I had this book with me for over 6 months now..and for some reason I couldn't find any interest to read it. I just did not want any love story at that time... But when I took this book last week, I did not know why I started it but today I am glad I completed it (even with the help of the free ebook to help me complete it in office hours too :D )
If you ever intend to read the book without knowing the story, I guess you should stop once this sentence is over. There will be spoilers all over this post. I guarantee it.
First and foremost, this novel is about a girl with all shades of grey. You name it and she has it. I have seen bit and pieces of this grey shade in different women and in different characters. But all together in a single woman.. this is the first novel I have read like that. She somehow reminded me of Nandhini in Ponniyin Selvan..But Nandhini seemed like a saint before her at times. Nandhini wasn't selfish, she was just revengeful.
Having said that, I liked this girl/woman Scarlett O' Hara for her grit, her strength and her dont-care-a-damn-for-the-world attitude. This is very necessary in a woman when she has to fend for herself and has to make a living rather than succumb to the pressures of the war torn world, in her case. But I did not like her for the ignorance she displayed in matters of heart... She caused more hurt to people around her due to her ignorance rather than her dont-care attitude. She was bull headed about everything even with love. That is what was sad about all this.
Rhett Butler. For some reason, after a few chapters of his association with Scarlett got into my good books. I dont know why, even though he did everything illegal and was selfish just as Scarlett was, I found his honesty and straight forwardness very admirable. Not only because he was straight forward and forthright in what he said, but also he was able to accept the other person's forthrightness too. That is not at all easy. I have seen many who are ready to speak their mind and be clear with their conscience that they have been honest with themselves, but they cannot hear a honest-to-god word from others about them, just like Scarlett. Rhett wasn't a hypocrite whereas Scarlett was. He was bad and he accepted it, but he did not hurt people who he thought were good in his own terms. And to fall in love with Scarlett, hmm.. Matters of heart is always mysterious.. isnt..
Well coming back to the story... It is set during a period of 10-12 years if I am not wrong and how this girl in her teens grows to a woman in a war-torn country. With her strength how she manages to recover from it and rebuild her home 'Tara' and how she manages to take care of her family and fulfills her dream of having enough money to not go hungry at all. But when someone goes through these struggles, I guess they give less important to moral and ethical issues unless they work in their favor. I really liked the way she goes on about rebuilding her home and bringing herself up, even when she was ruthless in lot of ways.. She looks like a pretty smart woman for her age during those times. But she fails big time to not see the true love when it was before her eyes. I guess sometimes the troubles you go through makes you build a wall around your heart which makes you don't want to get hurt anymore..and you wouldn't mind hurting others if that would help you feel better..
There are lot of other characters, Melanie , who is more like her mom Ellen in many ways.. and is portrayed as a angel of sorts.. Ashley, the confused soul, who is not able to decide which is important : his desire for Scarlett or his love for Melanie. Ellen, Mammy, Patty.. lot of other supporting characters. But somehow the whole story revolves around Scarlett, Rhett, Ashley and Melanie..
I wasn't sure of one thing. Scarlett knew that Rhett knew her inside out. She did not have to pretend about anything before him. He loved her for what she was and who she was. So she did not have to even think twice before she had to speak to him.. He would understand her exactly the same way she would want him to understand.. no miscommunications here.. then why would she not love him? It would be so comfortable isnt.. It would be so relaxing. But there is on issue though.. if one of them changes over the time (which people eventually do) and tend to yearn for some worldly needs which might need them to be little deceptive.. it would be a big fall.. hmm..
When I finished the book, I felt this slight heartache, I don't know why...Is it because I felt sad because Scarlett realized her love so late or is it because I couldn't help but understand the apathy that Rhett felt, once she started to realize who she was in love with at the end, when everything he held dear was lost to him, including his love for her. I think its the latter.
