A Weighty Tome: 2021 Challenge: Gone with the Wind

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Sammy wrote: "Very true. you go back another couple of hundred years, and kids would often marry at 12-14. Of course, the life expectancy was a lot shorter then too, so in proportion they have a shorter childhoo..."

yes life expectancy has gone up so much in really a very short period of time. It's hard to think of a 20 year old being an "old maid" these days. lol

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Laurie wrote: "Just finished Part 1. It is definitely getting more interesting for me as it goes along, but I can't say I'm "enjoying" it since I don't like the environment or the characters. I don't enjoy readin..."

Interesting. I didn't get that vibe (and I love that book! haha) but we shall see as I get into part 2 if I have that feeling too ;)
I don't like unlikeable characters either, but I still have hope for some of them in this book xD

[Laurie B]

Random thought while reading: Anytime I read about corsets, I thank my lucky stars I never had to wear one, lol! :P

[Sammy]

Laurie wrote: "Random thought while reading: Anytime I read about corsets, I thank my lucky stars I never had to wear one, lol! :P"

I have worn them, and they are NOT fun! lol.

[Laurie B]

Sammy wrote: "Laurie wrote: "Random thought while reading: Anytime I read about corsets, I thank my lucky stars I never had to wear one, lol! :P"

I have worn them, and they are NOT fun! lol."

Props to you, Sammy! :o

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Ah! Yes too true Laurie!

Why did you have to wear one Sammy?

[Sammy]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Ah! Yes too true Laurie!

Why did you have to wear one Sammy?"

I worked a steampunk event many, many moons ago. I still have trouble breathing just thinking about it, lol.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Sammy wrote: "Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Ah! Yes too true Laurie!

Why did you have to wear one Sammy?"

I worked a steampunk event many, many moons ago. I still have trouble breathing just thinking about it, lol."

lol! fair enough too. Was it an amazing costume? I love seeing what people wear at those types of events

[Sammy]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Sammy wrote: "Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Ah! Yes too true Laurie!

Why did you have to wear one Sammy?"

I worked a steampunk event many, many moons ago. I still have trouble breathing just thinking about it..."

It was pretty spectacular. They all were! I might even consider doing it again if there's ever something similar nearby, despite the fact that Victorian clothing is all kinds of impractical! lol.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Yes so impractical! Much nicer to be able to dress ourselves in 30 seconds ;)

[[deleted user]]

Laurie wrote: "Just finished Part 1. It is definitely getting more interesting for me as it goes along, but I can't say I'm "enjoying" it since I don't like the environment or the characters. I don't enjoy readin..."

I agree there's some unlikeable characters here, Scarlett is number 1 unlikeable on my list. Having only ever seen the movie, I knew Scarlett was a selfish young miss but my goodness she's much worse in the book. At this point, I'm waiting to see if she develops any redeeming qualities. Rhett is a scoundrel, but he makes no attempt to hide his character flaws, and I can see some genuine kindness in him. I love Ashley and Melanie, especially Melanie - she has such a pure heart.

Funny, I love Wuthering Heights!

Hope Gone with the Wind becomes more enjoyable for you :)

[[deleted user]]

Corsets have always sounded like such instruments of torture. There's a place in Gone with the Wind where Scarlett needs to run somewhere, and she can hardly do it because her corset makes it so difficult to breathe.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

And you just reminded me of that scene in part one where she has to eat before leaving the house so that she will be seen as ladylike when she visits. And she remarks how she shouldn’t have been able to eat much anyway with what she was wearing 😁😬

[[deleted user]]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "And you just reminded me of that scene in part one where she has to eat before leaving the house so that she will be seen as ladylike when she visits. And she remarks how she shouldn’t have been ab..."

Haha, yes I wouldn't have done very well in that era, because I like to breathe and move freely, and if I'm going to a barbecue, I want to be able to eat more than a forkful of food :D

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

absolutely!

[Sammy]

Considering the vast amounts of food I am able to consume at any time, they could have fed me all they wanted beforehand... I'd have still shoved half the BBQ in my face given half the chance (there's a reason I walk 5-10 miles every day and do a half hour workout on top of that. If I didn't I'd be the size of a house. And not a small one either! lol)

[Keely]

I wore a corset while at uni once. I wanted to see how it made me look. I felt like I looked good while wearing it, but I had to get help to get it on and off and I can't tell you the relief you feel when it is undone. It was way too much hassle and restricting. I like to be comfortable and then I will enjoy myself more which is why I won't wear heels to an occassion.

