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akagifd's review
1.0
If you are a fan of GWTW, do NOT read this travesty of a book. I do not think this author understood any of the characters from the original story.
chickadilly's review
1.0
I really disliked this book. I like the original Gone With the Wind and after the other 'sequel' (Scarlett - which I also did not like yet for other reasons ... ) I was hoping I'd enjoy this one. However I found McCaig's writing style off putting and distracting.
He jumps around a lot and the flow is really uncomfortable. For example he'll introduce some character from Rhett's childhood and then the next paragraph will be talking about some other character all together. Then maybe three paragraph's later he'll mention (sort of in passing) the character from Rhett's childhood again and by that time I'm like, "Who was that again?" I feel like I need a freaking chart to keep all these new characters straight in my head.
Also he deviates from Margaret Mitchell's story a few times. If someone only knows this story from the film version they may not notice it but I've read Mitchell's book more than a few times and I found this to be not only condescending for a so called 'sequel' (or alternative point of view depending on how one wants to view this book) but offputting as well.
I also found his characterizations to be off in parts. For example there's a bit near the end where Melanie writes a ltter to Rhett's sister detailing her sex life with Ashley. Now they're not juicy details by any means but I found it to be rather uncharacteristic of Melanie's character. I read somewhere that McCaig only bothered to read Mitchell's book once and then relied on his wife to fill in the blanks for him. It shows.
He jumps around a lot and the flow is really uncomfortable. For example he'll introduce some character from Rhett's childhood and then the next paragraph will be talking about some other character all together. Then maybe three paragraph's later he'll mention (sort of in passing) the character from Rhett's childhood again and by that time I'm like, "Who was that again?" I feel like I need a freaking chart to keep all these new characters straight in my head.
Also he deviates from Margaret Mitchell's story a few times. If someone only knows this story from the film version they may not notice it but I've read Mitchell's book more than a few times and I found this to be not only condescending for a so called 'sequel' (or alternative point of view depending on how one wants to view this book) but offputting as well.
I also found his characterizations to be off in parts. For example there's a bit near the end where Melanie writes a ltter to Rhett's sister detailing her sex life with Ashley. Now they're not juicy details by any means but I found it to be rather uncharacteristic of Melanie's character. I read somewhere that McCaig only bothered to read Mitchell's book once and then relied on his wife to fill in the blanks for him. It shows.
shazreads's review
2.0
Gone With the Wind is one of my favourite novels. I recently became a fan of this epic story after I finally had the chance to read the superb novel by Margaret Mitchell. I also enjoyed the film adaptation starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable. I was therefore naturally excited to learn that there are two authorised novels based on Gone With the Wind. The first is Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley and the second is Rhett Butler’s People by Donald McCaig. My local library only holds Rhett Butler’s People and I was eager to read this book.
Rhett Butler’s People is set before, during and after the events of GWTW. This book is GWTW told from Rhett Butler’s perspective. We, as the reader, get a glimpse into Rhett’s formative years. When Rhett the renegade is expelled from West Point and disowned by his father, he travels to San Francisco and New Orleans to seek his fortune and invests in freebooting expeditions before heading to Cuba. Once Rhett returns to Charleston, he is invited to a barbecue at a Georgia plantation where he first meets Scarlett O’ Hara. Rhett soon gains a reputation in his escapades as a blockade runner during the Civil War.
As the title of the novel suggests, this book is about Rhett Butler’s “People”. McCaig introduces several new characters who are Rhett’s friends and family members, including John Haynes, Andrew Ravanel, Tunis Bonneau and Rhett’s sister, Rosemary. These characters, especially Rosemary, are central to the novel, and as such, we read about their viewpoints as well as Rhett’s. Crucially, these new characters shed some light on the motives behind Rhett’s actions in GWTW. Of course, the familiar cast of characters from GWTW are also included. There is an insight into Rhett’s relationship with Belle Watling and Rhett’s ward is a character in this book. Perhaps most importantly for the fans, we learn about what becomes of Rhett and Scarlett after the famous ending of GWTW.
