is the sturdy social studies lesson on the almighty American Civil War. I mean, everyone has the basic idea correct: the South took a tremendous thrashing. But having the loser’s POV take the forefront, even to the extent of exalting the KKK-- this, more than Scarlett O’Hara’s infamous bitchiness but overall fierceness as the antihero of this fantastic tale-- is what I fell in love with. The stars all aligned and for the first time in a long time the general reading audience had it correct. GWTW is a remarkable, unique reading experience.

A reader simply isn’t one unless he or she has faced a behemoth like this one. This, "The Odyssey," "The 1001 Arabian Nights," "Don Quixote," "Lord of the Rings"... are all Musts. All epic & so awesome, THE primordial blockbusters. You have enough time to live with the book, to form a relationship with it, to think about your future together... (It becomes an integral part of yourself…)

Now, what do we get on this journey that is sadly missing in its technicolored, titanic doppelganger? The atrocities shown here of the war are not apt for a rated G film.

The following questions are thoroughly answered... (mild SPOILER ALERT!) In what way did Gerald O'Hara gain ownership of Tara? What invisible connection exists between women and horses? How did the siege of Atlanta take place? Why Atlanta? What is Southern hospitality, really? (Priceless is the mentioning of several ostentatious Atlanta parties with only the Yankee army 22 miles away…! Priceless is the POV of the woman that stayed behind while all men are off to war…! Priceless the interconnections between folks [of course the world population was nil back then!]) And, How has the idea of masculinity changed from the 19th century? What is true sisterhood? What's Post-traumatic stress syndrome?

The townships are fully described. GWTW has many protagonists, as they all add authenticity to the incredibly narrative. If there ever existed a valentine for a city in the elusive form of an epic historical romance, then it is this, for Atlanta! There are additional love stories which parallel Rhett’s and Scarlett’s & several romantic dates between the central lovers. Everyone, it seems, has fallen in love, which adds the hues of Romanticism to the epic Southern Myth. Too, there is sympathy for the devil, scorn for the overly dandified Yankees (They desecrated graves! Raped, and pillaged!), amazement at the aftereffects of the Civil War, including Reconstruction (which takes up many more pages than the war itself!).

Missing from the silver screen? The characters of Wade and Ella, Scarlett’s first- and second-borns. They do nothing but highlight the main character’s flaws and selfishness. Frank Kennedy, also known as Mr. Scarlett O’Hara, the Second. And Will Benteen, the overseer at Tara would be one too many males within Scarlett’s (Vivien Leigh’s) periphery on film. Also: Scarlett almost getting attacked and raped; GWTW’s racy social commentary, all of the men partaking in early KKK activities. I will admit, GWTW is gee-wow! oh-so feminist... but also downright racist!

Scarlett’s consciousness evolves. She turns from spoiled brat teen to fiery, materialistic bitch!! In her brain is the constant battle to get Ashley Wilkes, to get Tara. It is only here that I perceive similarities to “Twilight”: yearnings & adolescent ambivalence. These things, it seems, never change. Also, that Gotterdammerung, or, the dusk of the gods, the end of civilization, is apt to occur in our times, and soon: this is a prophecy waiting to be fulfilled…!

The British have “Wuthering Heights,” “Pride and Prejudice; We got “Gone With the Wind”, an epic so incredible, so full of wuthering heights and perplexing downfalls, so jam packed with southern pride and arrogance, of prejudice and passion, that it is simply sad that its sole detriment is (not its length, nor its melodrama, but) its racist edge. GWTW is the s**t in many respects, but it is the dialogue between the star-crossed lovers (positively Wilde in its cleverness, in its tongue-in-cheekness) which elevates it to a plane higher than its sturdy, more lauded colleagues. Unlike that once-glorious South in the war, with “Gone With the Wind” you, the reader, will not lose...! ...more

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Jul 04, 2016 Brina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, classics, pulitzer-winner, southern-lit, long-reads, 500-great-books-women

One of my reading themes for 2016 is reading at least ten classic books. It seems only fitting that on the Fourth of July I completed Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind, an epic masterpiece that many view as the definitive great American novel.

I feel that the two halves of the book mirror the southern United States before and after the Civil War. The first half of the book occurs primarily at Tara Plantation. We meet our main protagonist Scarlett O'Hara, the belle of the south, who One of my reading themes for 2016 is reading at least ten classic books. It seems only fitting that on the Fourth of July I completed Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind, an epic masterpiece that many view as the definitive great American novel.

I feel that the two halves of the book mirror the southern United States before and after the Civil War. The first half of the book occurs primarily at Tara Plantation. We meet our main protagonist Scarlett O'Hara, the belle of the south, who epitomizes what life was like in the antebellum era: young, carefree, never having to lift a finger and having an entire plantation at her beck and call. She never gave a thought to slavery, the confederate cause, or political matters because in the south that she knew, this was her way of life.

Next, there is the fated barbecue at neighboring Twelve Oaks plantation. We meet mainstays Ashley and Melanie Wilkes who are to be married. Scarlett grew up with Ashley and desires him yet this is a teenage fantasy, unfortunately one that will plague her for the rest of her life. Witnessing her declaration of love for Ashley is the mysterious Rhett Butler, an unreceived gentleman with a past. Instantly smitten with Scarlett's looks and personality, he begins a lifelong quest to have her as his own. And then the Great War hits and shatters all these dreams.

Scarlett reduced to nothing rebuilds. She is a modern woman who goes into business despite an entire city of Atlanta giving her nasty looks. She does this at the cost of her children's upbringing so she can rebuild Tara and her Atlanta life from the rubble of the war. Although many people in their reviews state that they dislike Scarlett and her selfish motives, I view her character with determination as she tried to better her place in society in order to leave her children with more than she started with. Mitchell is writing from a 20th century perspective and had witnessed the modern woman and inserts some of these modern traits into Scarlett. Combine that with her Irish blood, and we have one of the most determined protagonists of all time.

