Suhailah’s Comments (group member since Jun 03, 2020)

Suhailah’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Laurie, congrats!! Better late than never! The film is definitely worth a watch!

I second the notion on Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. I haven't found the motivation to tackle that yet either!

I can't wait to watch the movie again!! Plan on doing that as soon as I finish the book.

Ah I know! You're right! I cringe every time I see it cause I just want them to get along and fight to survive together. Ashley isn't even in the picture anymore! Scarlett is too stubborn but maybe she will keep coming around. Life experience is maturing her some.

Chapter 27
Wow this is getting so good! My heart is warmed at how Scarlett and Melanie are growing closer. Though I was quite shocked and laughed when Melanie knocked Scarlett out during the kitchen fire thinking in a different story this would have been a striking moment for Melanie to take revenge to Scarlett for pawning after her husband all that time!

I know!!! Terrible!

Wow, I'm disappointed in Ashley too. And I wish Scarlett would wake up and realize they aren't even compatible!! That has become obvious after all we've learned. I'm trying to calm myself down after his betrayal by thinking maybe he had a moment of weakness feeling like he was going to die upon his return to war. But still!!! He can't be a gentleman and betray Melanie like that. She's too good of a person to love Scarlett so much despite her ways. She don't deserve to be treated like that.

Very true! There's usually always a reason.

You're right, Cilla! I forgot that she was definitely wearing opposite what the book described. That's a bit frustrating. Seems like such a small thing that could have easily been done!

I agree. Charles seemed like a loving and caring kind of man. I feel so sorry for Wade and just hoping somehow he doesn't suffer long term issues from not having motherly love to support him through life.

Chapter 14 was tense! The release of the first casualty list...I cannot even imagine what it would be like to sit and wait for a list not knowing if your loved one had been killed or severely wounded. It angers me so much that war has to exist!

Welcome to the challenge, Cilla! No worries about starting later. You will definitely catch up. I think a lot of us are in different places anyway. I hope you enjoy the book. Feel free to share some thoughts with us as you read. And most importantly, Happy Reading!!

Exactly! I can't wait to continue on. Starting Ch 12 now. :)

At this point, Rhett is intriguing. He also seems very different for his time and goes against the normal trends and ideas. That being said, he is definitely rebellious and seems as if he definitely could be classified as a "cad." Cozy_Pug, I had no idea you had already finished the book! Congratulations! That definitely keeps me open and excited to see how I will feel once I have more knowledge. From what I recall from the movie (it's been years though) was that Scarlett had some enlightening experiences that challenged her survival that should have led to a life changing mindset but didn't in the end. But I can't wait to continue on and see how it all plays out. Thank goodness I'm able to withstand her character enough to read the book! It seems to be so scandalous at times that it just makes it interesting and popular. And it makes for great conversations with fellow book readers!

Very well said, Laurie. It's very difficult to find ways to sympathize with someone with such disturbing behaviors, but sometimes it helps just a little to understand how or why they are the way they are. Trust me, I one thousand percent can understand how you feel. I've spent many years working in behavioral health and even lived with a toxic family member so being able to see past their behaviors helps you work through it knowing that it often isn't fully within their control. Unfortunately, personality disorders such as narcissism are very difficult, if not impossible to treat. It doesn't help at all that her environment and family fed into her traits. Though so far it seems that they either didn't see how she really was or chose to ignore it. For example, when Gerald came to pick her up in Atlanta after finding out about her behavior at the social function she manipulated him into letting her stay using his own mistakes against him! He seems to recognize how she is and tries to punish her but then loses.

Oh yes, she is definitely worse in the book than the movie!

Cozy_Pug I agree Melanie would have handled the situation much more admirably and responsible. She is more mature and has the complete opposite personality than Scarlett does. Scarlett is very flawed for sure but makes for an entertaining and thought provoking read. She was very unlike other women of her time and indeed very much entitled. I sense strong narcissistic traits for her as well! I was shocked too that she read Ashley's letters. She needs someone or something to come along to help change her outlook on life!

Yes, it is very thought provoking. And I believe as it goes along it will prove to be even more so!

Wow, Laurie thank you for sharing this. I agree so much with you. I, too felt very sad for her after reading this. I also hate how she is toward her baby, and it is worrisome but she was just too immature to have to endure that challenges of motherhood and marriage yet times expected it of her.

Same here! That is so funny! I've been reading a chapter a week, but for some reason I had to keep reading after Ch 9 and now I stopped at the start of Ch 12! It definitely gets even better! Scarlett just makes me laugh. She may be selfish, but she is darn brave!