☯Emily ’s Comments (group member since Jul 27, 2011)

☯Emily ’s comments from the Classics for Beginners group.

Danielle is supposed to do September. Is there a volunteer for October? This would be for someone who is available in mid August. I am not. Are there any other moderators other than Joseph, Danielle and me?

I have completed the first five chapters. I have three questions. Margaret Mitchell does not create a likeable character in Scarlet O'Hara. Does it bother you that the protagonist is thoroughly detestable?

Mitchell is extremely critical of the way women were regarded during this time of the Civil War. They had to be pretty and helpless and dumb before marriage, yet resourceful, hard working and sensible after marriage. The only option for women in the 1850-60's was marriage. When Scarlet is plotting how to get Ashley to marry her, she thought she had to be simpering, use coquetry or act empty-headed. Then there is this statement: "There was no one to tell Scarlet that her own personality, frighteningly vital though it was, was more attractive than any masquerade she might adopt. Had she been told, she would have been pleased but unbelieving. And the civilization of which she was a part would have been unbelieving too, for at no time, before or since, had so low a premium been placed on feminine naturalness." Mitchell leaves no doubt of how she feels about artificial and hypocritical actions of women.

One teacher I had for a literature class said to pay attention to recurring words in a book because those words have meaning. What do you think the recurring use of red means? In the first chapter, there is a paragraph that is filled with images of red. Examples include these: "the bloody glory of the sunset colored the fresh-cut furrows of red Georgia clay to even redder hues", "the moist hungry earth...showed pinkish on the sandy tops of furrows, vermilion and scarlet and maroon where shadows lay along the side of the trenches." Tara is brick "set in a wild red sea" "with pink-tipped waves breaking into surf." The area of Georgia where Scarlet lived "was a savagely red land, blood-colored after rains, brick dust in droughts." And, of course, you have the name of Scarlet herself.

You go your own pace. If you comment, it is helpful to state where you are in the book and, if there are spoilers, make sure you use the (view spoiler)[ spoiler. (hide spoiler)]

Rachel wrote: "(Sorry it posted be fore I was done ) southern states."

It is the glorified view of the antebellum southern states from the viewpoint of the white plantation owner. It is not actual reality of the poor white or the black slave living during this horrific time period.

Joy wrote: "The audible version of this book is 49 hours. I marvel that anyone would call it a "quick read". Although it can't be too hard. I know I read it at a fairly young age after the movie was shown on t..."

It is a quick read for a book that is almost a 1,000 pages. It is much faster to read than War and Peace, for example.

Rachel wrote: "Is gone with the wind a one month or a three month?"

This is a three month read. However, it is a very easy book to read. All the threads for the book have been created so everyone can read and comment at their own pace.

Here we will discuss the last section of the GWTW.

This is the discussion for chapters 31-47.

This section includes chapters 17-30.

This will discuss Part 2 which is chapters 8-16.

We are scheduled to begin discussing this book on July 1. This might be a good time to begin reading the book. But, no pressure. You can join the discussion at any time! Enjoy.

Sandy wrote: "Hi everyone. I'm Sandy. I joined a few months ago, but have been so busy with other challenges that I haven't been active in this group.

I'd like to join in the Tri-Monthly Read of Gone with the W..."

Welcome, Sandy. I haven't heard of any special edition. I'm reading my old book from college.

Joseph (Millennium Man) wrote: "So July 15 preparation for the September read begins?

In August the October read plus the tri monthly read preparation starts?"

That is how I understand it.

We should be setting up a thread for nominations for the August reading.

According to Nicole's schedule, we should be getting suggestions for the August poll right now and voting next week. Joseph, are you up to it?

Okay. I will be gone some of the summer, but I think I can set a thread up in between those times.

Do you mean for Gone with the Wind or every month?

Danielle The Book Huntress (Angels Weep For Goodreads) wrote: "I started a new schedule thread here:



https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."

Thanks.

Gone with the Wind was the selection. I assume the discussion threads will go up in July unless people are reading it in June. I will actually start reading it this month, but I don't know about anyone else.

Who wants to do this next month?