More on the topic of this book, I haven't actually started it yet. I have a copy now, but I decided to hold off until UNO has started so that on the offchance that I finish it during the challenge, it will count towards my teams progress. I doubt that will happen, but you have made the book sound interesting so far so I might get carried away.

[Laurie B]

Cozy_Pug wrote: "Rhett is a scoundrel, but he makes no attempt to hide his character flaws, and I can see some genuine kindness in him."

Yes, I almost like Rhett so far just because he doesn't hide who he is. Many of the other characters, particularly Scarlett, are so fake, which is one of my biggest pet peeves. When he showed up, that's when the story really caught my interest, so I'm looking forward to seeing more of him. I've never seen the movie, so I don't know exactly what to expect, but I know enough not to expect a happy story.

[Suhailah]

It's funny how obsessive Scarlett is over Ashley. She is very manipulative! So sure of herself that he will leave Melanie to be with her! 84 pages in and they are on the way to the barbeque finally. I'm enjoying this alot.

[Suhailah]

Oh and don't forget ladies must eat like birds. Crazy how men were attracted to mindless women who looked pretty and had no opinions for themselves. Scarlett may be annoying and selfish, but she is definitely unique in this time era.

[[deleted user]]

Laurie wrote: "Cozy_Pug wrote: "Rhett is a scoundrel, but he makes no attempt to hide his character flaws, and I can see some genuine kindness in him."

Yes, I almost like Rhett so far just because he doesn't hid..."

So far, I think the movie was a bit lighter feeling than the book. Scarlett's personality is toned down in the movie IMO. I was shocked as I got further into the book how dreadful she really is. Selfish, unfeeling, shallow, conniving. Maybe they toned her down for the movie, I don't know, maybe it's just the lovely Vivian Leigh made her character more palatable and we can smile and indulge her flaws.

[[deleted user]]

Suhailah wrote: "It's funny how obsessive Scarlett is over Ashley. She is very manipulative! So sure of herself that he will leave Melanie to be with her! 84 pages in and they are on the way to the barbeque finally..."

Obsessive is right! And yes, she certainly was sure of her charms and wiles. I think she overestimated the effect of her charms and flirtations on Ashley, because it worked on every other man around her. Scarlett had never encountered rejection so it was incomprehensible to her that any man wouldn't fall at her feet and bend to her will.

It was quite a lead up to get to the barbecue haha, but it was fun and it built up the suspense of will Ashley choose Scarlett and forsake Melanie.

Scarlett is definitely unique for the era. What's interesting, I read about Margaret Mitchell before I started the book. She was apparently a bit of a rebel as well, and I think some of her personality ended up in Scarlett.

[Mirliz]

My (Swedish) edition isn't split into 2 volumes and 5 parts, but 2 parts and 63 chapters. Is there anyone who could help me to translate the reading schedule into which chapters we're supposed to read for each month?

[Suhailah]

Sammy wrote: "Considering the vast amounts of food I am able to consume at any time, they could have fed me all they wanted beforehand... I'd have still shoved half the BBQ in my face given half the chance (ther..."

This was so funny!

[Suhailah]

Cozy_Pug wrote: "Suhailah wrote: "It's funny how obsessive Scarlett is over Ashley. She is very manipulative! So sure of herself that he will leave Melanie to be with her! 84 pages in and they are on the way to the..."

Nice tidbit of information about Margaret Mitchell. I had no idea.

[Suhailah]

Laurie wrote: "Cozy_Pug wrote: "Rhett is a scoundrel, but he makes no attempt to hide his character flaws, and I can see some genuine kindness in him."

Yes, I almost like Rhett so far just because he doesn't hid..."

You've got to see the movie once you finish reading! It was very good. This is my first time reading the book, so I can't compare but from what I remember it seems similar.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Hi Mirliz

This is how my kindle did it - I’m not sure if the same as your version but the total chapter numbers are both 63

Part 1 - chapters 1-7
Part 2 - chapters 8-16
Part 3 - chapters 17-30
Part 4 - chapters 31-47
Part 5 - chapters 48-63

[[deleted user]]

Completed Part 3

I know I'm far ahead of schedule, so I'll hold off on posting any thoughts other than to say the book is still fantastic - no dragging scenes, just plenty of great action, dialogue, and descriptions to keep it compelling.

