Gone With the Wind

This is a beloved book for many, but I love it so much because both of the characters are so unlikeable—yet you fall in love with them. I also love the conflict and the dueling, strong personalities of Scarlet and Rhett.

The plot is full of emotion and passion, and yet there are no sex scenes, which is another reason why I like it so much.

I know it is no longer PC to love this book, but Mitchell did do awesome historical homework concerning the antebellum and reconstruction eras in Georgia.

It is far more than the romance between Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler; rather, it is a portrait of a woman who goes from being a spoiled belle to one who will do anything to save her heritage—at the cost of love. It is not a romance, for sure.

Well, I couldn’t leave out one of the greatest historical romances ever written! 

Yes, the book does have battles and American politics but they are part of the storyline and only enhance the conflicted relationship between Scarlett and Rhett. In no way do they overpower the romance.

I picked this book up in a second-hand bookstore for 50p when I was a teenager, and this was the story that really ignited my love of old movies.

Although some might say that the ideals in the story are dated (and they are, there’s no argument from me there!) this novel is rich in history and is so well-written that it makes it easy to visualise life in the South. While Scarlett O’Hara can be perceived as a bit of a spoilt brat, to me she is the epitome of a strong female character – even when things don’t… show more.

I love Gone with the Wind because it is witty and entertaining but it also has depth.

The main character, Scarlett O’Hara, is unpretentious and funny. It is a gripping story with romance and war running through it. There’s no doubt why this is a classic that still works today because it’s about human nature.

Scarlett O’Hara is the archetype of a strong woman who will do whatever it takes to achieve her goals.

She lies, cheats, steals, and lies some more and while readers may be aghast at her decisions, we can understand her motivations.

This book makes me question what choices I might make to survive similar circumstances. Even with its cringier elements, this is another sweeping family saga I love.

I read this book not long after my first reading of War and Peace and found that the two have a lot in common. Like War and Peace, GWTW follows a heroine from her giddy teens, through the sobering rigors of war, and into rebuilding her life after the war. And in both books, even the minor characters are vivid and well-rounded. Today, we may take issue with some of the politics in Mitchell’s book, but the novel is an accurate evocation of the politics of the time and place she’s describing. We don’t have to get nostalgic about… show more.

It’s been years since I’ve read this book and yet I could tell you a million details about the story, the main character as well as the side characters. I didn’t like the character of Scarlet for the majority of the book but I always understood her and respected her determination to survive no matter what. I can’t help but admire Margaret for writing such a strong, complex character.

As an American history enthusiast, this choice was a no-brainer for me. This is my first choice because of the well-developed characters and the particular time in history. What I particularly appreciated was the masterful way Margaret Mitchell developed Scarlett from a spoiled young woman, living a life of privilege, to a determined woman compelled to find a way for her and her family to survive during challenging times. Both Rhett and Scarlett are fascinating characters, and we see them change personally as they navigate their love story throughout the novel.

This book has all of the elements of a… show more.

Gone With the Wind is my favorite novel. Mitchell brings her characters and the event of the Civil War alive. This taught me more about the Civil War than any historical book. It begins at a time before the war, takes the reader through the destruction and death during the war, and brings the reader to the devastation to the South after the war. Gone With the Wind has something for everyone: romance, history, believable characters, and a great story. After almost 90 years, the book is still a great read!