Of course as in any epic, we have a sketch of the time period. I learned much about the reconstruction south because growing up in the north, we only had what was in the history books. I knew the basics but not the intimate look at how southerners rebuilt following the war. There were two views to the new south- there was Ashley Wilkes who pined for Twelve Oaks and the way of life before the war and Rhett Butler who symbolizes the modern south and how Atlanta and the south rose again. The second half of the book focuses on these two men and how they coped and succeeded in reconstruction, yet it all came back to Scarlett and which of the two paths she would choose, which man's dreams she would decide to follow.

Behind Scarlett, Rhett, and Ashley and their dreams, we have Melanie Wilkes. She was the only character who knew all the principal players for who they were, and held them together through good times and bad. Whereas Scarlett was the new south, the new woman, Melanie was the south and the picture of the south I have always had- a strong woman, rallying soldiers, rallying for every cause after reconstruction, holding together an entire city, selfless. Even Scarlett with all her selfishness turned to Melanie in times of greatest need, even though Melanie is the one who viewed Scarlett as the pillar of strength. And yet, both women were strength, Melanie in her antiquated ways and Scarlett as the new woman who would bring this country forward while still remembering Tara, where she came from.

As I finish this epic on America's birthday I feel a sadness as I leave behind Mitchell's well drawn characters that earned her a Pulitzer Prize 80 years ago. Scarlett's determination, Rhett's swarthy brashness, Ashley's love of time gone by, Melanie's heart. I look forward to seeing the epic film for the first time and witnessing Scarlett and Rhett and Tara on screen. I am glad I let myself be drawn into this slice of Americana from bygone eras, and believe that every American should attempt to read Mitchell's masterpiece at least once in their lives. ...more

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Jul 06, 2017 Alex rated it did not like it

Recommends it for: racists

Shelves: 2017

Margaret Mitchell was a racist and in 1936, 70 years after the Civil War, she whined for a thousand pages about how much she missed slavery. If you'd like to hear why slavery was terrific and black people are inferior to whites and they liked being slaves, here is your epic. If that sounds unpleasant, you're not going to like Gone With the Wind.

A non-racist book can have racist characters, and all the characters in this book are racist. Is the book itself necessarily racist? Yes. It has an ...more

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Feb 25, 2008 Nicko rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Confederates

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. So much has been said in praise of this book it feels redundant to add more. In terms of the slave-holding society, the film actually toned-down the pro-South view of Reconstruction (Scarlett's second husband joined the KKK in the book) and Mammy remains probably one of the most fully-developed and likeable African-American characters from 1930 you'll read.

Rhett Butler is the consummate alpha male. This book is definitely the timeless classic reputation it has earned, and though at times it So much has been said in praise of this book it feels redundant to add more. In terms of the slave-holding society, the film actually toned-down the pro-South view of Reconstruction (Scarlett's second husband joined the KKK in the book) and Mammy remains probably one of the most fully-developed and likeable African-American characters from 1930 you'll read.

Rhett Butler is the consummate alpha male. This book is definitely the timeless classic reputation it has earned, and though at times it seemed like the longest book ever, it is all worth it in the end. It touches on many misunderstood aspects of the civil war and its afterwords. What many people do not realize is how horrible it really was for Southerners after the war, mostly because they cannot get past the racism of the times (which it wasn't as if the North was full of equality and peace, either). If you can accept the times for what they were, you will see how well this book was written. I appreciate it for the well built characters, smooth flow, and albeit romanticized- depiction of the Antebellum South.

As far as being politically incorrect or the modern charges that the book is "racist," remember that this book was written in the 1930s. Not to mention, the time period is the Civil War era! To be completely unracist would not have depicted the era correctly. As if it represents anything more than the way people thought when it was made. Of course, it's racist. America is and has been a racist society since the beginning. This book mirrors the opinions held by the people alive and working at the time, no more and certainly no less. Have opinions changed since then? Of course, as society evolves so does the writing. All this aside, the character of "Mammy" is one of the most likeable and respected characters in the book. Rhett Butler treats her very well, and tries to win her approval. She’s the one person throughout the novel who sees through everyone’s follies and foibles, but remains forgiving of them anyway. There's a reason this book won so many awards and still endures! It is a timeless classic that everyone should enjoy and read in context.
...more

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Aug 04, 2008 Emily rated it did not like it

Recommends it for: No one.

Recommended to Emily by: "It's a classic!"

Shelves: novels

I received my copy of Gone With the Wind in 1991 and never got past the first 50 or 100 pages in any of my annual attempts at this books until 2004, at which point I decided to defeat the book one and for all. I FINALLY FINISHED READING THE DAMN BOOK.

I want my time back.

There was a reason I never before read past the first 50 or 100 pages - Scarlet is a raging evil snarky miserable bitch and I hate her. None of the other characters were particularly likable - ranging from sniveling, whiny ...more

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Jan 07, 2011 Lisa Kay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-time-favorites, has-a-movie, genre-historical-fiction-101, genre-fiction, genre-classic, pulitzer, epic, reviewed-by-me, authors-m, length-chunkster

My mother wouldn't let me read "Gone With the Wind" until I was 16. A few years ago I was at a cocktail party and they asked the trivia question "What was the first line of GWtW?" I knew the answer. My husband asked, "How did you know that?" (He'd lived with me how many decades?) I told him about my mom's restriction and how, when I finally opened the book, I was stunned by the first sentence. I had seen the movie and Scarlett was beautiful, if a bitch. I also remember it because everyone always ...more

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Jan 31, 2015 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own

6/29/16 UPDATE: I have since watched the movie and although I really liked the movie, it doesn't hold a candle to the book. But you can imagine that a book this size can't be put into one movie sitting. And where the book made me cry a lot, the movie didn't.

I spent over 12 hours today finishing this book. 1037 pages! 1. Because I wanted to know what was going to happen! 2. I have no sort of life so I can do this from time to time.

I can not believe it took me so long to read this book! I didn't ...more

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Dec 26, 2010 Madeline rated it it was amazing

Shelves: the-list, historic-fiction

There's an episode of The Simpsons where Apu, the Indian owner of the Kwik-E-Mart, takes the American citizenship test. Apu, who throughout the episode has demonstrated a much stronger grasp of American history than any of the American-born characters, is at the oral exam stage of the test. His examiner, a bored white guy, is asking the questions, and the following exchange occurs:

"BORED WHITE GUY: Okay, last question - what was the cause of the Civil War?

