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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book should be called An Ode to the Old South. This book does not age well. The racist stereotypes in this novel made it painfully difficult to read. And the author paints the Klan as vigilantes and the Confederates as heroes. Disgusting. The main characters are despicable people who I wouldn’t want to be friends with in real life yet the authors has you cheering for them. I just wanted to shake some sense into Scarlet. Even the best character in the book (Melanie) is racist. The book does give insight into the politics of that time and the left overs that we are still dealing with (convict leading, voter suppression). The book does show the difference between northern and southern racism. And explains why some men have a problem with Feminism. In one sentence this book is a warning against pride.
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So I read this because I am reading all lit classics that are on the banned books list. If I had done any background reading before picking this up - I never would have.
The story; set in the south is full of people who fought in the confederate party. Later on, most are proudly part of the KKK. The way black folks are spoken about in this book is absolutely appalling. The hateful language of the time is heavy throughout the novel but would you believe that it's not even the most shocking part?
I now think some books ought be banned in schools and am struggling with conflicted feelings regarding censorship.
On top of all the ghastly fallacies spoken about black people, as if that's not enough of a reason to hate the book - the main character is a terrible person with unforgivable flaws. I honestly loathed her through the entire FORTY-SEVEN hour listen. Yes. 47. Hours.
In the last HOUR of the book, the main character finally, after 46 hours, may see the light, may finally give you what you've been screaming at her to give you the entire time. Only for the novel to end abruptly and give absolutely no closure to the reader.
Hate. Hate. Double hate. Loath entirely.
The story; set in the south is full of people who fought in the confederate party. Later on, most are proudly part of the KKK. The way black folks are spoken about in this book is absolutely appalling. The hateful language of the time is heavy throughout the novel but would you believe that it's not even the most shocking part?
I now think some books ought be banned in schools and am struggling with conflicted feelings regarding censorship.
On top of all the ghastly fallacies spoken about black people, as if that's not enough of a reason to hate the book - the main character is a terrible person with unforgivable flaws. I honestly loathed her through the entire FORTY-SEVEN hour listen. Yes. 47. Hours.
In the last HOUR of the book, the main character finally, after 46 hours, may see the light, may finally give you what you've been screaming at her to give you the entire time. Only for the novel to end abruptly and give absolutely no closure to the reader.
Hate. Hate. Double hate. Loath entirely.
Heralded as a great love story, I was shocked and disappointed by the actual “love story” that goes on in this book. But firstly, there were many things I loved about this book. I loved to hate Scarlett, with all her spoiled and selfish actions, her complete disregard for others’ feelings, and her raw ambition to climb to the top of society. I also really can’t blame her for hating everyone in Atlanta; they’re materialistic and longing for a society that is dead and buried, never to return. I loved the character of Melanie, probably the only good person in the whole novel. I think Rhett had potential to be a sort of antihero, but some of his actions turned me firmly against him. The historical part of this book was informative without taking up the whole story. But all this aside, I had some major issues. Most importantly, Rhett and Scarlett’s “love story.” They aren’t well suited at all, and spend most of the story fighting. I almost didn’t believe Scarlett when she realized she loved Rhett in the end. Also, Rhett taping Scarlett and then telling her he hopes she has a miscarriage made me hate him. Even though he clearly feels sorry after that, I couldn’t get past it. Secondly, the portrayal of slaves and the institution of slavery itself is wildly inaccurate. Slaves either have no personality or are classic archetypes in this novel. Admittedly this book is not about slavery, but many African Americans play a prominent role, and I wish they had been written as more than stereotypes. Finally, this book is LONG. Usually this doesn’t bother me, but toward the end of the nearly 1,500 pages I started to get bogged down. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I didn’t go into it thinking it was going to be a sweeping romance. It was depressing, desolate, and heart-wrenching. There were very few happy moments, and the romance in it didn’t play as big of a role as the war and destruction of Southern society that followed it. I think if this book was advertised in a different way I wouldn’t have been confused and I would have been prepared for the actual story.
I couldn't like all the characters, but this book is good. Gripping.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'd like to give this book more than 3.5 stars but it's just so racist I can't do that in good conscience. I know it's "of its time", but it's still uncomfortably racist.
