I have finished Gone With The Wind! Reading this again after almost three DECADES has made this time an entirely new read. I had the same reactions to Scarlett, however, the choices she had, her survival mode and fierce independence are to be admired. Her not seeing the ‘forest for the trees’ in many instances are maddening! Wake up GIRL!!!
I wish my grandma was here to discuss the book again with me. We had discussed it when I read it at age 20, and she informed me that I should have more life experiences to fully appreciate things in the book. She was right. Interestingly enough my grandma had horrific sayings that were so prejudice, that when said in public her grandchildren and great grandkids would just cringe. She would shrug and not get it, it was how she was raised, she wasn’t intentionally being malicious, it just was. Explaining to her how speech like that was very upsetting was a new concept. Prejudice and entitlement are two of my most loathed things. I have done everything in my power to raise children and mentor children to not be either.
Reading this book reminded me of how many people loved and long for this way of life back then. Some people still do. Unfortunately I live in a small conservative religious hub where I am with this everywhere I go. Church, school, groceries……it is nauseating and I tire from it on a regular basis.
The portrait of women in the book, although true and appropriate to the time, is disturbing, truly having no real rights, they were imprisoned. One of the very reasons we fight so hard to keep the rights we have won already and push to be more.
I’m so glad I joined in this read a long. It has been a gift. Gone With The Wind is very well written, the descriptive writing puts you in the story. The characters and their flaws teach us lessons, make us think, and help us see what the world was like. I have read the criticisms of the writing, but I believe Margaret Mitchell was quite accurate in her story. Sometimes when people hold a mirror up, they don’t like what they see.
I’m going to miss holding my grandma’s book, sipping my coffee and slowly digesting this book… to be honest I read like mad certain parts!
What a wonderful experience.
Peace.