APU: Actually, there were numerous ...more

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Feb 21, 2019 Justin Tate rated it it was amazing

Gone with the Wind is a masterpiece of creative writing on every level. In its 1400 pages (or 49 hours on audio) there is not a single wasted line or insignificant moment. From a purely technical perspective, it is awe-inducing how flawlessly Mitchell utilizes characterization, setting, research, conflict, point of view, narrative voice, symbolism, foreshadowing, allusion, and every other literary device in the handbook. Even more amazing, she can juggle all this and deliver a plot that is Gone with the Wind is a masterpiece of creative writing on every level. In its 1400 pages (or 49 hours on audio) there is not a single wasted line or insignificant moment. From a purely technical perspective, it is awe-inducing how flawlessly Mitchell utilizes characterization, setting, research, conflict, point of view, narrative voice, symbolism, foreshadowing, allusion, and every other literary device in the handbook. Even more amazing, she can juggle all this and deliver a plot that is relentlessly enjoyable.

The closest novel I've read to this quality is Les Miserables, which was clearly the template for Gone with the Wind. In case there is any doubt, Melanie goes so far as to read directly from its pages during a moment of high tension. Even in Les Miserables, however, there are hundreds of pages of dully written history that is disjunctive and awkward in the flow of narration. Mitchell, following Hugo's formula, also includes segments of war history. Her historical segments work much better, however, because they are short and play a more direct role in the action. Les Miserables is commonly read in an abridged format, but it would be impossible to abridge Gone with the Wind. Every word has a purpose, everything a cause and reaction.

Writers seeking examples of superb characterization should also look no further. Scarlett, Rhett, Ashley and Melanie (among others) are so finely drawn as to boggle the mind. How is it possible for such flawed individuals to be so absorbing? How can fiction feel this real? Even stronger than each individual character is Mitchell's handling of relationships. The way these characters mold to one another, influence one another, speak in subtext and interact creates a world so vivid that real life begins to feel dull.

Despite its long-running popularity, I feel Gone with the Wind (the novel) is perhaps the most underrated classic of all time. There should be no contest. Any list of classic literature that doesn't include Gone with the Wind in the Top 10 is simply wrong. I suspect part of why it gets forgotten as a novel is the iconic movie. I'm so thankful to have mostly avoided the movie thus far, so I could fully enjoy the novel's many surprises on its own. For those who are already well-versed with the movie, I suspect the novel will still blow you away. I just can't imagine how they could efficiently cram 49 hours of book into a 4 hour movie.

Although it was intimidating to devote so much time to a behemoth like this, I never regretted it for a second. Gone with the Wind is one of those masterpieces that is an actual shame if you never get to it.

**SIDE NOTE: The unabridged audio version narrated by Linda Stephens is the best audio performance I've ever encountered. Her performance might very well have elevated my opinion of the novel. I recommend listening to it if you can. ...more

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Jun 11, 2018 Matt rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classic-novels, historical-fiction, american-civil-war

“Lying in the pitiless sun, shoulder to shoulder, head to feet, were hundreds of wounded men, lining the tracks, the sidewalks, stretched out in endless rows under the hot sun, moaning. Everywhere, swarms of flies hovered over the men, crawling and buzzing in their faces, everywhere was blood, dirty bandages, groans, screamed curses of pain as stretcher bearers lifted men. The smell of sweat, of blood, of unwashed bodies, of excrement rose up in waves of blistering heat until the fetid stench ...more

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Apr 26, 2008 Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, classics, fiction, 1001-book, romance, 20th-century

619. Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell
Gone with the Wind is a novel by American writer Margaret Mitchell, first published in 1936. The story is set in Clayton County and Atlanta, both in Georgia, during the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era. Written from the perspective of the slaveholder, Gone with the Wind is Southern plantation fiction. Its portrayal of slavery and African Americans has been considered controversial, especially by succeeding generations, as well as its use of a 619. Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell
Gone with the Wind is a novel by American writer Margaret Mitchell, first published in 1936. The story is set in Clayton County and Atlanta, both in Georgia, during the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era. Written from the perspective of the slaveholder, Gone with the Wind is Southern plantation fiction. Its portrayal of slavery and African Americans has been considered controversial, especially by succeeding generations, as well as its use of a racial epithet and ethnic slurs common to the period. However, the novel has become a reference point for subsequent writers about the South, both black and white. Scholars at American universities refer to, interpret, and study it in their writings. The novel has been absorbed into American popular culture. Mitchell received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for the book in 1937. It was adapted into a 1939 American film. Gone with the Wind is the only novel by Mitchell published during her lifetime.
بر باد رفته - مارگارت میچل (نگاه) ادبیات، تاریخ نخستین خوانش: پانزدهم ماه مارس سال 1974 میلادی، بار دوم ماه مارس سال 1998 میلادی و بار سوم اول ماه آوریل سال 2000 میلادی
عنوان: بر باد رفته؛ نوشته: مارگارت میچل؛ مترجم: حسن شهباز، مشخصات نشر: تهران، امیرکبیر، موسسه انتشارات فرانکلین، 1336، در دو جلد، در 1460 ص؛ چاپ سوم 1357؛ چاپ ششم 1379؛ چاپ نهم و دهم 1387؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان امریکایی - سده 20 م
عنوان: بر باد رفته؛ نوشته: مارگارت میچل؛ مترجم: شبنم کیان ؛ تهران، پانوس، 1363، در سه جلد، چاپ دیگر: تهران، گلدیس، 1368، در دو جلد؛ چاپ یازدهم 1374؛ شابک: 9646512062؛ چاپ بعدی 1377؛
عنوان: بر باد رفته؛ نویسنده: مارگارت میچل؛ مترجم: پرتو اشراق؛ تهران؛ نشر ناهید در دو جلد؛ در سال 1383 منتشر کرده است
بر باد رفته را انتشارات «امیرکبیر» نخستین بار با ترجمه حسن شهباز؛ در سال 1336 هجری خورشیدی منتشر کرده است. هشدار: اگر کتاب را نخوانده اید و میخواهید بخوانید لطفا از خوانش ادامه ی ریویو، پرهیز کنید، «اسکارلت» بزرگ‌ترین دختر «جرالد اوهارا»، صاحب مزرعه پنبه «تارا»، با فهمیدن اعلام نامزدی، و ازدواج «اشلی ویلکز»، پسر مالک مزرعه مجاور، با دختر خاله‌ اش «ملانی همیلتون»، به فکر ابراز علاقه به «اشلی» می‌افتد؛ چون فکر می‌کند «اشلی»، به خاطر ناامید شدن از او، می‌خواهد با «ملانی» ازدواج کند. در یک میهمانی، در خانه «ویلکز»، «اسکارلت»، به «اشلی»، اظهار علاقه می‌کند؛ ولی «اشل» می‌گوید که می‌خواهد با دخترخاله ی او «ملانی» ازدواج کند. «رت باتلر»، ماجراجوی خوش قیافه‌ ای، که شاهد صحبت‌ها بوده، از جسارت «اسکارلت»، خوشش می‌آید. جنگ شمال و جنوب آمریکا آغاز می‌شود، و «اسکارلت»، با «چارلز»، برادر «ملانی» ازدواج می‌کند، ولی «چارلز»، در اردوی آموزشی درمی‌گذرد. «اسکارلت»، به «آتلانتا»، پیش «ملانی» می‌رود، و در آنجا دوباره با «رت باتلر»، که حالا دلال ارتش است، و پول کلانی به جیب می‌زند، روبرو می‌شود. وقتی «آتلانتا»، مورد حمله ی نیروهای شمالی قرار می‌گیرد، «رت» به «اسکارلت» و «ملانی» که تازه زایمان کرده یاری می‌کند، تا از شهر بگریزند، و آنگاه به جنوبی‌ها می‌پیوندد. وقتی «اسکارلت» به «تارا» می‌رسد، مادرش مرده، و پدرش دچار جنون شده‌ است و مسئولیت نگهداری مزرعه، بر دوش «اسکارلت» می‌افتد. «اشلی» از جنگ برمی‌گردد، و درکنار «اسکارلت» زندگی می‌کند. شمالی‌ها برای مزرعه، مالیات سنگینی وضع می‌کنند؛ و «اسکارلت» برای نگهداری مزرعه، و تهیه ی پول به شهر می‌رود؛ و با «فرانک کندی» نامزد خواهرش ازدواج می‌کند. پس از مرگ «فرانک»، اسکارلت اداره ی کارخانه چوببری او را به عهده می‌گیرد. سرانجام «رت باتلر» از «اسکارلت» تقاضای ازدواج می‌کند، و باهم ازدواج می‌کنند؛ ولی توجه مداوم او به «اشلی»، ازدواجشان را به جدایی می‌کشاند. «رت باتلر» پس از مرگ دختر خردسالشان، برای همیشه «اسکارلت» را ترک می‌کند؛ و «اسکارلت» که بالاخره درمییابد که «اشلی» هیچگاه او را دوست نداشته، و علاقه او به «اشلی»، بیشتر یک رؤیای کودکانه بوده‌ است. به مزرعه پنبه ی «تارا» بازمی‌گردد، تا به زمین نزدیک باشد، و از آن نیروی حیات بگیرد. ا. شربیانی ...more

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Jun 25, 2009 Hannah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, historicals, romances, houses-as-characters, classics, re-read, 2012-reads

I don't like reviewing overly popular, classic books because let's face it, what more can be said regarding a book that 8,720 Goodreads reviewers haven't already covered, from 1 star through 5 star opinions?

So I'll just say that I read this novel for the first time when I was only about 14 years old. And re-read it, and re-read it, and re-read it again several times until around age 18. And then I never picked it up again until age 48 (that's 30 years of reading silence for those of you I don't like reviewing overly popular, classic books because let's face it, what more can be said regarding a book that 8,720 Goodreads reviewers haven't already covered, from 1 star through 5 star opinions?

So I'll just say that I read this novel for the first time when I was only about 14 years old. And re-read it, and re-read it, and re-read it again several times until around age 18. And then I never picked it up again until age 48 (that's 30 years of reading silence for those of you mathamatically inclined...) Between 18 and 48 is a huge gulf of life and living that might make a re-read a very disasterous endeavor, and I know for a fact that for a few of my GR friends, it was just that, and they regret replacing the youthful memories of this book with more mature ones.

I understand their feelings. I wondered if my own would replicate them. I'm glad to say that didn't happen in my case.

Not that GwtW is an easy book to digest in this politically correct era. It's hard to convey just how cringe-worthy at times a book written in the 1930's by an American Southern writer about the American South during the Civil War can effect modern sensibilities. You have to read it to believe it. The racism, the language, the attitude is all there in black and white (pardon the pun) and they can't be ignored. Those views, those attitudes existed, and still exist for many in this country and all over the world.

I don't condone it, but for me personally, I give most books written before 1960 a little handicap going into them. Not every reader can, and that's OK.

The continuing strength of Mitchell's epic novel is in her capturing of a feeling of loss to a period, a people and a place. Some would argue that it's good this era has crumbled into dust, and I'll not argue the point with them. But as a Southerner myself, I have a deep love and appreciation for my place of birth, and understand the pride and loyalty Southerners take in their homeland, because I feel it very much. Mitchell's saga isn't so much the love story of Scarlett and Rhett as it appeared to me as a teen. The real love story is Mitchell's to her homeland. Warts and all. The writing is so lovely, so authenic. The feelings and expressions ring true. The character of Scarlett O'Hara is, IMO, one of the best drawn character studies ever penned. I used to hate her as a teen, but as an adult I found myself cheering her on in places, and understanding her selfish motivations more then I could have ever imagined. What that says about me I don't know, but Scarlett is a fighter, and a survivor, and I've got to admire her tenacity if not her moral fiber.

This book is a masterpiece. A flawed, uncomfortable masterpiece. I'm glad I re-read it.

