Gone With the Wind/Scarlett/rhett Butler's People?

Question

GWTW is one of my favorite novels. I love the character development, storyline, & raw emotion. It's a great book. The film version, while an amazing feat of American cinema, was undoubtedly terrific, but couldn't touch the book.

When first released, I read Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley. The critics panned it. The miniseries was awful. Personally, I kinda liked it. It showed how Scareltt's character changed and evolved through time. While much of the plot was a little weird, I liked how she took Scarlett and built upon Margaret Mitchell's flawed herione.

Now, Rhett Butler's People is out. I am about 1/2 way through it, and I am a little confused. The novel is not a "sequel." Rather, it's a parallel novel. In some ways, I am irritated at how he's monkeying with Margaret MItchell's vision, adding scenes and concepts and taking liberties. While I am enjoying learning about the other people in Rhett's life, there's not much about HIM so far.

Anyone else feel this way?

Answer 1

Yes, I do feel the same. I really love GWTW. The complexity of the characters draws me to it. And I do like 'Scarlett' the novel too, despite what critics say about it.

However, I can't say the same about Rhett Butler's People. I know that writing a sequel, especially to a book as monumental as GWTW, is hard. It has to satisfy the fans yet has the merit of stand-alone novel, both qualities in which Rhett Butler’s People has lacked in my opinion. Firstly, it’s because McCaig changed a lot of things from GWTW. It's not good to change facts –or worse, characters- about a book you're writing a sequel to. It shows that the author is not acquainted with the book. Secondly, the reader who read the books without having read GWTW will find RBP confusing. For a book which claiming to cover the other side of the greatest love story ever told, the romance is non-existent. So sadly I have to say that RBP doesn’t appeal me as GWTW -or even Scarlett- has.

Answer 2

I absolutely loved Gone With the Wind and refuse to read any novel about Scarlett or Rhett that Margaret Mitchell did not write. It just seems wrong to me.

Answer 3

I wouldn't read "Scarlett" out of respect for Margaret Mitchell who was hounded for years to write a sequel. She wanted to end where it ended. Anything else written by other people will never live up to Gone With the Wind. They never will be able to develop the characters who Mitchell breathed life into.

Answer 4

I am reading it also...I like it......I always wanted to know more about Rhett Butler......as for Scarlett...I loved it too......it is an authorized sequel to GWTW......

Answer 5

this book that you say i have not read,although hearing it from you made me really curious to read it....but as for scarlett....i must say i really liked it even better than gone with the wind, ripley really remained faithful to the character of scarlett and rhett....