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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
So, in middle school I read Gone with the Wind and Scarlett and fell in love with the books - well, mostly Gone with the Wind. I will admit, I have a problem...if I like a book and there is a sequel, I will read it. Even if it's horrible.
That said, this book I thought was really good. The author does a really good job with Rhett's role, it really felt much the same as Gone with the Wind. It made me want to read it all over again. He does add a new character who is really central to Rhett's life, which changes the plot from what occurred in [b:Gone with the Wind|18405|Gone With The Wind|Margaret Mitchell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166913011s/18405.jpg|3358283], but surprisingly, I was okay with that. His sister Rosemary adds an interesting perspective. I really liked how he explained Rhett's relationship with Belle Watling as well. Made her so much more likable, even though I liked her the first time.
That said, this book I thought was really good. The author does a really good job with Rhett's role, it really felt much the same as Gone with the Wind. It made me want to read it all over again. He does add a new character who is really central to Rhett's life, which changes the plot from what occurred in [b:Gone with the Wind|18405|Gone With The Wind|Margaret Mitchell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166913011s/18405.jpg|3358283], but surprisingly, I was okay with that. His sister Rosemary adds an interesting perspective. I really liked how he explained Rhett's relationship with Belle Watling as well. Made her so much more likable, even though I liked her the first time.
So I usually don't like it when an author tries to write something that is supposed to be about something by another writer but in this case I was glad that I tried this one. I thought the author did a good job connecting with Gone With the Wind, but not just re-writing that novel from Rhett's point of view. There was another storyline outside of GWtW that kept the novel separate, yet connected. I thought it was fun and he did a good job fleshing out Rhett's story.
I have to say I'm glad that I decided not to read the reviews before I got this book. I realize a lot of people did not like the book but I thought overall, it was a better story than Scarlett. I appreciate seeing the situation from Rhett's point of view. It just goes to show you the old adage.." there's your side, there's my side AND there is the truth".. ( or I might have remembered it from a song).
I only read 70 pages of this book. The writing is so sloppy and veers so much away from Rhett Butler's life that it was just boring to read.
For anyone that loved [b:gone with the wind|18405|Gone With The Wind|Margaret Mitchell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166913011s/18405.jpg|3358283], a decent sequel from Rhett's point of view.
It was very interesting to read this book from Rhett's perspective. It definitely tied up some loose ends I find Mitchell left (perhaps even on purpose) in [b:Gone With the Wind|18405|Gone With the Wind|Margaret Mitchell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166913011s/18405.jpg|3358283].
But what I didn't like so much was the rather... loose writing style. It doesn't line up with Mitchell's at all. And it felt, while I was reading it, that McCaig wrote this book for a much younger audience. This definitely doesn't make any sense, since the target audience are those who have already read Gone With the Wind.
If you can look past the lax writing style, and just want to enjoy the Gone With the Wind story from Rhett's perspective, though, then this book is for you.
But what I didn't like so much was the rather... loose writing style. It doesn't line up with Mitchell's at all. And it felt, while I was reading it, that McCaig wrote this book for a much younger audience. This definitely doesn't make any sense, since the target audience are those who have already read Gone With the Wind.
If you can look past the lax writing style, and just want to enjoy the Gone With the Wind story from Rhett's perspective, though, then this book is for you.
So bad. That's all I can say. I tried to skim through but just terrible. Gone with the Wind is my absolute favorite book so this just hurt!
Takes Gone with the Wind and poops on it.
Rhett Butler is one of the best romantic heroes, both in literature and cinema. He deserves a good companion novel or sequel or prequel told from his point of view. This aint it.
Mr. Darcy has a kazillion books recently, and I hope Rhetty gets another shot.
This book sucks. For reals.
Rhett Butler is one of the best romantic heroes, both in literature and cinema. He deserves a good companion novel or sequel or prequel told from his point of view. This aint it.
Mr. Darcy has a kazillion books recently, and I hope Rhetty gets another shot.
This book sucks. For reals.
I just don't understand how I could have missed this book which came out already in 2007! Me being a fan of Gone With the Wind and all. Unlike the sequel Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley this is not a sequel but takes place at the same time as the story in Gone With the Wind but seen from another angle; that is Rhett Butler and his people. It is an absolutely fantastic book and a MUST for fans of Gone With the Wind.
The book follows Rhett Butler and his family from his young years. His parents, brother and his sister who plays the biggest part. There are his childhood friends and the life in Charleston at the time. As the story evolves we also get to meet Scarlett, Melanie and Ashley Wilkes, Miss Pittypat, Mammy, Belle Watling and other old friends. He weaves a fantastic story but wholly credible around these people. The most impressive part is in the way he has taken on the characters. It can not be easy to write on characters created by another author but he does it as if they were his own. Very impressive.
Although, at the time, I read the sequel Scarlett through rather quickly I did not really like how the book saw the future of Scarlett and Rhett. However, as the story is told in this book it makes a perfect match for me. The author is new to me but he has also written Jacob's Ladder which is, according to The Virginia Quarterly "the best civil war novel ever written". I can't wait to put my teeth into that one!
Review from my book blog thecontentreader.blogspot.com
The book follows Rhett Butler and his family from his young years. His parents, brother and his sister who plays the biggest part. There are his childhood friends and the life in Charleston at the time. As the story evolves we also get to meet Scarlett, Melanie and Ashley Wilkes, Miss Pittypat, Mammy, Belle Watling and other old friends. He weaves a fantastic story but wholly credible around these people. The most impressive part is in the way he has taken on the characters. It can not be easy to write on characters created by another author but he does it as if they were his own. Very impressive.
Although, at the time, I read the sequel Scarlett through rather quickly I did not really like how the book saw the future of Scarlett and Rhett. However, as the story is told in this book it makes a perfect match for me. The author is new to me but he has also written Jacob's Ladder which is, according to The Virginia Quarterly "the best civil war novel ever written". I can't wait to put my teeth into that one!
Review from my book blog thecontentreader.blogspot.com