[Mirliz]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Hi Mirliz

This is how my kindle did it - I’m not sure if the same as your version but the total chapter numbers are both 63

Part 1 - chapters 1-7
Part 2 - chapters 8-16
Part 3 - chapters 17-30
Pa..."

Thank you! :)

[[deleted user]]

Completed Part 4 - gracious, what a lot goes on in this book. Still enjoying it immensely.

[Suhailah]

@Cozy_Pug Congratulations! I can't wait to keep reading!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

We are half way through February

Just a reminder that you should be almost finished part 1 by now. :)

(I finished part 2, but am holding my thoughts to post here until March!)

[[deleted user]]

Suhailah wrote: "@Cozy_Pug Congratulations! I can't wait to keep reading!"

I couldn't wait, that's how I ended up ahead of schedule :D

[Judy]

I was going to follow the schedule... but realistically I'm gonna put this on hold until May when term is over because unsurprisingly grad school is still kicking my ass (I've read like 10 pages so far)

[Sammy]

I've been super good and am reading to schedule, after the last couple being books I'd already read recently, and remembering what came in what section was a little tricky. It helps that I'm reading a Kindle copy, because I don't like reading on the Kindle, so tend to not read for too long. and I hate jumping between audio books, so those I tend to read straight through.

Enjoying it so far though! Looking forward to part two.

[Leona]

I am reading this for a buddy read also. It is a read for the month of February. I have seen the movie many times but never read the book.

[Laurie B]

I finished Part One and am waiting to start Part Two until March. I'll probably use the break/catch-up months to read those longer sections over three months instead of two. It seems to work out to about a chapter a week, maybe two chapters in a few cases.

[Suhailah]

I'm looking forward to Part 2 as well! I agree using the break up time will really help with the longer sections. This is how I planned to do it myself. Which will mostly be a chapter a week with some weeks later on turning into 2 chapters a week. But we must continue on with the challenge! Congratulations to everyone on their progress!

[Keely]

I haven't actually started this yet. I was going to start it at the beginning of this month, but got sidetracked with something else. Hopefully I will start it very soon and will be able to catch up.

[Julianne]

I just finished part one and I have a few thoughts:

1. Scarlett is so spoiled! But she is also a typical teenager with thinking that the world revolves around her. I guess I can relate to her by hyping something up in my head to the point of being completely devastated that "my plan" did not work out.
I have seen the movie so many times (one of my favorites), that even though I know what is going to happen, I still want to know what is going to happen to Scarlett.

2. So far I like Rhett Butler. He is very outspoken and is not afraid to speak his mind (even if it is the most unpopular opinion in the room). It will be interesting to see how his character developed in the books versus the movie.

Can't wait for part two!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

March has begun!

Schedule:

March & April 2021
Vol 1
Part 2: pp 147 - 290

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Julianne wrote: "I just finished part one and I have a few thoughts:

1. Scarlett is so spoiled! But she is also a typical teenager with thinking that the world revolves around her. I guess I can relate to her by ..."

I agree about Scarlett and Rhett! I haven't seen the movie so I can't compare, but I am really enjoying the book so far

[Laurie B]

Just started Part Two and I laughed out loud at this comment on visitors:

"Southerners were as enthusiastic visitors as they were hosts, and there was nothing unusual in relatives coming to spend the Christmas holidays and remaining until July...Frequently elderly aunts and uncles came to Sunday dinner and remained until they were buried years later." (Chapter Eight)

I still can't stand Scarlett, but I have to admit that this book is well written.

[[deleted user]]

Laurie wrote: "Just started Part Two and I laughed out loud at this comment on visitors:

"Southerners were as enthusiastic visitors as they were hosts, and there was nothing unusual in relatives coming to spend ..."

That is such a great passage! As a southerner, I appreciate the truth and humor in it.

Scarlett is definitely a pill, that's the nicest way I can say it :D

[Suhailah]

I agree about that passage!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Laurie wrote: "Just started Part Two and I laughed out loud at this comment on visitors:

"Southerners were as enthusiastic visitors as they were hosts, and there was nothing unusual in relatives coming to spend ..."

Great one :)

[Laurie B]

I must say that things are getting infinitely more interesting in Part Two!

[Suhailah]

I agree Laurie! What chapter or page are you on?

[Laurie B]

Suhailah wrote: "I agree Laurie! What chapter or page are you on?"

I'm at the first section break in chapter 10. I usually only read one chapter a week and this week was chapter 9, but I had to keep reading a bit after the way that chapter ended!

[Suhailah]

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!