Wow.
Okay, so guess what? 1,037 pages later...
I finished "Gone With the Wind." Surprised? Me too! Last update I swore I wouldn't finish it. But then last weekend happened. I planned to spend the day editing. Instead I read "Gone With the Wind" for almost twelve hours. I hit Scarlett and Melanie's flight from Atlanta as the Yankees closed in--and I couldn't stop.
There were moments that I didn't like Scarlett. I mean, let's be honest. She's really selfish. And because of that she misses a lot of things. And by a lot of things... I mean a lot. But I still enjoyed her as a character. She wasn't afraid to get things done
.
And the chemistry between Scarlett and Rhett? Goodness! I could stand Scarlett being cold in her marriage to Charles and Frank. She didn't love them. But I couldn't stand her when she didn't realize that Rhett Butler was achingly in love with her! Okay, I also didn't like how she treated her children.
But mostly Rhett.
Oh, Rhett and Scarlett! There's so much to say about them. But it all comes down to one thing: COMMUNICATION. These two were so prideful that they failed to communicate their love for eachother. Which led to Rhett's famous line at the end...
Speaking of the end, everything went crazy around page 990. People were dying, realizations were made, hearts were breaking... In regard to "hearts," I don't think it's over. Not by a long shot. Scarlett, as she herself claimed, has gotten any man she sets her sights on. Even though Rhett has left her, he doesn't stand a chance!
Rhett & Scarlett Butler Forever.
Also, fun fact. Did you know that there's a sequel to "Gone With the Wind?" All right, Margaret Mitchell didn't write it, but her estate paid another writer to pen it. The title is "Scarlett."
And I've already requested it from the library.
Why do the books we read as kids still hold a magic sway over us today?
Maybe it's the familiarity they provide, or maybe they're a physical reminder of simpler days and sweeter times. Either way, there are stacks of books that hold a special place in my heart. Today I'm going to share five of them with you, and a bit about why they're so special.
Ready? Here we go...
"Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin, Jr.
I don't know what kid (at least who grew up in the 90's) that didn't read this book and love it. If I ever have kids, this will be a staple on our bookshelf!
"Caps for Sale" by Esphyr Slobodkina
No idea how this book was introduced to me (probably by my wonderful parents). But I loved it as a kid, and I love it now. Such a creative, fun idea for a children's story!
"The Three Robbers" by Tomi Ungerer
This book wasn't originally introduced to me as a book. I actually first watched an animated short of "The Three Robbers," which can be found here. To be honest, I've never read the book, but the animated version is straight from these pages... So I think it counts. