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gretchenlm 's review for:
Gone with the Wind
by Margaret Mitchell
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.