Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell

First thing first, hooooly crap. I can't believe I have FINALLY finished Gone With The Wind. There was more than one moment when I wondered if it would ever end. There is just so much that happens in this book. I remember being 100 pages out and major events were still happening! HOW?!

This is such a long novel that has so many different events. Once you get through more than half of the book, you keep wondering when there is going to be a break. It is just action, after action, after action and it was exhausting as a reader to keep reading the emotional turmoil and drama.

I haven't watched the movie yet, but I do plan to. It's part of the reason why I read this book. My mother has been wanting to watch it for a long time but I have refused until I finished my book.

I feel like I have been lied to because the Rhett never says, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." And HE NEVER SAYS THE WORD FRANKLY IN THE BOOK. Are you kidding?! I was so disappointed that it wasn't a thing. But it has somehow become a thing in our culture.

Also, the ENDING was so lackluster. After reading over 1,000 pages, I was left wanting more. I have heard there is a sequel but I don't know if I'll be picking it up. If I do, it won't be for awhile because I'm just so exhausted after reading this.

You have to read it because it's a classic but you need to bear with it and maybe have another book around to take a break. You can get it for $9.99 from Barnes & Noble. This is actually the exact copy that I have!

Favorite Quotes:

• “Burdens are for shoulders strong enough to carry them.”

• "Anyone as selfish and determined as you are is never helpless. God help the Yankees if they should get you."

• "I'd cut up my heart for you to wear if you wanted it."

• “Child, it's a very bad thing for a woman to face the worst that can happen to her, because after she's faced the worst she can't ever really fear anything again. ...Scarlett, always save something to fear— even as you save something to love...”

• "The more sedate and older sections of the South looked down their noses at the up-country Georgians, but here in north Georgia, a lack of niceties of classical education carried no shame, provided a man was smart in the things that mattered. And raising good corn, riding well, shooting straight, dancing lightly, squiring the ladies with elegance and carrying one's liquor like a gentleman were the things that mattered."

• "'You are Ma's own blood son, but did she take on that time Tony Fontaine shot you in the leg? No, she just sent for old Doc Fontaine to dress it and asked the doctor what ailed Tony's aim. Said she guessed licker was spoiling his marksmanship.'"

• "The man owned the property, and the woman managed it. The man took the credit for the management, and the woman praised his cleverness. The man roared like a bull when a splinter was in his finger, and the woman muffled the moans of childbirth, lest she disturb him. Men were rough of speech and often drunk. Women ignored the lapses of speech and put the drunkards to bed without better words. Men were rude and outspoken, women were always kind, gracious and forgiving."

• "Charles was not excited over the prospect of marrying her, for she stirred in him none of the emotions of wild romance that his beloved books has assured him were proper for a lover. He had always yearned to be loved by some beautiful, dashing creature full of fired and mischief."

• "There was a deep, almost fanatic glow in her eyes that for a moment lit up her plain little face and made it beautiful."

• "'Bravo! Now you are beginning to think for yourself instead of letting others think for you. That's the beginning of wisdom.'"

• "'You should be kissed and by someone who knows how.'"