Reviews with content warning for Murder - Gone with the Wind

this... was quite a letdown, and I was actually looking forward to reading it a lot. I saw the movie when I was probably thirteen and remember that I liked it quite much back then. for some time now I’ve wanted to rewatch the film, but thought why not read the book instead. my memories were accordingly rusty and I pretty much only remembered the romantic story arc which is what I was looking forward to; plus Scarlett’s love for her family’s farm Tara and something about a sawmill.
I found it endearing that Scarlett is depicted as such an unlikeable character. I’ve rarely come across such a main character and kept reading. I like how she has her own, strong-willed mind and isn’t afraid to do what is improper by society’s standards, or what she finds she has to do (although her means and ways are questionable). even more interesting is that the majority of the characters are unlikeable and there were quite a lot times when I wanted to slap this or that character for acting so self-absorbed or simply stupid. that does happen in every other story though, so that wasn’t what took away my joy reading the story: what I had truly not anticipated was the blatantly open racism in the book!!! it made me feel really uneasy reading those passages and there were plenty of them. the way black people are described, addressed and speak plus the glorification of the ku klux klan left me horrified. that viewpoint might be an accurate portrait of the time the story takes place in, but it doesn’t make it any less horrible to read about it. probably a good reason to read it, though?

another (albeit much smaller) disappointment is the german version of “my dear, I don’t give a damn” which is just so lacklustre in comparison, “Liebling, es ist mir Einerlei”

Content Warnings

_fallinglight_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

YES, this book is offensively, vulgarly, even criminally racist, and apologetic to the antebellum South and slavery, and glamorizes the Southern ways and pride and paints such a ridiculously inaccurate picture of how things were and it's incredibly dehumanizing but Mrs. Mitchell went freaking off writing such an intricate, at points (especially when she's not disparaging Black people) beautiful, harrowing war story novel. Scarlett O'Hara is a supremely naive, stupid, selfish character but she's also determined, steadfast and stops at nothing to get what she wants and it's successful at it, idk but it was almost fun to read. And as outdated as Rhett Butler may be, some of things he says make the reading worthwhile. This book is ridiculously long but the war and siege and everything that happens during those Civil War years and afterwards make it so worthwhile to read absolutely everything bc the writing structure is stunning. Reading this book was an experience bc as hateful as it is, it's so pulling. But seriously read at your own risk.

Content Warnings

schwambibambi's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I had a hard time reading this. It took me almost 2 whole years to finish and a lot of other books in between to not make me hate reading. Also, I have the very first German edition from 1937, so the N-word is used, which threw me off at the beginning. On to the plot:

I hated Scarlett whith a passion from the start. She is the definition of self-centered, not empathetic and cruel. The way she played with the men that desired her is like a cat playing with a half dead mouse out of boredom. Her obsession with Ashley was really interesting though, since I know the feeling of not understanding someone and the desire to do so, but she then went on to resent that part of him. So no sympathy points for her. Her character development was also not really there until the last 5 pages or so...
She also treated Melly like trash, although she was the most kind-hearted person I know. Melly really is an inspiration for empathy, forgiveness and blind trust. She deserved to be treated better than what Scarlett did to her, whishing that she died in childbirth and wanting to steal her husband. Since I know a Melanie in real life that I don't like, I immediatly hopped onto the Melly-hating bus Scarlett started, but I grew to love as much as Scarlett did, but I realised it earlier. I think Mellly is a character I'll keep in mind and think of when I need to be empathetic.
Rhett was a wild ride. He was over 30 years old when they first met and immediatly fell in love with her, so he's a predator. That out of the way, I liked him. Yes, he was also really cruel, but he gave Scarlett so many chances. He helped her so much (and she appreciated none of that), I genuenly wished for him to be happy. At first, I thought he was joking when he said he wanted to leave Scarlett, but when I realised he wasn't, I understood. I was still sad, but also content that he found a way to happy, even when it didn't involve Scarlett (which is probably for the better).
To the setting: the war was brutal. It is still romanticised, since the perspective of Scarlett and her environment were pro-slavery. The KKK and her 2nd husband's involvement in it were obviously romanticised, too. I don't know enough about the Reconstruction to judge that, but it felt realistic from a Southerner's perspective.

A short rant: Margaret Mitchell did corsets so dirty. They weren't at all like she described them. The were comfortable and fit like a second skin to you. If you want to learn more, I recommend Bernadette Banner or Karolina Zebrowska on YouTube.

Content Warnings

More...