A very well written story with detailed description of the war and its effect on people (even though I am no great fan of war based stories). How people change in those trying times. How they rebuild their lives with whatever is left of theirs. What they have to endure to accustom to the new and changed lives. How some people, who cannot change, perish... Very very well written. Also to show a woman in such a strong and yet partly negative character takes a lot of guts. It doesn't have the romance thrown in your face.. Its very subtle and yet clear, except for Scarlett. And that too in that time frame when this book was written, to write about something like this..a very good job indeed.
I am glad I read this book.. It has brought a lot of topics buzzing to my head...but those will come later..
Y'day after this post, I saw the movie Om Shanthi Om, again, after a long gap. I like that movie for a lot of reasons.... But I heard one line from Om to Mikey where he says "Frankly dear, I don't give a damn", when Mikey refuses to be in India for the Audio launch and blah blah.. This line, it took me by surprise.. I never till date knew that this was such a famous line (after reading this novel and seeing the trailer of the movie, I thought that , that one line stood out of everything else..) But to be used in such a place in such a movie as Om Shanthi Om.. It was cheeky :)
I have got the movie (Gone with the wind) with me now and am intending on watching it over the weekend. At least the trailer did not disappoint me and I hope that I wont be disappointed in the movie too. I think Rhett has become one of my personally favorite characters after Darcy, in English.
[30-Jun-2012]
After watching the 3hr 52 min long movie my day is done. One of the best adapted screenplays (thankfully very less of war scenes) I should say. They have done enough justice and they have used the dialogues as is from the book. The actors portraying Scarlett O' Hara , Rhett Butler and Melanie Hamilton fit the role to the T. The photography is so amazing.. The color of the twilight sky (sort of mix of orange, red) is one color which I love to watch in real too. That color was beautifully shown.. The lights in a few screens are so...what to say.. especially where Rhett confronts Scarlett after Ashley's birthday scene.. very very well done.. No wonder it is one of the well received movie.. It deserves it.
One special mention to Vivian and Clark.. I should say for the first time, I felt very happy that the actors did justice to the characters. Clark Gable with his twisted smile and that cigar..Awesome ... Be sure to watch it if you have read the book..You wont be disappointed.. Dont expect all the characters from the book though.. You wont see Scarlett's two kids, or Will etc.. But you will enjoy the movie as a whole..
If you ever intend to read the book without knowing the story, I guess you should stop once this sentence is over. There will be spoilers all over this post. I guarantee it.
First and foremost, this novel is about a girl with all shades of grey. You name it and she has it. I have seen bit and pieces of this grey shade in different women and in different characters. But all together in a single woman.. this is the first novel I have read like that. She somehow reminded me of Nandhini in Ponniyin Selvan..But Nandhini seemed like a saint before her at times. Nandhini wasn't selfish, she was just revengeful.
Having said that, I liked this girl/woman Scarlett O' Hara for her grit, her strength and her dont-care-a-damn-for-the-world attitude. This is very necessary in a woman when she has to fend for herself and has to make a living rather than succumb to the pressures of the war torn world, in her case. But I did not like her for the ignorance she displayed in matters of heart... She caused more hurt to people around her due to her ignorance rather than her dont-care attitude. She was bull headed about everything even with love. That is what was sad about all this.
Rhett Butler. For some reason, after a few chapters of his association with Scarlett got into my good books. I dont know why, even though he did everything illegal and was selfish just as Scarlett was, I found his honesty and straight forwardness very admirable. Not only because he was straight forward and forthright in what he said, but also he was able to accept the other person's forthrightness too. That is not at all easy. I have seen many who are ready to speak their mind and be clear with their conscience that they have been honest with themselves, but they cannot hear a honest-to-god word from others about them, just like Scarlett. Rhett wasn't a hypocrite whereas Scarlett was. He was bad and he accepted it, but he did not hurt people who he thought were good in his own terms. And to fall in love with Scarlett, hmm.. Matters of heart is always mysterious.. isnt..
Well coming back to the story... It is set during a period of 10-12 years if I am not wrong and how this girl in her teens grows to a woman in a war-torn country. With her strength how she manages to recover from it and rebuild her home 'Tara' and how she manages to take care of her family and fulfills her dream of having enough money to not go hungry at all. But when someone goes through these struggles, I guess they give less important to moral and ethical issues unless they work in their favor. I really liked the way she goes on about rebuilding her home and bringing herself up, even when she was ruthless in lot of ways.. She looks like a pretty smart woman for her age during those times. But she fails big time to not see the true love when it was before her eyes. I guess sometimes the troubles you go through makes you build a wall around your heart which makes you don't want to get hurt anymore..and you wouldn't mind hurting others if that would help you feel better..
There are lot of other characters, Melanie , who is more like her mom Ellen in many ways.. and is portrayed as a angel of sorts.. Ashley, the confused soul, who is not able to decide which is important : his desire for Scarlett or his love for Melanie. Ellen, Mammy, Patty.. lot of other supporting characters. But somehow the whole story revolves around Scarlett, Rhett, Ashley and Melanie..
I wasn't sure of one thing. Scarlett knew that Rhett knew her inside out. She did not have to pretend about anything before him. He loved her for what she was and who she was. So she did not have to even think twice before she had to speak to him.. He would understand her exactly the same way she would want him to understand.. no miscommunications here.. then why would she not love him? It would be so comfortable isnt.. It would be so relaxing. But there is on issue though.. if one of them changes over the time (which people eventually do) and tend to yearn for some worldly needs which might need them to be little deceptive.. it would be a big fall.. hmm..
When I finished the book, I felt this slight heartache, I don't know why...Is it because I felt sad because Scarlett realized her love so late or is it because I couldn't help but understand the apathy that Rhett felt, once she started to realize who she was in love with at the end, when everything he held dear was lost to him, including his love for her. I think its the latter.
A very well written story with detailed description of the war and its effect on people (even though I am no great fan of war based stories). How people change in those trying times. How they rebuild their lives with whatever is left of theirs. What they have to endure to accustom to the new and changed lives. How some people, who cannot change, perish... Very very well written. Also to show a woman in such a strong and yet partly negative character takes a lot of guts. It doesn't have the romance thrown in your face.. Its very subtle and yet clear, except for Scarlett. And that too in that time frame when this book was written, to write about something like this..a very good job indeed.
I am glad I read this book.. It has brought a lot of topics buzzing to my head...but those will come later..
Y'day after this post, I saw the movie Om Shanthi Om, again, after a long gap. I like that movie for a lot of reasons.... But I heard one line from Om to Mikey where he says "Frankly dear, I don't give a damn", when Mikey refuses to be in India for the Audio launch and blah blah.. This line, it took me by surprise.. I never till date knew that this was such a famous line (after reading this novel and seeing the trailer of the movie, I thought that , that one line stood out of everything else..) But to be used in such a place in such a movie as Om Shanthi Om.. It was cheeky :)
I have got the movie (Gone with the wind) with me now and am intending on watching it over the weekend. At least the trailer did not disappoint me and I hope that I wont be disappointed in the movie too. I think Rhett has become one of my personally favorite characters after Darcy, in English.
[30-Jun-2012]
After watching the 3hr 52 min long movie my day is done. One of the best adapted screenplays (thankfully very less of war scenes) I should say. They have done enough justice and they have used the dialogues as is from the book. The actors portraying Scarlett O' Hara , Rhett Butler and Melanie Hamilton fit the role to the T. The photography is so amazing.. The color of the twilight sky (sort of mix of orange, red) is one color which I love to watch in real too. That color was beautifully shown.. The lights in a few screens are so...what to say.. especially where Rhett confronts Scarlett after Ashley's birthday scene.. very very well done.. No wonder it is one of the well received movie.. It deserves it.
One special mention to Vivian and Clark.. I should say for the first time, I felt very happy that the actors did justice to the characters. Clark Gable with his twisted smile and that cigar..Awesome ... Be sure to watch it if you have read the book..You wont be disappointed.. Dont expect all the characters from the book though.. You wont see Scarlett's two kids, or Will etc.. But you will enjoy the movie as a whole..
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