The next part of this review contains spoilers!
This book seeks to address some unanswered questions raised in GWTW. For instance, when I read GWTW, I thought that Margaret Mitchell had left some clues regarding Rhett’s ward, that is, Belle’s child. Maybe, Rhett and Belle had a secret lovechild. Apparently not, according to McCaig, who dispels this notion in his book. Oh well…
Here are my thoughts on McCaig’s portrayal of the main characters from GWTW:
Rhett: Rhett Butler’s allure stems from his mysterious nature. I felt that the more we learnt about Rhett in this book, the more he lost his dashing charm. Whilst it was fun to read about Rhett’s adventures with his friends, I gained the impression that Rhett was being moulded into a misunderstood, nice guy. An example of this is when we learn exactly why he shot a black man. Conversely, I would have preferred it if there was more about Rhett and his thoughts and feelings, rather than the new characters, like Andrew Ravanel. There is no mention of Scarlett’s miscarriage. Also, Rhett is silent about Bonnie’s death which is only mentioned in a letter from Melanie to Rosemary. These were crucial events from GWTW which contributed to Rhett’s decision to leave Scarlett.
Scarlett: I was disappointed in the portrayal of Scarlett. In GWTW, Scarlett is a shrewd, determined businesswoman who vows never to be hungry again. It is therefore hard to believe that Scarlett would somehow manage to lose all her hard-earned money in stupid investments. As a result of this, Scarlett has to rely on Rhett, which I found odd, considering her independent character. Scarlett also learns to tolerate Belle Watling – the woman she hates!
Melanie: Melanie Wilkes reminds me of Jane Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. They are both gentle, kind-hearted souls who see the best in everyone. In this book, Melanie has changed beyond recognition. She knows Scarlett loves Ashley and she unburdens her insecurities in her letters to Rosemary, who becomes her pen pal. Melanie is portrayed as being bitchy and two-faced because she secretly hates Scarlett. This is the same Melanie who refused to hear a bad word spoken about Scarlett in GWTW.
Final thoughts
I really wanted to like this book. However, I found it jarring that this book is not true to the characters Margaret Mitchell created. The characterisation of some of the females from GWTW, especially Scarlett and Melanie, is disappointing. I thought the ending was sacrilegious and all I can say about this is, “Dude, what were you thinking?” On the plus side, McCaig goes to great lengths to describe Rhett’s blockade-running adventures. There are some poignant moments in this book, but overall I was left feeling a little disappointed. Some fans of GWTW will love this, whilst others, like me, will not. I guess it’s a matter of personal taste.
This review also appears on my blog, Shaz Reads.
Rhett Butler’s People is set before, during and after the events of GWTW. This book is GWTW told from Rhett Butler’s perspective. We, as the reader, get a glimpse into Rhett’s formative years. When Rhett the renegade is expelled from West Point and disowned by his father, he travels to San Francisco and New Orleans to seek his fortune and invests in freebooting expeditions before heading to Cuba. Once Rhett returns to Charleston, he is invited to a barbecue at a Georgia plantation where he first meets Scarlett O’ Hara. Rhett soon gains a reputation in his escapades as a blockade runner during the Civil War.
As the title of the novel suggests, this book is about Rhett Butler’s “People”. McCaig introduces several new characters who are Rhett’s friends and family members, including John Haynes, Andrew Ravanel, Tunis Bonneau and Rhett’s sister, Rosemary. These characters, especially Rosemary, are central to the novel, and as such, we read about their viewpoints as well as Rhett’s. Crucially, these new characters shed some light on the motives behind Rhett’s actions in GWTW. Of course, the familiar cast of characters from GWTW are also included. There is an insight into Rhett’s relationship with Belle Watling and Rhett’s ward is a character in this book. Perhaps most importantly for the fans, we learn about what becomes of Rhett and Scarlett after the famous ending of GWTW.
The next part of this review contains spoilers!
