Has anyone read "gone with the wind" by margaret mitchell?

Question

if so then have you seen the movie...and is the movie better?

Answer 1

I would choose the book over the movie any day. The movie left out too many important things--not only leaving out characters, but leaving out significant things in the plot and removing some great dialogue scenes that explains the motivations/actions of the characters. Plus the movie made everything glamourous and very pretentious...when the book is just not that way at all. I would say there is definitely a difference in tone between the book and movie. While I enjoy the movie, the book will always be the best.

Answer 2

I've read the book and then seen the movie.

What sets this movie apart is that it so accurately renders the impressions of the book... this is almost impossible to do for long books like GWTW, as LOTR fans will agree! It really is an American epic. Quite a masterpiece of a movie.

And whoever was in charge of deciding which "actual book" material got left in for the movie did a fine job -- those watching the movie get a very good sense of what Mitchell intended.

You did not say, but if you are questioning whether the book is worth your time, I would tell you that it definitely is. Yes, it's long. No, it doesn't always move fast. But the characters will hold your attention to the last page.

(When I was in 10th grade I had the most boring class ever: driver's ed. It was that semester that I chose to read this book, during class. So I always think of driver's ed when I hear the name Margaret Mitchell.)

My point is that you'll make time for a long book, no matter how long it is. Best of luck.

Which is better? The bookworm in me has to say "the book!"

Answer 3

I enjoyed them both. The book is excellent. The movie is excellent in it's own way. My advice to anyone who wants to read a book that has been turned into a movie is to watch the movie first. You will find that the book goes into more details and gives better insight into characters than the movie will. Also movies take poetic license and alter things to make the pacing better or whatever excuse they are using.

If you read the book first, you'll find yourself looking for a particular favorite passage and if it's not there or if your favorite character has been deleted from the movie version, you are always disappointed. Or sometimes they add a new character out of several characters (hence Liv Tyler's role in Lord of the Rings).

I try to always see the movie before I read the book. That way I'm not disappointed in the film. It's only when I read the book first that the movie's are a disappointment.

But they did a fairly good job recreating Gone With the Wind. Vivian Leigh WAS Scarlett in real life (read her biography sometime). Quite the lady.

Answer 4

I read book twice, seen movie numerous times. I love both but book is definitely better. It's a long movie but almost 800 page book so a lot of stuff had to go that made the story. Vivan Lee looks just as Scarlett is described in the book.

Answer 5

I have read the book and seen the movie. Read book once, seen the movie twice. I choose the movie over the book because the book is slow reading and is to detailed.

Answer 6

Both are good but very different - if I had to choose, I'd pick the book as the best!! I've read it at least three times and watched the movie probably more than a dozen!! One of the great classics!

Answer 7

Movie is great, but the book is even better! They left off quite a lot of detail in going from book to movie - especially in character development.

Answer 8

No way will I read it. If the movie was over 4 hours, the book must be bigger than the telephone book.

Answer 9

I read the book, but I choose the movie as the best. Maybe I am very visually.

Answer 10

I've actually just finished reading it. I've always liked the movie, but I do like the book better.