WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN'T AT LEAST SEEN THE MOVIE!
If ever a novel deserves the tag of "Epic", it's this one. It only covers a period of approximately twelve years, but during those years our nation changed drastically - from pre-Civil War, through the war and the first years of reconstruction. And the effects of those years on the southern "nobility" were especially life-changing.
Like most Americans, I've seen the classic movie multiple times. Although I can't remember the last time that I saw the movie in its entirety and don't remember the majority of the movie well, just the big scenes that everyone remembers. It was interesting that while all of the classic lines from the movie ARE in the book, none of them appear to be direct quotes and were altered slightly for the movie. And while there are differences between the book and the movie (a few characters from the book didn't make it into the movie), I believe the overarching plotline is the same.
I had a unique relationship with this book and it's main character (Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler). When I was reading the book, I hated Scarlett for being so selfish and self-centered, while at the same time admiring her for being so strong. But I wanted to shake her and make her wake up and realize what she was doing to herself and the people that loved her! Unfortunately, by the time she does realize this - it's pretty much too late. That probably says something about how well this book is written. The characters are well drawn and you totally fall into their lives. There were points in the book that I got so mad at Scarlett that I actually had to put the book down, but the compelling story always drew me back.
One thing that comes out much better in the book than in the movie is the culture in which Scarlett lived - the culture of the Southern planters and upper class. And when I say class, I mean it. The class structure was alive and well - among both the white and the black population. The white upper class loved and depended upon their slaves and viewed them as family (at least in this book), but treated them like children or pets - not like people at their level. (This attitude towards their slaves was one thing that really bothered me and it took the rating of the book down a little.) The story DOES glorify the pre-Civil war Southern attitude and style of living. And many of the people in this book - mostly white but some black - hung onto to that attitude tenaciously after the war. But the book also realizes that this style of living is essentially GONE after the war - which is what the title of the book refers to. Only the attitude remained. And the book frequently takes about how Southern ladies and gentlemen are expected to act - what they can and can't do. (Which is one of Scarlett's main problems - she can't fit into that mold that society expects of her.) I very much enjoyed the insight that I gained from these parts of the story. And I wonder how much of it is true. My guess is a lot of it, given that Margaret Mitchell grew up in Atlanta not that long after the Civil War (40-50 years).
Lastly, I'll tell you that if had not known what was coming at the end of the book, when I got to the last page I would have thrown the book across the room because the ending was so disappointing. Don't get me wrong, I believe it was a brilliant ending. But I sooooo wanted a different ending and can totally understand why there was a clamor for a sequel for so many years.
If ever a novel deserves the tag of "Epic", it's this one. It only covers a period of approximately twelve years, but during those years our nation changed drastically - from pre-Civil War, through the war and the first years of reconstruction. And the effects of those years on the southern "nobility" were especially life-changing.
Like most Americans, I've seen the classic movie multiple times. Although I can't remember the last time that I saw the movie in its entirety and don't remember the majority of the movie well, just the big scenes that everyone remembers. It was interesting that while all of the classic lines from the movie ARE in the book, none of them appear to be direct quotes and were altered slightly for the movie. And while there are differences between the book and the movie (a few characters from the book didn't make it into the movie), I believe the overarching plotline is the same.
I had a unique relationship with this book and it's main character (Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler). When I was reading the book, I hated Scarlett for being so selfish and self-centered, while at the same time admiring her for being so strong. But I wanted to shake her and make her wake up and realize what she was doing to herself and the people that loved her! Unfortunately, by the time she does realize this - it's pretty much too late. That probably says something about how well this book is written. The characters are well drawn and you totally fall into their lives. There were points in the book that I got so mad at Scarlett that I actually had to put the book down, but the compelling story always drew me back.
One thing that comes out much better in the book than in the movie is the culture in which Scarlett lived - the culture of the Southern planters and upper class. And when I say class, I mean it. The class structure was alive and well - among both the white and the black population. The white upper class loved and depended upon their slaves and viewed them as family (at least in this book), but treated them like children or pets - not like people at their level. (This attitude towards their slaves was one thing that really bothered me and it took the rating of the book down a little.) The story DOES glorify the pre-Civil war Southern attitude and style of living. And many of the people in this book - mostly white but some black - hung onto to that attitude tenaciously after the war. But the book also realizes that this style of living is essentially GONE after the war - which is what the title of the book refers to. Only the attitude remained. And the book frequently takes about how Southern ladies and gentlemen are expected to act - what they can and can't do. (Which is one of Scarlett's main problems - she can't fit into that mold that society expects of her.) I very much enjoyed the insight that I gained from these parts of the story. And I wonder how much of it is true. My guess is a lot of it, given that Margaret Mitchell grew up in Atlanta not that long after the Civil War (40-50 years).
Lastly, I'll tell you that if had not known what was coming at the end of the book, when I got to the last page I would have thrown the book across the room because the ending was so disappointing. Don't get me wrong, I believe it was a brilliant ending. But I sooooo wanted a different ending and can totally understand why there was a clamor for a sequel for so many years.
