Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Rhett Butler's People - Donald McCaig

So I need to preface this by saying that I'm not a Gone With the Wind fanatic. I only saw the movie one time and I was probably eight years old at the time. My father set me down with a bowl of popcorn with Tabasco and Gone With the Wind. I probably saw the first twenty minutes before I fell asleep. I think that was the point. It isn't to say I'm completely naive to the story. Every girl knows who Scarlett O' Hara was and Gone With the Wind is a huge part of our movie culture. I don't think there is a person in this country who hasn't heard the famous line, "Frankly Scarlett, I don't give a dam." So there you go. I know the basic story I'm just not one of those people who really thinks/cares that much about it. Rhett Butler's People begins with Rhett's younger years. It explains the dynamics of his growing up. Shows you his first meeting with Scarlett O'Hara. Follows him, his sister, and their many friends through the Civil War and then explains the O'Hara/Butler marriage.

On the Five Star Scale

Naughty Bits (****) - Hello everyone I can't remember anything about this movie. There is murder, rape, working girls, adultery. At one point a man has to kill his own friend to save him the horror of his future. In most situations though there is redemption and the situations are not glorified.

Readability (****) - 512 pages but an easy read.

Final notes (***) - I keep saying I'm not into historical fiction a yet here is another historical fiction book. What is my deal. Anyway I liked the story. Rhett Butler is the flawed but dashing hero. Scarlet is a bit neurotic but what can you expect for the time period. I think be fans of the movie would probably be disappointed but if you just want some historical fiction to read this isn't half bad.

1 comment:

Bridget said...

I think you and I pretty much agreed on this book. Good, but not great. And really only "good" if you're already interested in the subject.