It's set during the American Civil War, but on the side of the Confederates. Our main character frankly doesn't give a crap about the war which is quite amusing, and a nice break from the typical American patriotism that you still get today. It's an interesting love story, and very compelling story about women in 1860s America. It seems to me to be really progressive in terms of women's rights (I especially loved how Scarlett describes children, the act of giving birth and being a mother, which I'm sure would have been considered insane at the time of publishing). Of course, one can't ignore the racism not just from the characters (which I would be willing to turn a blind eye to, considering we're following the lives of Confederates) but the narrator, and thus the author, has some pretty disgusting things to say about slavery and black people which you just cannot ignore.
Also, I hated how it ended. I think it was ridiculous that Scarlett was 'in love', or thought she was in love, with Ashley for so long, and that was literally the only thing that kept her from Rhett. Like, sure it was nice and progressive for women in that we got to see a woman who didn't want to just be a wife and mother (like all women were indoctrinated to want at the time), she wanted to work and earn for herself, and she did this despite the backlash she received.... But we follow her life from about 16/17 to her 40s or something and the entire time her motive is just to be with a man. I mean, obviously she wants money too, but it's like her motive is "once I have money, Ashley will marry me". And even when she realises that she doesn't love Ashley anymore... She just wants to be with Rhett. I feel like it undoes all of her character of being a strong independent woman. Frustrating, slightly. And also Rhett is a creepy fucker I hate that we, the audience, are supposed to like him (at least at the end).
It's set during the American Civil War, but on the side of the Confederates. Our main character frankly doesn't give a crap about the war which is quite amusing, and a nice break from the typical American patriotism that you still get today. It's an interesting love story, and very compelling story about women in 1860s America. It seems to me to be really progressive in terms of women's rights (I especially loved how Scarlett describes children, the act of giving birth and being a mother, which I'm sure would have been considered insane at the time of publishing). Of course, one can't ignore the racism not just from the characters (which I would be willing to turn a blind eye to, considering we're following the lives of Confederates) but the narrator, and thus the author, has some pretty disgusting things to say about slavery and black people which you just cannot ignore.
Also, I hated how it ended. I think it was ridiculous that Scarlett was 'in love', or thought she was in love, with Ashley for so long, and that was literally the only thing that kept her from Rhett. Like, sure it was nice and progressive for women in that we got to see a woman who didn't want to just be a wife and mother (like all women were indoctrinated to want at the time), she wanted to work and earn for herself, and she did this despite the backlash she received.... But we follow her life from about 16/17 to her 40s or something and the entire time her motive is just to be with a man. I mean, obviously she wants money too, but it's like her motive is "once I have money, Ashley will marry me". And even when she realises that she doesn't love Ashley anymore... She just wants to be with Rhett. I feel like it undoes all of her character of being a strong independent woman. Frustrating, slightly. And also Rhett is a creepy fucker I hate that we, the audience, are supposed to like him (at least at the end).
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Trước giờ mình luôn cảm thấy mình không phù hợp với văn học cận đại và rất khó cảm được văn học thời này. Với cuốn này mình thấy dễ đọc hơn những cuốn khác cùng thời.
Tuy nhiên mình không thích cách tác giả kể lan man rất nhiều thứ, quá chi tiết vào nhiều thứ nên nhiều khi mình không catch được ý chính nữa. Nếu câu chuyện này là 1 kịch bản phim có lẽ phù hợp hơn.
Mình không đủ kiên nhẫn để đọc hết mà phần sau mình chỉ đọc tóm tắt thôi. Mình cũng không thích tính cách của nữ chính lắm, cảm thấy hơi bực mình á :))))
Tuy nhiên mình không thích cách tác giả kể lan man rất nhiều thứ, quá chi tiết vào nhiều thứ nên nhiều khi mình không catch được ý chính nữa. Nếu câu chuyện này là 1 kịch bản phim có lẽ phù hợp hơn.
Mình không đủ kiên nhẫn để đọc hết mà phần sau mình chỉ đọc tóm tắt thôi. Mình cũng không thích tính cách của nữ chính lắm, cảm thấy hơi bực mình á :))))