Reviews

This was interesting to read as an adult with a lot more awareness than what I had when I read it as a teen. I expected the rampant racism (of course- it's a book about the Civil War from the perspective of the South, written in the 1930s; even though I hate the massive racism that existed, had it not been present in this book it would have been incredibly odd and inaccurate- and, in fact, it's the "niceness" of the main characters to their slaves that feels the most *wrong*- that and the "honorable" view of the KKK are far and away the most uncomfortable and terrible things imho), but what really struck me was my view of Scarlett. I believe I used to think her selfish, but now reading it... she's a feminist in a lot of ways, and I admire her. Had any measure of equality existed between men & women in that time, Scarlett wouldn't have been viewed in a negative light- she survived and learned ways to thrive, as simple as that. She saved her family, she became a businesswoman, and did what she had to do. Do I wish she had realized earlier that Ashley Wilkes wasn't her match AT ALL? Yes. And this book ends in a way that is terribly depressing... and yet, you see in the last line that Scarlett will bear this new pain and rise again. Because that is what Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler DOES.

The other thing that was apparent to me was Mitchell's great love of Georgia throughout this book. Her description of the red clay and the rolling hills brought me home, and I think I appreciated her writing style much more now than I did previously. Additionally, this made me want to read actual accounts of the Civil War and Reconstruction era, something that certainly did not happen when I was a teen! I also want a book written from the perspective of Melanie Wilkes, to be quite honest!

And I will now be re-reading "Scarlett" the faux-sequel to this. I've read it once and recall feeling positively toward it- it will be interesting to see if I still like it now.

eckermama's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

dyno8426's review

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5.0

"I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind,
Flung roses, roses riotously with the throng,
Dancing, to put thy pale, lost lilies out of mind;
But I was desolate and sick of an old passion,
Yea, all the time, because the dance was long;
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion."

This book is phenomenal, as much as the period which it depicts, the American Civil War. Think of the time when the great America was like a bunch of infants, growing, learning to stand, fighting among each other and hardening against the harsh realities. Southern states, with their honor and their slaves and Northern states with their greed and monstrous Yankees. No, don't mistake it for a biased documentation of sides, who was right and who was wrong? Who were the ones who starved and who quenched themselves using others lives? It is about Scarlett O'Hara, an individual (who was not a 'lady') but much more than that, who faced all this against the world, with her will to survive; to have what she wanted (like always); to see a tomorrow for herself. Because what else is life, having stripped of all its complexities, worries, desires and dreams, if not a sequence of tomorrows. Accompanied by tons of unforgettable characters (Rhett, Melanie, Ashley), Scarlett O'Hara is undoubtedly one of the most admirable and human characters I've come across.

This book goes into my shelves as a memorable reading experience and most certainly, one of the very favorites.

blackjessamine's review against another edition

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3.0

MA COME TI VESTI?
Niente, la minuziosa descrizione di ogni singolo abito posseduto da Rossella mi ha prosciugato ogni energia positiva.
Sì, lo so, restano altre 500 pagine nelle quali potrebbe succedere qualcosa di meraviglioso, ma avete idea di quante altre crinoline potrebbero entrare in 500 pagine? Senza contare che i pochi capitoli che ho letto mi sono bastati per capire che, ahimé, credo di essere obbligata ad avere a che fare quasi quotidianamente con una sorta di perfetta incarnazione di Rossella O'Hara, e credetemi, è una tortura più che sufficiente.

kay_reads9's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

If you can get over the racism and sexism (spoiler: I couldn’t), then this would have been a really good book. The writing is great, there is excellent character development, and I found moments of genuine love and affection for these characters. It just wasn’t worth the trade off for me overall.

jakepauler69's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

estherhutchinson's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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