Gone with the Wind in Retro Chapter Chicks

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

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

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 epitomiz 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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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 t ...more

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Jun 26, 2009 Book Concierge rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classic, own, movie, 19th-century, southern-lit, concierge, strong-women, women-writers, library, pulitzer

UPDATED REVIEW January 2012

Book on CD performed by Linda Stephens
5*****

The first time I read this Pulitzer winner was when I was in high school(circa 1967). The movie had just been re-released and my best friend and I saw it about 8 times. She still had the best plot description I've ever heard: "This is the story of Rhett Butler who loves Scarlett O'Hara, who loves Ashley Wilkes, who loves Melanie Hamilton, who loves everyone, including the town tart Belle Watling, who loves Rhett Butler, who l UPDATED REVIEW January 2012

Book on CD performed by Linda Stephens
5*****

The first time I read this Pulitzer winner was when I was in high school(circa 1967). The movie had just been re-released and my best friend and I saw it about 8 times. She still had the best plot description I've ever heard: "This is the story of Rhett Butler who loves Scarlett O'Hara, who loves Ashley Wilkes, who loves Melanie Hamilton, who loves everyone, including the town tart Belle Watling, who loves Rhett Butler, who loves Scarlett..."

I've since read the book a second and now a third time and recognize more depth than our first summary. Yes, it is still a love story. But it is also a quintessential Southern book, a quintessential great American novel, a quintessential exploration of war and its aftermath, and a quintessential character study of Scarlett O’Hara’s evolution from spoiled girl to unstoppable woman.

Critics have panned the book as superfluous and romantic. The book has outlived those critics, and will continue to outlive critics, mostly because Mitchell could really write. She crafted a story that may take a thousand pages but reads as if it were a short novel. She manages to give the many characters (I lost track, but I wouldn’t be surprised to know there are over 100) unique voices, so the reader is never confused (and this is really important when listening to the audio). And the characters who people her book present the full spectrum of human traits, from best to worst. These are the qualities that make the book such an enduring favorite, and really a classic work of literature.

Is the book without flaws? Of course not. I cringe at the romantic version of the Ku Klux Klan – something akin to a fraternity or a Rotary Club. I am appalled at how often she compares the “darkies” to children or, worse yet, apes. But I am still caught up in the story, and that is the reason most people read novels – for a good story. And it was the story that first captured my attention and my heart, and it is the story that still earns it 5 stars.

Linda Stephens does a fine job of narrating the audio version, though I thought her Scarlett sounded too mature at the beginning of the book – Scarlett is only 16 when we first meet her, and I thought her voice should have a higher pitch. But that's really a minor quibble. ...more

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Mar 22, 2015 Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Schu rated it liked it

Shelves: classics, tbrhchallenge, themechallenge2015

Overview:
For the most part, I enjoyed the story, which surprised me. I grew up in the north, so I never wanted to read the story. But, after living in Atlanta for a number of years, I decided to read it. The story is beautifully written, but there are a few characters that grate my nerves. The language is a bit harsh on the ears, but I know it's the times. I am curious about whether Mitchell actually harmed how African Americans were treated in the South after the publication of her novel, espec Overview:
For the most part, I enjoyed the story, which surprised me. I grew up in the north, so I never wanted to read the story. But, after living in Atlanta for a number of years, I decided to read it. The story is beautifully written, but there are a few characters that grate my nerves. The language is a bit harsh on the ears, but I know it's the times. I am curious about whether Mitchell actually harmed how African Americans were treated in the South after the publication of her novel, especially while noting how she depicts slavery.

Item of interest for me in the story:
I thought the parts on how Southern Plantation Owners treated their slaves better than the Yankees after the war was interesting. I'd like to read more about that especially since Mitchell writes about slavery in the South with rose colored glasses.

My constructive criticism:
Mitchell was completely off base stating that Rock Island was as awful as Andersonville Prison, not true at all. I also didn't like how Prissy was portrayed, she was an absolute nut! Even the actress didn't think that most house slaves would have been that wild and anxious. I also thought that Mitchell romanticized the war far too much.

Characters:
Rhett is one of my favorite characters, he speaks his mind and does what is best for him, he may be a bit selfish (like Scarlett), but I like that he doesn't pretend to follow along with an idea that he disagrees with and he has a great deal of foresight.

Frank is my least favorite character, "Don't worry your little pretty little head, sugar..." And, taking Scarlett's money from the sawmills and depositing in his own accounts! He didn't support her ownership, he had no business taking the money. And, thinking a baby would soften a woman, what a load of malarky!

Scarlett strikes me as a very unusual woman for her times, shunning gentility (but struggling because she knows it's the expectation). She seems to suffer from many internal struggles and her character had evolved from her struggles and the changing times.

Melanie is one of the most underestimated characters with a great deal of courage and strength with an endless supply of love and support.

Ashley is just a blah character to me, bland and not much substance to him.

Love Mammy! What a force of nature! A strong willed and spirited woman, very no nonsense except for her red petticoat!

So, again, glad I finally read GWTW. Would recommend. Why 4 stars? The romanticization of the Civil War. ...more

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Jul 21, 2010 Tasha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, classics, civil-war, favorites-2015

What an investment of time but so well-worth it. It took me years to finally start this one and I'm glad I did. It was wonderfully written and the history of the time seemed so well presented. I love that the ending (view spoiler) ...more

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Jan 20, 2015 Kris (My Novelesque Life) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

4.5 STARS

"First published in 1936, this book is a historical novel set against the dramatic backdrop of the American Civil War. It tells the love story of Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler." (From Amazon)

I love this novel - it has everything an epic story needs! Oh, Tara. I love Rhett and love to hate Scarlett. ...more

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