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lakedarling 's review for:
Gone with the Wind
by Margaret Mitchell
I’m a bit torn on reviewing Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell given its divisiveness. Because of this I want to preface my review by saying I am wholly aware this book is not an accurate depiction of slavery and I do not read it as such. Do I believe that it’s a romanticized view of how some Southerners of the time viewed slavery, certainly, but I am under no illusion that it reflects slavery in any realistic way. I say this to hopefully limit the number of comments telling me this book is not an accurate portrayal of slavery because I know that, and I do not read it to be one.
I first read the book as a summer reading requirement for high school and have loved it ever since. The story of Scarlett is one that touched me then and still does today. She is truly an unlikeable character, yet I couldn’t help but like her. She is written in such a real and honest way. What I always appreciate about her as a character is how much she grows but also somehow stays exactly the same. Growing up I had the habit of cutting off my nose to spite my face which is probably why I connected so strongly with Scarlett because to me, this is her preeminent trait. Even when she is able to see how her response to a situation will negatively impact her, she is unable to stop herself from acting in the visceral manner she is feeling in the moment. So often Scarlett’s petulance is rebuked by reviewers but to me it is such a necessity to the story. At the start of the book, she is a 16-year-old, spoiled beyond measure, and obstinate in every way.
Rhett is much the same to me. He has an awareness of himself and the situations he is in but cannot stop himself from acting to his own detriment. While I understand his character was written to be abrasive and brash there is more to his disparaging conduct than simply wanting to brush off the genteel south he has come to scorn. I find him fundamentally unable to overcome the chip on his shoulder stopping him from stepping out of the games he’s playing and growing.
The remaining ensemble of characters are written just as beautifully. Each and every one have a realness to them that I don’t always find in books. I never tire of Suellen’s unwavering commitment to herself or Melanie’s unfailing grace in times where it was easy to be anything but. India’s steadfast disdain and Careen’s steadfast devotion endear them to me because while not always ideal paths they both held true to who they were. Ashley may be the one character I harbor the most resentment towards. To me he has a true understanding of the unscrupulous situations he puts himself in and rarely does anything to prevent them. I’m sure many would disagree, but I always read Ashley as a man who is trying to have his cake and eat it too. While I’m sure the same could be said about Rhett in ways I don’t think that Rhett sees and understands himself in the way Ashley does which is where the difference lies.
In the end, Gone with the Wind is and will remain one of my all-time favorite books. I have no doubt I could go on and on about the nuances throughout this story of grit and determination, but I’ll leave it here. This certainly isn’t a book for everyone, but I do highly recommend it. A true classic that will always get 5 stars from me. Also, the copy from Easton Press that my sister got me for Christmas is absolutely stunning and worth the money!
I first read the book as a summer reading requirement for high school and have loved it ever since. The story of Scarlett is one that touched me then and still does today. She is truly an unlikeable character, yet I couldn’t help but like her. She is written in such a real and honest way. What I always appreciate about her as a character is how much she grows but also somehow stays exactly the same. Growing up I had the habit of cutting off my nose to spite my face which is probably why I connected so strongly with Scarlett because to me, this is her preeminent trait. Even when she is able to see how her response to a situation will negatively impact her, she is unable to stop herself from acting in the visceral manner she is feeling in the moment. So often Scarlett’s petulance is rebuked by reviewers but to me it is such a necessity to the story. At the start of the book, she is a 16-year-old, spoiled beyond measure, and obstinate in every way.
Rhett is much the same to me. He has an awareness of himself and the situations he is in but cannot stop himself from acting to his own detriment. While I understand his character was written to be abrasive and brash there is more to his disparaging conduct than simply wanting to brush off the genteel south he has come to scorn. I find him fundamentally unable to overcome the chip on his shoulder stopping him from stepping out of the games he’s playing and growing.
The remaining ensemble of characters are written just as beautifully. Each and every one have a realness to them that I don’t always find in books. I never tire of Suellen’s unwavering commitment to herself or Melanie’s unfailing grace in times where it was easy to be anything but. India’s steadfast disdain and Careen’s steadfast devotion endear them to me because while not always ideal paths they both held true to who they were. Ashley may be the one character I harbor the most resentment towards. To me he has a true understanding of the unscrupulous situations he puts himself in and rarely does anything to prevent them. I’m sure many would disagree, but I always read Ashley as a man who is trying to have his cake and eat it too. While I’m sure the same could be said about Rhett in ways I don’t think that Rhett sees and understands himself in the way Ashley does which is where the difference lies.
In the end, Gone with the Wind is and will remain one of my all-time favorite books. I have no doubt I could go on and on about the nuances throughout this story of grit and determination, but I’ll leave it here. This certainly isn’t a book for everyone, but I do highly recommend it. A true classic that will always get 5 stars from me. Also, the copy from Easton Press that my sister got me for Christmas is absolutely stunning and worth the money!