Gone with the Wind in Classics Without All the Class

Jan 31, 2008 Beth Given rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

This book is often cited as a "favorite," which is how it ended up on my fledgling to-read shelf not long after I joined Goodreads four or five years ago. But its thickness made me keep putting it off. I mean, 1000+ pages?? I'll read something else first, something shorter that's not so much of a time commitment. (That's right -- I'll think of reading that novel "tomorrow," haha.)

Well, I finally decided that this would be the summer to tackle this one. And wow. Part of me can't believe I waited This book is often cited as a "favorite," which is how it ended up on my fledgling to-read shelf not long after I joined Goodreads four or five years ago. But its thickness made me keep putting it off. I mean, 1000+ pages?? I'll read something else first, something shorter that's not so much of a time commitment. (That's right -- I'll think of reading that novel "tomorrow," haha.)

Well, I finally decided that this would be the summer to tackle this one. And wow. Part of me can't believe I waited so long to read this; another part of me wishes I could go back a few weeks so I could be blissfully ignorant of the way this novel was going to pull at my heart strings. I've never seen the movie and only had a vague idea of what the book was about, and I loved being surprised by it.

It's been a long time since characters have felt so real. I love the contrast of Scarlett and Melanie. Everyone loves Melanie, can't help but love Melanie -- and yet Scarlett is our main character, our protagonist ... maybe because we wouldn't like her any other way. And maybe because each of us has some Scarlett in us, regardless of how we admire Melanie.

Yes, as many wrong turns as Scarlett makes, I find that I can't help but root for her still! Her fortitude, her gumption -- she is a heroine in her own right.

I also loved (loved!) the history here. The Southern perspective of the Civil War was both captivating and terrifying. I was surprised, though, when the war ended and I was only halfway through the novel -- turns out that the rest of book focuses on the period of Reconstruction. Yes, boring ol' Reconstruction, that part of history class seems to gloss over ('cause "carpetbagger" and "scallawag" were just terms to define on a vocab sheet). Well, turns out that this setting was just as captivating. Really good history.

This book gave me so much to think about, so many great themes: money vs. class; looking to the past vs. looking to the future; homeland; love vs. lust; loyalty; survival. Yes, this book has so much in it that I feel like this humble review can't do it justice!

How about this, then: this was really a worthwhile read. One that makes you think, one that sticks with you -- and a good, romantic, heartbreaking story to boot. ...more

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Jun 14, 2008 Shea rated it really liked it

Shelves: classics-challenge

Like Rhett Butler I have a love-hate relationship with Scarlett O'Hara. I admire her for her strength and her honesty with herself. I dislike her for her self-centeredness, dishonesty with others, and cruelty to those around her. I enjoy historical fiction and this is one of the best I have read but it didn't quite live up to what I was expecting. At times it seemed to drag on and then at others it skipped over things I wanted to read more about. I always thought it was supposed to be a great lo ...more

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