***
So after saying I didn't like writing reviews for books like this, I went and wrote one.

Just call me 8,721... ...more

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Jan 06, 2016 Helene Jeppesen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

An epic story that I came to love even more upon my reread <3

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Sep 06, 2010 Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: novels, fiction, 1001-book, romance, 20th-century

619. Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell
Gone with the Wind is a novel by American writer Margaret Mitchell, first published in 1936. The story is set in Clayton County and Atlanta, both in Georgia, during the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era. Gone with the Wind takes place in the southern United States in the state of Georgia during the American Civil War (1861–1865) and the Reconstruction Era (1865–1877). The novel unfolds against the backdrop of rebellion wherein seven southern 619. Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell
Gone with the Wind is a novel by American writer Margaret Mitchell, first published in 1936. The story is set in Clayton County and Atlanta, both in Georgia, during the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era. Gone with the Wind takes place in the southern United States in the state of Georgia during the American Civil War (1861–1865) and the Reconstruction Era (1865–1877). The novel unfolds against the backdrop of rebellion wherein seven southern states initially, including Georgia, have declared their secession from the United States (the "Union") and formed the Confederate States of America (the "Confederacy"), after Abraham Lincoln was elected president. The Union refuses to accept secession and no compromise is found as war approaches.

بر باد رفته - مارگارت میچل (نگاه، دبیر، امیرکبیر، ناهید) ادبیات آمریکا؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: ماه آوریل سال 2000 میلادی
رمان «بر باد رفته» اثر: مارگارت میچل برای نخستین بار در سال 1936 میلادی منتشر شده، رمان با سه ترجمه ی متفاوت در بازار موجود است. ترجمه ی بانو: پرتو اشراق، از ادامه داستان بر باد رفته با عنوان اسکارلت را نیز نشر ناهید منتشر کرده، ترجمه ی جناب «حسن شهباز» را دو انتشاراتی: امیرکبیر و انتشارات نگاه، به بازار کتاب عرضه داشته اند. رمان را انتشارات دبیر نیز با ترجمه جناب «کیومرث پارسای» ارائه کرده است

اسکارلت بزرگ‌ترین دختر «جرالد اوهارا»، صاحب مزرعه ی پنبه «تارا»، با فهمیدن اعلام نامزدی و ازدواج «اشلی ویلکز»، پسر مالک مزرعه مجاور، با دختر خاله‌ اش «ملانی همیلتون»، به فکر ابراز علاقه به «اشلی» می‌افتد؛ چون فکر می‌کند «اشلی» به خاطر ناامید شدن از او، می‌خواهد ازدواج کند. در یک میهمانی در خانه ی «ویلکز»، «اسکارلت» به «اشلی» اظهار علاقه می‌کند؛ ولی «اشلی» عنوان می‌کند، که می‌خواهد با دخترخاله ی او «ملانی»، ازدواج کند. «رت باتلر» ماجراجوی خوش قیافه‌ ای، که شاهد صحبت‌ها بوده‌، از جسارت «اسکارلت» خوشش می‌آید. جنگ شمال و جنوب آمریکا آغاز می‌شود، و «اسکارلت»، با «چارلز» برادر «ملانی»، ازدواج می‌کند، ولی «چارلز» در اردوی آموزشی درمی‌گذرد. «اسکارلت» به «آتلانتا» پیش «ملانی» می‌رود، و در آنجا دوباره با «رت باتلر»، که حالا دلال ارتش است، و پول کلانی به جیب می‌زند، روبرو می‌شود. «آتلانتا» مورد حمله ی نیروهای شمالی قرار می‌گیرد، «رت» به «اسکارلت» و «ملانی»، که تازه زایمان کرده، یاری می‌کند تا از شهر بگریزند، و آنگاه به جنوبی‌ها می‌پیوندد. وقتی «اسکارلت» به «تارا» می‌رسد، مادرش مرده، و پدرش دچار جنون شده‌ است، و مسئولیت نگهداری مزرعه، بر دوش «اسکارلت» می‌افتد. «اشلی» از جنگ برمی‌گردد، و در کنار «اسکارلت» زندگی می‌کند. شمالی‌ها برای مزرعه، مالیات سنگینی وضع می‌کنند؛ و «اسکارلت» برای نگهداری مزرعه، و تهیه ی پول به شهر می‌رود؛ و با «فرانک کندی»، نامزد خواهرش ازدواج می‌کند. پس از مرگ «فرانک»، «اسکارلت» اداره ی کارخانه چوب بری او را به عهده می‌گیرد. سرانجام «رت باتلر»، از «اسکارلت» تقاضای ازدواج می‌کند، و آن دو باهم ازدواج می‌کنند؛ ولی توجه مداوم او به «اشلی»، ازدواجشان را به جدایی می‌کشاند. «رت باتلر» پس از درگذشت دختر خردسالشان، برای همیشه «اسکارلت» را ترک می‌کند؛ و «اسکارلت» که بالاخره درمییابد که «اشلی» هیچگاه او را دوست نداشته، و علاقه ی او به «اشلی»، بیشتر یک رؤیای کودکانه بوده‌ است. به مزرعه ی پنبه ی «تارا» بازمی‌گردد تا به زمین نزدیک باشد و از آن نیروی حیات بگیرد. ا. شربیانی ...more

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Oct 27, 2018 Glenn Sumi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, pulitzer-winners, classics, 1900-1960, guardian-1000

“God’s nightgown!”* How can I ever review the behemoth that is Gone With The Wind? Rather than write a traditional review, I’ve decided to organize my thoughts into separate sections.

*One of the many quaint and highly amusing Southernisms used in the book

WHY READ THIS 1,037-PAGE BOOK IN THE FIRST PLACE?
I’d seen the film several times, and had always wanted to read the novel, if only to compare the two. Also: it won the Pulitzer Prize – so it had to have literary merit, right? And many people ...more

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Jan 17, 2019 Luffy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star, historical-fiction, anti-feminist, superb-characterization, pretty-good, popular, classic

Review to come. So far this has been an engrossing read. I remember watching the movie an having mixed feelings about it, but the book has less of those moments when you are kind of exhorting the plot to stop plodding. It really puts into perspective how we are the products of our culture. This is definitely five-star material.

