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kayso's review
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
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual assault
japanasi's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
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”
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
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Child death, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Minor: Murder and Sexual assault
_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
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
Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Murder, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Violence
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