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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I have been a fan of this book (and movie) since I was a child. I was fortunate enough to see the movie in theaters when it was re-released in 1998. I recently reread the book again for one of my local book clubs, and I have forgotten how much I love it. It's been many years since my last re-read, and it's very different reading it as an adult rather than a teenager/child. I got so much more depth and beauty out of the book than I did in the past, and I treasure this book all the more. To read my full review, please visit my blog https://allyouneedarebooksandcats.wordpress.com/2022/01/19/gone-with-the-wind/
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the book!! In the movie, Rhett Butler is portrayed as a long-suffering man in regards to Scarlett O'Hara. In the book, Rhett is cruel, and he mocks Scarlett, and tries to put her in her "place". He tells her he isn't the marrying type and he wants her to be his mistress. Her retort made me laugh. Scarlett is "moony-eyed" over Ashley, just like in the movie. Rhett makes fun of her about this. Scarlett is a multi-dimensional person, not the "scheming" southern women in the movie. She is a strong woman and she is doing what she has to keep her family from becoming homeless and starving. Her "family" includes her father, sisters, her son, Melanie, Ashley, and their son. As well as extended "family" members. After reading the book, the "Hollywood" version piss** me off at the way Scarlett and Rhett are portrayed. Other than Melanie, everyone else is shades of gray in the book, rather than the stark contrast of the characters in the movie. It's a good thing I read the book after the movie because I would have never finished watching the movie.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I feel I cannot give this book 5 stars, because the characters were so awful, and the whitewashing of history is so blatant and gross. But I overall found the story compelling and I wanted to know what would happen, which kept me going through the 1000+ pages. The writing itself was very descriptive and evocative, and Scarlett is the kind of character that I liked to hate.
I'm not sure I would really recommend this book to anyone, but I will say a good book to read in juxtaposition of this is Little Women, which has a similar feel, same time period, and takes place from a completely opposite perspective with greater emphasis on kindness, compassion, personal growth, and love, which no character in Gone with the Wind really exemplified, except maybe Melly.
I'm not sure I would really recommend this book to anyone, but I will say a good book to read in juxtaposition of this is Little Women, which has a similar feel, same time period, and takes place from a completely opposite perspective with greater emphasis on kindness, compassion, personal growth, and love, which no character in Gone with the Wind really exemplified, except maybe Melly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Abandonment, Alcohol
Audiobook at 49 hours was masterfully performed.
The first half of this book, and then the ending, were incredible. Probably the best writing and character development I've ever encountered. But then came the second half of the book, and I had a hard time getting through it. It lost its forward momentum (hard to care about the future of a former plantation) and became incredibly racist. The upper class white characters complaining about how bad they had it was insufferable. And it wasn't just the voices of the characters. There were third person omniscient tirades of racism that were clearly the author's views. It got better again at the end when the plot returned to the interpersonal relationships.
The first half of this book, and then the ending, were incredible. Probably the best writing and character development I've ever encountered. But then came the second half of the book, and I had a hard time getting through it. It lost its forward momentum (hard to care about the future of a former plantation) and became incredibly racist. The upper class white characters complaining about how bad they had it was insufferable. And it wasn't just the voices of the characters. There were third person omniscient tirades of racism that were clearly the author's views. It got better again at the end when the plot returned to the interpersonal relationships.
The problem with a book like this is how do you even top it? What could I possibly read next that would even come close?
I loved it so much I actually felt like I lost a friend when it ended.
I loved it so much I actually felt like I lost a friend when it ended.