Review: Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. This was our classic novel selection for book club this year and one of the few classic novels we've read I actually liked.

It is hard to review this book - I really didn't like the beginning. I felt like it just drug on and Scarlett O'Hara was quite frankly, a vile person. I even asked some of my fellow book club members "Did this book really need to be 1,000 pages long?!" After awhile, however, I found myself wondering if she was the inspiration for "Sweet Valley High's" Jessica Wakefield, a thought I still find intriguing. Yeah, I'm comparing a classic, iconic character to a popular teenage character of the 1980's. I've never claimed to be that deep when it comes to reading comprehension.

As the book wore on, however, it was hard not to both hate Scarlett and at the same time root for her as she faced the hardships brought on by the war and Reconstruction that forced her to finally grow up. Only 16 when the story begins, she was only around 20 when circumstances forced her into the role of head of her family. Still ruthless and vile, however, she was ahead of her time and exhibited a remarkable level of strength and determination to save all that was dear to her.

With current events, however, this book became harder to read. I started it before COVID and George Floyd - I finished it in the midst of both the night before HBO pulled it from their programming - and though written in 1936, the ending was just a little to close to home with what is happening in the country now and that makes it hard to review as I question whether this country is truly heading towards another civil war. What was my escape from reality just saddened me further.

I love that I read this book after visiting Atlanta as I was able to picture some of the places mentioned in the book as I'd seen them. I had a hard time remembering who some of the peripheral characters were as there were so many of them, but the main characters started to feel like family. I could not understand why she was so in love with Ashley Wilkes, as he seemed awfully dull to me! Even as she figured it out in the end, I was still thinking "Seriously, why him?" I truly could not believe Frank thought motherhood would change her into a true lady - because that worked so well with the first kid. I wondered if Rhett Butler was bi-polar or just had nefarious intentions. I loved Scarlett's revelation at the end about Melanie; that was definitely worth slogging it out until the end. I did read the last several pages in great anticipation as to whether or not Rhett utters the famous movie line "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." And while the movie embellishes the line slightly, it was still quite satisfying when that moment in the book finally happened in what is otherwise a rather sad scene. Overall, I'm glad I finally read this, especially after touring Margaret Mitchell's home in Atlanta and visiting her grave. But I still don't think the book needed to be 1,000 pages long.

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