Finished the book finally. What a chunkster! What a story! The words kept coming, and I kept being riveted all the way. A slight complaint is that the main character ...more

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May 03, 2008 Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: novels, fiction, movie, literature, 1001-book, romance, united-states, 20th-century

619. Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
Gone with the Wind is a novel by American writer Margaret Mitchell, first published in 1936. The story is set in Clayton County and Atlanta, both in Georgia, during the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era. It depicts the struggles of young Scarlett O'Hara, the spoiled daughter of a well-to-do plantation owner, who must use every means at her disposal to claw her way out of poverty following Sherman's destructive "March to the Sea".

تاریخ نخستین 619. Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
Gone with the Wind is a novel by American writer Margaret Mitchell, first published in 1936. The story is set in Clayton County and Atlanta, both in Georgia, during the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era. It depicts the struggles of young Scarlett O'Hara, the spoiled daughter of a well-to-do plantation owner, who must use every means at her disposal to claw her way out of poverty following Sherman's destructive "March to the Sea".

تاریخ نخستین خوانش این نسخه: روز اول ماه آوریل سال 2000 میلادی
عنوان: بر باد رفته؛ نویسنده: مارگارت میچل؛ مترجم: پرتو اشراق؛ تهران؛ نشر ناهید در دو جلد؛ در سال 1383 منتشر کرده است
همین کتاب با ترجمه جناب حسن شهبازی نیز توسط انتشارات امیرکبیر و همچنین انتشارات نگاه به بازار کتاب عرضه شده، همین رمان را انتشارات دبیر هم با ترجمه جناب کیومرث پارسای ارائه کرده است.؛

بر باد رفته، داستانی به قلم «مارگارت میچل»، نویسنده ی آمریکایی است. ایشان برای نوشتن همین رمان در سال 1937 میلادی، برنده ی جایزه ی ادبی پولیتزر شدند. رمان «مارگارت میچل» شرح حال «اسکارلت اوهارا» است، که مادرش از نجیبزاده های ساحل «جورجیا»، و پدرش دهقان‌زاده ای «ایرلندی» است. «اسکارلت» دلفریبی را از مادر به ارث برده است، و سرسختی و عزم راسخ را، از پدر؛ خصوصیاتی که به او امکان میدهد، تا از مصائب جنگ جان بدر برد. همینکه «اسکارلت» زیبا، و نازپرورده، و خودخواه، به سن نوجوانی میرسد، آینده ی خود را، بر اثر وقوع جنگ داخلی آشفته میبیند. پس از سقوط «آتلانتا»، دوباره به ملک خانوادگی برمیگردد، و با پشتکار و اراده ی خویش ملک را نجات میدهد. همین، «اسکارلت» را سرسختتر میکند. او قحطی را از نزدیک لمس کرده، و سوگند خورده، که دیگر هرگز طعم گرسنگی را، نچشد. در بحبوحه ی اغتشاش و شورش ناشی از جنگ داخلی، به هر نوع سلاحی برای ثروتمند شدن، دست مییازد. «ملانی»، بهترین دوست «اسکارلت»، برعکس او، حاضر نیست دست از باور خود بردارد. دو مرد در کنار «اسکارلت» و «ملانی» زندگی میکنند، که آنها را دوست دارند: یکی «اشلی ویلکس»، که با شکست، دنیا در نظرش تغییر کرده است، و دیگری «رت باتلر»، یکی از سودجویان دوره ی محاصره؛ آدمی فاسد و رذل و بسیار جذاب، که مجذوب «اسکارلت» است. «اسکارلت» نیز چندان بیش از او، پایبند اصول اخلاقی نیست. داستان، فاجعه ی جنوب را در حین جنگ، و پس از آن، تماماً در خود منعکس دارد؛ سختی و استواری کوههای سرخ رنگ «جورجیای شمالی» را، میتوان در شخصیتهای متعدد این حکایت پر حجم و مهیج، بازیافت – حکایتی که هم داستان سرنوشت خودخواسته «اسکارلت» است، و هم تصویری از دوره ای مشخص، در تاریخ امریکاست. در خلال خوشیها و ناخوشیها، عشق آتشین «اسکارلت» و «رت»، منحنی رمانتیکی را ترسیم میکند. در این کتاب، همه ی عناصری، که مشخصه ی رمان است، عناصری که «دوما»، و «بالزاک»، در سطوح مختلف و به انحای گوناگون، وارد ادبیات جهان کرده اند، دیده میشود؛ این عناصر را نویسنده ای به کار گرفته است که نبوغ داستانگویی و حس خطاناپذیری از ساختار نمایشی دارند. ا. شربیانی ...more

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Mar 16, 2013 ``Laurie Henderson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-books, historical-fiction, american-civil-war, classics, fiction, southern-historical-ficton, reread, romance-clean, southern-setting, america

Just finished my most recent rereading of GWTW and fell in love with this book once again. Margaret Mitchell never fails to weave her magic no matter how many times I've read it.

GWTW is not just a romantic story involving Scarlett, Ashley and Rhett but also a well researched account of the civil war.

Since the victors always write the history concerning any war it's fascinating to learn about the other side of the story.

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Mar 29, 2016 L A i N E Y rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, arghhh, reviewed, you-disappoint-me, best-voice

"But I could have been nicer to him"
"You could have been - if you'd been somebody else"

Well, that about sums it up.

I am sorry to say this, I do not mean to sound cruel, I understand their considerable stress, but most of the main characters in this book were just plain stupid. Some might not be overtly so but they were in terrible need of serious self-awareness, at any rate.

I can't phantom how this was called a love story.. (view spoiler) ...more

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Sep 20, 2018 chloé rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned

For 959 pages this novel continuously broke my heart, and I loved every minute of it.

One word: gumption.

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Jun 05, 2008 Judy rated it it was ok

Shelves: romance

Having a hard time slogging through the blatant racism in this book. Times sure have changed. And thank God for that.

Okay, nearly forty years since I first read it, the epic love story set against the brutality of the Civil War still manages to sweep me up.