Here are my thoughts on McCaig’s portrayal of the main characters from GWTW:
Rhett: Rhett Butler’s allure stems from his mysterious nature. I felt that the more we learnt about Rhett in this book, the more he lost his dashing charm. Whilst it was fun to read about Rhett’s adventures with his friends, I gained the impression that Rhett was being moulded into a misunderstood, nice guy. An example of this is when we learn exactly why he shot a black man. Conversely, I would have preferred it if there was more about Rhett and his thoughts and feelings, rather than the new characters, like Andrew Ravanel. There is no mention of Scarlett’s miscarriage. Also, Rhett is silent about Bonnie’s death which is only mentioned in a letter from Melanie to Rosemary. These were crucial events from GWTW which contributed to Rhett’s decision to leave Scarlett.
Scarlett: I was disappointed in the portrayal of Scarlett. In GWTW, Scarlett is a shrewd, determined businesswoman who vows never to be hungry again. It is therefore hard to believe that Scarlett would somehow manage to lose all her hard-earned money in stupid investments. As a result of this, Scarlett has to rely on Rhett, which I found odd, considering her independent character. Scarlett also learns to tolerate Belle Watling – the woman she hates!
Melanie: Melanie Wilkes reminds me of Jane Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. They are both gentle, kind-hearted souls who see the best in everyone. In this book, Melanie has changed beyond recognition. She knows Scarlett loves Ashley and she unburdens her insecurities in her letters to Rosemary, who becomes her pen pal. Melanie is portrayed as being bitchy and two-faced because she secretly hates Scarlett. This is the same Melanie who refused to hear a bad word spoken about Scarlett in GWTW.
Final thoughts
I really wanted to like this book. However, I found it jarring that this book is not true to the characters Margaret Mitchell created. The characterisation of some of the females from GWTW, especially Scarlett and Melanie, is disappointing. I thought the ending was sacrilegious and all I can say about this is, “Dude, what were you thinking?” On the plus side, McCaig goes to great lengths to describe Rhett’s blockade-running adventures. There are some poignant moments in this book, but overall I was left feeling a little disappointed. Some fans of GWTW will love this, whilst others, like me, will not. I guess it’s a matter of personal taste.
This review also appears on my blog, Shaz Reads.
booksandbosox's review
3.0
The other side of one of the greatest love stories ever told...
I definitely expected more from this. I wanted to be swept up like I was when I read "Gone with the Wind". I wanted luxurious descriptions and prose. I wanted more of Rhett and Scarlett. I mean, it was nice to hear about Rhett's background and hear stories of the influential people and moments that made Rhett the dashing character we know from GWTW. But I was pretty disappointed with the lack of Scarlett and their interactions. I mean, the most notorious ones were covered here, from Rhett's point of view, but I still felt like a lot was missing. I know that McCaig was chosen by Mitchell's estate to write this authorized "sequel" (or "companion" or whatever it should be called) but I don't think he is a storyteller on the same level as Mitchell. Like I said, a lot of the beauty of GWTW is in Mitchell's prose and descriptions and that just wasn't true of this novel. The majority of this novel is dialogue, which has its positives, but it wasn't what I expected in this case. I liked that this continued the story of GWTW and that's probably the part that drew my interest the most - I, like most people, wanted to know what happened next with Rhett and Scarlett. The way McCaig chose to continue and "end" their story didn't disappoint me - but I don't know if everyone would feel the same. Overall, just not what I expected and a bit disappointing.
I definitely expected more from this. I wanted to be swept up like I was when I read "Gone with the Wind". I wanted luxurious descriptions and prose. I wanted more of Rhett and Scarlett. I mean, it was nice to hear about Rhett's background and hear stories of the influential people and moments that made Rhett the dashing character we know from GWTW. But I was pretty disappointed with the lack of Scarlett and their interactions. I mean, the most notorious ones were covered here, from Rhett's point of view, but I still felt like a lot was missing. I know that McCaig was chosen by Mitchell's estate to write this authorized "sequel" (or "companion" or whatever it should be called) but I don't think he is a storyteller on the same level as Mitchell. Like I said, a lot of the beauty of GWTW is in Mitchell's prose and descriptions and that just wasn't true of this novel. The majority of this novel is dialogue, which has its positives, but it wasn't what I expected in this case. I liked that this continued the story of GWTW and that's probably the part that drew my interest the most - I, like most people, wanted to know what happened next with Rhett and Scarlett. The way McCaig chose to continue and "end" their story didn't disappoint me - but I don't know if everyone would feel the same. Overall, just not what I expected and a bit disappointing.
