Musings by Melissa

I’ve been told for years that I need to read this book … Gone with the Wind.  But it’s such a big book that I knew I’d never have time to finish it while I was on Christmas break from college.  And besides, having just finished finals, who wants to spend their vacation with their nose in yet another book?

But I recently heard that the book is celebrating it’s 70th anniversary.  So, I thought to myself, “It’s now or never.”

Having never seen the movie, I had no idea what was behind the next page turn.  I had no idea, even, of the overall plot.  And I’m sure that made reading the book more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise.

I found myself in a love/hate relationship with Scarlett, the main character in the story.  Because she was the main character, I wanted her to succeed.  But because she was a selfish, step-on-anyone’s-toes-to-better-myself kind of person, I wished her failure. 

I respected her for her honesty.  She often said she wanted nothing but money, and lots of it.

I disrespected her for her greed.

I respected her for stepping up to the plate and taking care of things when need be. 

I disrespected her for being, what would today be called, an enabler.

She married for all the wrong reasons.  And I hated that.  I felt badly for her husbands.  I felt even more badly for the children that resulted from these marriages.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the historical parts of this book.  I often wondered if they were true.  If so, then my comprehension of that time period was quite askew!  As Scarlett would say, “Northerners would never understand our way of life.”   And yes, I’d have to agree with her on that one!

As I finished the next to the last chapter, I thought to myself, “Finally!  She finally gets it!”  And with great eagerness I read the last chapter, only to find myself wishing I had put the book down and picked up a magazine about face cream reviews instead.  Oh, maybe it wasn’t that bad, but it didn’t end as I wanted it to.  But I suppose I could say it ended as it should have ended.

A well-written book.  Definitely one worth reading.