Customer Reviews

Gone With the Wind

5 star:		(164)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I would give this 10 stars if I could. I haven't read this since I was a young girl in the early 70's and should never have waited so long to read it again. The characters were exceptionally well drawn, the dialogue was brilliant, particularly between Rhett (SIGH!) and Scarlett. I swear there was sparks flying off the pages. I am going to miss the people I will have to put behind me now that the book has come to an end, Rhett (SIGH), Scarlett, Mammy, Prissy and Aunt Pitty Pat (LOL).

The author's use of prose was beautiful, all the scenes and action came alive for me. Some people seem to be offended by the racism in the book, but that's how things were back then. Sugar coating it would have ruined the story reducing it to a Harlequin romance.

This is an incredibly well written book about the death of a civilization and the struggles to survive in the new era. This is a book that should not be missed, particulary those who enjoy historical fiction.

It was a gift for my friend. I only went through fast and only read one chapter carefully before sending it to my friend. From the part I read, this version is better than an previous one I myself own. The language is updated to more modern ways, except for the slave language. I still need to guess.

This is my favourite romance novel of all time. Timeless as always, Mitchell sweeps you into the deep south during on onset of the Civil War and what would change their world forever.

Scarlet and Rhett after a rocky start set about on the romantic journey of a lifetime.

I adore Mitchell's writing and her often over-the-top descriptions. She's a true talent from a bygone era and one that we'll never forget anytime soon.

There are many great books out there, and then there is This one. This one I feel, is set apart from the rest. It has eveyrthing your heart could desire in a book, romance, friendship, history, action, survival, a sense of family and bonding,Rhett, Scarlett and many fantastic characters, all of them loved throughout the whole novel. Scarlett, is my most favorite character out of all the books I have ever read. Rhett, is my second. Melanie and Mammie, ties at third. It is a novel that brings you into a once beautiful world then to the destruction and surival of another.I have read this book 5-6 times so far and everytime I do, the characters become more and more alive and the novel so vivid in my mind. This is a novel that will always be loved for all times.

GWTW is a classic, undoubtedly - sweeping, romantic, colorful, well written, all of that. I have read it so many times and seen the movie enough to recite it word for word, loved swashbuckling Captain Butler and plucky, selfish Scarlett for all that she is, a woman of her own worth during times when women were showpieces more than anything else. And i absolutely love the descriptions of the civil war background - it is sweeping, historically accurate and touching, many times. I can slip the movie in at any scene or pick up the book and spend a few hours undisturbed just lost in its language and flow.
All of that said, i think it is important not to forget that Mitchell has not mentioned one word against slavery in the 800+ pages she penned, slavery being the burning, heart rending issue of the time the novel was set. Every country and state goes through change, for good or bad and we lose times that were precious, sentimental, valuable - or we lose a 'land of grace and plenty' as she calls pre war Georgia. But we also gain causes that are worth it in terms of human reslience and courage and value/respect for others. Looking at it that way the novel comes across like a victorian painting - pretty and appealing but lacking in soul.

The power of this narrative of the American Civil War and the Reconstruction period after the war is overwhelming. Scarlett O'Hara is the centerpiece of this story from the beginning to the end. It is much more than a story of love, rivalry, and misadventure. It is all that and more. It offers the reader a portrait of the Confederacy and the candid view of life there as filtered through the eyes of Scarlett. It is Melanie Hamilton and Ashley Wilkes who represent the values of the old South and the ambition of Scarlett and the cynicsm of Rhett Butler reflect the newly emerging South of the Reconsturction.

Gone With The Wind is a passionate,heartthrobbing,beautiful,romantic tale.I saw the movie when I was 4 but it didn't make much of an impression on me because when I began reading it in bookstores when I was 6 I was immediatley enthralled with the story of Scarlett O'Hara,the sweet Southern Belle that when the War made many hard changes in her life she became a woman that did what she felt like and didn't listen to other peoples disapproval.Margaret Mitchell has brought many hours of joy to me as I read from her wonderful book every day of my life.I love Scarlett very much as the main character but Melanie is more dear to me.She is a beautiful,shining,kind woman that always saw Scarlett's and Rhett's good.She goes to show what we have lost from that era.Many people hate Ashley and think he's a wimp but that's only his potrayal in the movie.In the book,he is like Rhett but takes diffrent paths in the same situations.All the characters in this book,the lovely description,and the era make this book"my favorite book of all time".

This is one of the most fascinating book that I have ever read.In its sweep, it focuses not only on slavery but also on the impact of war (however justified or inevitable) in people's lives. Scarlett's character is brilliant. Her transformation from a butterfly to a tough woman who loves her land, her struggles against poverty and her determination to rise above it, her passionate nature are just some of the remarkable features of this book. Its almost as if in the character of Scarlett, the author has put in all the dreams, hopes and aspiration of America of the mid 1800's. The description of life in the south makes the book all the more enchanting. Above all, its a great romance- A wonderful summer read. Scarlett's character, could be the voice of many women across the world even today.

This book is unlike any other that I have encountered thus far. It is a dinamic story of a firey young southern girl forced to come to grips with the realities of the war-torn south. Once you start reading you will not be able to put this book down. The details that Mitchell includes are breathtaking and make you feel as if you are back in the days of the old south. The character of Scarlett O'Hara is inspiring. This book is many stories in one; it is a coming-of-age piece, a love story, a war story, and a historical novel. All of these genres come together to create a captivating work of art.

This novel definitely stands the test of time, still as good as it was when I read it over 20 years ago. A great romance combined with great historical detail. Rhett Butler is still my favorite character, brilliant, sarcastic, flippant. So many people do not read this because of the movie, but the movie is a pale imitation. Please Read It! You won't regret it.