But the racism still wrankles, especially the glorification of the Ku Klux Klan--southern gentlemen had no other choice. They weren't bullies terrorizing people because of the color of their skin, they were protecting their women from the ...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* rated it it was amazing

Shelves: a-own-book-form, drama-gen-fiction, sad, didnt-like-ending, classics, southern, 5-star, reviewed, book-boyfriend, classics-i-have-finally-conquered

“Perhaps - I want the old days back again and they'll never come back, and I am haunted by the memory of them and of the world falling about my ears. ”

The civil war. A beautiful woman at the height of selfishness. The love and death of home and land. Society wound up so tight an improper wink could undo you. Destruction, tragedy, political corruption, truth, lies, life, death, love, loss, big changes, new beginnings, intermingled with never ending cycles. All of this helps make Gone with the ...more

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May 10, 2015 Vanessa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book. This book. Honestly, I would go as far to say that it is a masterpiece, in its scope, its characterisation, its history, and its story. Never have I been so enthralled in such a long book, to the point where I was never bored and constantly wishing I was reading it when I wasn't able to (damn you work *shakes fist*). And never have I read a near-1000 page novel in such a short space of time!

For those of you who haven't seen the film, Gone With the Wind is a sweeping Civil War-era This book. This book. Honestly, I would go as far to say that it is a masterpiece, in its scope, its characterisation, its history, and its story. Never have I been so enthralled in such a long book, to the point where I was never bored and constantly wishing I was reading it when I wasn't able to (damn you work *shakes fist*). And never have I read a near-1000 page novel in such a short space of time!

For those of you who haven't seen the film, Gone With the Wind is a sweeping Civil War-era drama, coming-of-age tale, and romance. It follows Scarlett O'Hara, the Southern Belle daughter of an Irish immigrant and plantation owner, who has to come into her own and fight for safety and security when her comfortable, gentile life is ripped apart by war. That's all you need to know really, because any more detail than that would probably spoil the book for you.

The story itself is tremendous - part historical fiction novel, part character study. I normally dislike books that detail aspects of war/battles/troop movements, but not with this one. I found myself learning something about American history (an area I'm not particularly versed in), whilst following the lives of a group of characters that I completely felt for and cared about, which is a double plus for me.

The characterisation is one of the best things about this book. Each and every character is brilliantly portrayed, and the lead characters are so fully rounded that you can barely believe they're fictional - they bounce off the page and overwhelm your thoughts. Scarlett O'Hara is one of the most unlikable characters I have ever read, and I still loved her, because everything she did and said had a purpose. She was well fleshed out and believable, and a real force of nature on the page. Melanie, the picture of gentle sweetness and everything women were meant to be at the time, was another character that had an iron will and real back-bone - never a 'too good to be true' type, she had real 'gumption'. And of course there's Rhett Butler, who appears to stir shit up whenever he likes, but who underneath his bravado and sarcasm has a full and loving heart and a great dedication to the causes and people he believes in.

I felt the book was very well written - not because the writing was particularly florid and heart-stopping, but because I felt Mitchell managed to great such a brilliantly technicolor world that I felt like I was there each and every time. I loved every description of every surrounding, drinking it all in like I was watching it on the big screen, and at times I felt moved to tears (in public no less!).

And did my having seen the film already take away from this reading experience? Well no. I had seen the film quite a few years ago, so a lot of elements were quite hazy to me, but the book has so much more to provide the consumer than the film in my opinion. Saying that, I will be re-watching the film as soon as I have a spare 4 hours!

Now this is not to say that there isn't anything problematic with the novel. There is a great deal of racism, both in content and language, and the role of women is something that is deemed archaic now. The racism within the book affected me more than the role of women, and there times where I couldn't believe what I was reading, but we have to take a step back and remember that this book is set in the 1800s, and not even that, was published in the 1930s. Slavery was a major element of The American Civil War, and this book is told from a Southern perspective, so representation is biased and problematic. In order to be a true representation of the slave-owning classes, it's not surprising that this content is so prevalent, and I felt like it just wouldn't have been believable or historically accurate if this content had been toned down. Just be aware of this if you are particularly sensitive to race issues, but at the end of the day I think most people know what they're getting themselves in for with this story.

Honestly, I would recommend this book to everyone. Unlike most long books for me, this book read incredibly easily, and despite the slow pace of the story itself the reading experience wasn't slow and never dragged. I was absolutely captivated from start to finish, and this has immediately gone onto my favourites list. Definitely a book I will re-read for years to come.

...more

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Nov 01, 2019 leslie hamod rated it really liked it

A civil war classic. Love is a great factor and disappointment to Scaret. She watches and listens to stories of the war. As the ride turns and the Yankees take Atlanta, she sees the end of her previously comfortable living as a "Southern Belle". As the Slaves are freedom, she learns what hard work is, as she struggles to keep her and hers survive. An incredible classic made movie, the book is more imaginative.
Highly recommended and a MUST READ!

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Jul 20, 2011 Aoibhínn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, physical-books, reviewed, favorites, classics, historical

I've had a lot of trouble writing this review. I've been writing and re-writing this review over the last few months, and I just couldn't get it perfect. I've finally come to realise no review I can ever write will do this novel justice so I am just going to post it as it is.

Set in the state of Georgia, before, during and after the American Civil War, Gone With the Wind tells the story of Scarlett O'Hara, a vain, spoiled, over-privileged daughter of a plantation owner, from her days as a I've had a lot of trouble writing this review. I've been writing and re-writing this review over the last few months, and I just couldn't get it perfect. I've finally come to realise no review I can ever write will do this novel justice so I am just going to post it as it is.

Set in the state of Georgia, before, during and after the American Civil War, Gone With the Wind tells the story of Scarlett O'Hara, a vain, spoiled, over-privileged daughter of a plantation owner, from her days as a carefree southern belle, through the destruction of the war, and the terror of reconstruction that followed. The world Scarlett grew up in is destroyed and gone forever, but she is brave, strong and determined. Scarlett's a fighter and she is prepared to do whatever she has to do to survive the war and protect her family and their plantation at Tara. She faces difficult, challenging and, at times, life threatening situations. Along the way, Scarlett meets Rhett Butler. He is a rich, charming, handsome rogue – the perfect match for Scarlett if only she wasn't blinded by her infatuation for her married neighbour Ashley Wilkes. Refusing to be second best no longer, Rhett leaves Scarlett just as she realises that she simply only wanted Ashley because she couldn't have him and it is Rhett that she's truly loved all along. Scarlett vows to win him back. The reader is left to draw their own conclusion about the fate of Scarlett and Rhett.

