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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, War
Moderate: Child abuse, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
medium-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
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is undoubtedly one of the best books I've ever read, if not the best one. Such a vivid depiction of war and life, and no book has made me feel so much emotion, even if I love/hated Scarlett for being awful, but also respecting her for doing whatever she needed to survive. It's a very human story when you get to the bones of it, and it is masterfully written. Would give it more stars if I could.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
All the characters especially Scarlet are so insufferable that this books was a challenge to get through. The main conflict of Scarlet not realizing she doesn’t love Ashley but actually loves Rhett is infuriating. She is by far the fictional character, that isn’t a true villain, I hate the most. Hats off to the author for writing such a hate-able character. I do not like this book, I’d never read it again. It’s not worth the time investment.
I feel like I need to put a caveat to my 5 stars that racism is bad. But I can easily say that, sitting here with my 2024 perspective while reading a novel written in 1936 that takes place during the Civil War and reconstruction. Acknowledging history is important on both a societal and individual level, even though our societal and cultural views of things have changed dramatically (I should hope). To be honest, I’ve never really spent any time in the confederate perspective, and I think seeing through other perspectives is important, no matter how much I might disagree with them.
Scarlet made me furious most of the time. I never came to like or respect her, though I do respect her resilience.
And when I finished the book, I wanted to throw it across the room.
But still….. 5 stars
Scarlet made me furious most of the time. I never came to like or respect her, though I do respect her resilience.
And when I finished the book, I wanted to throw it across the room.
But still….. 5 stars
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've on-and-off tried to read this for years and finally powered through. It was difficult for me to keep reading about Scarlett - as a deeply devoted character-development person, she didn't give me much to hang on for. And I'm interested in the idea of exploring the failures of Reconstruction, but maybe in a way that wasn't racist. And I don't mean "black-people-are-evil" racist, but I do mean "black-people-are-intellectually-inferior" racist. Some of those parts really made me want to close the book.
But I am genuinely interested to hear from anyone who liked it. And also would love recommendations of Reconstruction-era fiction and/or non-fiction if you have any!
But I am genuinely interested to hear from anyone who liked it. And also would love recommendations of Reconstruction-era fiction and/or non-fiction if you have any!
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
most horrendously racist book i've had the displeasure of reading yet the interactions between characters make me want to gnaw my arm off.