Gone with the Wind

I am sure millions of words have been written about this book, so let's keep this review brief.

It's racist as hell. Kind of interesting for that, because it lets you see the kind of lies people tell themselves to allow them to approve of slavery, but it needs to be read with a critical mind.

The love ‘triangle' is tedious beyond all belief.

Scarlett is an inconsistent character - we never know whether we are supposed to admire her for her ‘gumption', pity her for the traumas experienced during the civil war, or hate her for being thoughtless, selfish and allowing cruelty to flourish with her blessing. Somehow, we are expected to believe she's good at business because she's good at arithmetic; even though she sells faulty goods, lies, has temper tantrums, alienates her customers, and has literally no psychological insight into anybody around her.

The pacing is terrible, there's a long saggy bit in the middle, and then the ending is rushed.

However, it is evocative and the writing mostly pulls you along. It's an easy read, despite the length.