The novel is beautifully well-written, enthralling, gripping historical drama and romance story with a well-researched and developed plot and well-crafted and original characters. I loved all the brilliant dialogue between Rhett and Scarlett. I swear you could literally see the sparks flying off the pages between these two. It is by far one of the greatest romantic pieces of literature ever written.

The novel is extremely historically accurate and incredibly vivid. The depth of the novel actually surprised me. It made me feel like I was actually there in Old South in the 1860's during the Civil War. Beware, there is a lot of racism in this novel and it can be quite shocking at times. But I think that just makes the story more realistic, after all that's how it was like back in the mid 19th Century. When you're writing a historical fiction novel, you can't change history no matter how much you may want to. If Margaret Mitchell had sugar-coated the racism, it would have ruined the story.

All of Margaret Mitchell's characters are extremely vivid and complex. They become alive to you and remain with you long after you've finished the book. The main characters of Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler are flawed but the author succeeds in making you fall in love with them in spite of this. If you must know, I actually loved the fact that Scarlett wasn't one of those absolutely perfect main characters you see in a lot of novels. The fact that she had a lot of faults and weaknesses made her feel more real to me.

As the story progresses, you begin to understand how the experiences Scarlett goes through during the war have radically changed Scarlett's perception of the world. By the end of the novel, I sympathised with Scarlett and admired the strong courageous person she had become. Both Scarlett and Rhett have become my favourite literary characters.

Gone With the Wind is one of those novels you can barely put down. The novel is over one thousand pages long. I'm actually happy that it was so long because as I read page after page, I didn't want the story to end. The book is incredibly engrossing. Beware, it will take over your life. You won't want to put it down and you'll have no interest in doing anything apart from reading this book.

I think Margaret Mitchell was an incredibly talented author and it's a shame that she died so young in a car accident and never got a chance to write a sequel (or any other novels for that matter). Of all the books that I've read in my entire life this is my ultimate favourite! I don't think I can express how much I love this novel. It definitely deserved the Pulitzer Prize it won in 1937. I'd give Gone With the Wind far more than five stars if I could! It deserves at least 20! ...more

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Oct 03, 2016 Roya rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourite

As readers, we have the wonderful advantage of perspective. We can empathise with characters because we know how they think and feel and we're touched by it. My dad is a cinephile and despite never having read the book, has seen Gone with the Wind multiple times. Based on this, he views Scarlett as selfish and spoilt, when she's actually so much more than that. I enjoyed the film very much, but I wish adaptations wouldn't have to downplay characters so. Despite all of this, I love ...more

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Feb 05, 2008 Lilly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: award-winning, fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I read this book when I was fifteen during a hot, sticky Texas summer. That was more than 10 years ago, and I have read the book at least 3 more times since then, but I can still remember the book's initial impact on me. I remember my journal entries about it and my inability to get the book off my mind long after I'd finished it. I was infatuated. In my U.S. History class a year later, my teacher assigned a paper on some historical topic or other. I hardly remember what the actual assignment I read this book when I was fifteen during a hot, sticky Texas summer. That was more than 10 years ago, and I have read the book at least 3 more times since then, but I can still remember the book's initial impact on me. I remember my journal entries about it and my inability to get the book off my mind long after I'd finished it. I was infatuated. In my U.S. History class a year later, my teacher assigned a paper on some historical topic or other. I hardly remember what the actual assignment was, because I asked him if I could write a paper on Gone With the Wind instead. I told him it should be considered a historical novel, and yes, I got what I wanted. Man, I was such a nerd then. I only wish I had kept that paper....

So, I was thinking just now of the scene in You've Got Mail where Meg Ryan is arguing with Tom Hanks about Pride and Prejudice, and she proclaims that Elizabeth Bennett is one of the most complex heroines ever written (I can't remember if she calls her THE most complex). I think Scarlett is much more complex than Lizzie. Her evolution throughout the novel is so amazing. She is so one-dimensional in the beginning, before the war and before everything that changes her way of life. Granted, Scarlett is always looking out for number one, and it's part of why I love her character. It is so rich with selfishness, her benevolent deeds always fueled by her own objectives, her baddoings justified by her will to survive. Even her relationship with Rhett is one of the most complex love stories ever written. Since I've read the novel several times, I even went back and noticed each and every time where Rhett was bursting with hesitation, just killing himself as he held back his true feelings for her. She doesn't marry Rhett for love, but her realization at the end that she "must have loved you all along" is so tragic and swollen with regret. I could never understand what she saw in Ashley, who was so weak and stupid and useless.

I think this novel was my first introduction to nostalgia, and it ruined me forever. Nostalgia now rules my life, and if I were a book, it would be my central theme. ...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
The Reading For P...: January/February 2020 Classic Group Read - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell	26	63	6 hours, 57 min ago
Great American Re...: Nov/Dec 2019 - GONE WITH THE WIND by Margaret Mitchell	21	19	Feb 01, 2020 04:51PM
Rhett and Melanie - did they...?	23	309	Jan 04, 2020 02:58PM
Question (May anger some folks) Was Scarlett possibly Philippe's daughter?	46	294	Jan 04, 2020 06:41AM
If the sequel to the book would have been written, do you think Rhett and Scarlett would have gotten together eventually?	280	2778	Dec 15, 2019 07:01PM
What does it mean? Rhett is in love with Melanie? He really appreciated her, at the end of the book there was this conversation.	7	60	Oct 30, 2019 02:51AM
Rhett Butler - a critique	15	209	Oct 30, 2019 02:48AM

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About Margaret Mitchell

Margaret Mitchell

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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Margaret Munnerlyn Mitchell, popularly known as Margaret Mitchell, was an American author, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1937 for her novel, Gone with the Wind, published in 1936. The novel is one of the most popular books of all time, selling more than 28 million copies. An American film adaptation, released ...more