claralivesinbooks's review
1.0
Please don't read this if you liked Gone With the Wind because this is shit. I gave up at page 220, and I don't know why I didn't give it up before. I found my love for the original book diminish, so I stopped, because GWtW is amazing. I love Mitchell's book, is one of my favorites ever, and I thought I might like this book. Of course, I couldn't even finish it. Don't buy this, don't read this. I will probably throw it away because I wouldn't recommend this shit to my worst enemy.
lizakessler's review
3.0
I picked this up at 5:00 am in the Kansas City airport because my nonfiction about Captain Cook seemed a little heavy for a 6:00 flight. I wanted something absolutely fluffy. Little did I know this is apparently a somewhat well-regarded book, several of my friends and my mother want to borrow it, and the author apparently lives about 20 miles from my parents.
The reviews on here seem to be very polarized. I can't say I either loved or hated this book. I think I had the benefit of expecting very little from it, so it was quite good enough. It did confirm my feelings that Rhett and Scarlett are the most annoying literary couple ever. Cathy and Heathcliff have nothing on them.
The reviews on here seem to be very polarized. I can't say I either loved or hated this book. I think I had the benefit of expecting very little from it, so it was quite good enough. It did confirm my feelings that Rhett and Scarlett are the most annoying literary couple ever. Cathy and Heathcliff have nothing on them.
tinavenusreads's review
4.0
This book took forever to read--it is incredibly long, but it keeps your interest throughout. I found myself wanting to hurry up what I was doing and get back to it. It tells the story of [b:Gone With the Wind|18405|Gone With The Wind|Margaret Mitchell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166913011s/18405.jpg|3358283] from Rhett Butler's perspective. It makes me want to read GWTW again to see if everything matches. It goes further in time than the GWTW movie, though, and I don't recall if the original GWTW novels ends where the movie ends or if it goes farther as well. The extra bit at the end is substantial, and I can't help but wonder if this will ruin my love of the movie, knowing another take on what happens at the end. But I think this book is definitely worth the time.
bookwormbecks's review
4.0
Rhett Butler's People is NOT Gone With the Wind. You can't compare the two (can you compare anything to Gone With the Wind???). Being well aware of that fact, I think any Gone With the Wind fan would enjoy it. I loved connecting with some of my favorite literary characters again. I enjoyed hearing one of my favorite stories through a different point of view. I was even satisfied with the ending and I feel some amount of closure now. Reliving some of the traumatic events of Gone With the Wind was almost painful for me but I think that's a sign of a great storyteller (and I mean Margaret Mitchell there). McCaig did an excellent job covering these events in a different way than the original story. I really enjoyed this book and I'm sad to be done with these amazing characters again.
abs_reads's review
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
My Star Rating Breakdown:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ --Perfection! I ADORE this book. I will read it over and over and over again. Will rant and rave about this to anyone who will listen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 --So, so, so good. I have no complaints, but not every book can be my “favorite” so…
⭐⭐⭐⭐ --Now this is what I'm talking about! Wonderful. I enjoyed it a lot.
⭐⭐⭐.5 -- Not bad! Definitely above average but not quite a favorite. I would be willing to give it another go.
⭐⭐⭐ -- Average. I didn't love it or hate it, but I would happily recommend it to someone who I think might love it.
⭐⭐.5 -- Ehhh. This wasn't great. Or, it was an okay story but there were too many technical errors.
⭐⭐ --I'm not impressed. Hopefully it was a library book and I didn't pay money for it.
⭐.5 --Not the worst book I've ever read, but it was a close call. Might recommend to someone I don't like.
⭐ --Wow that was bad. No redeemable qualities. I dislike everything about it. I don’t condone book burning, but this might be an exception.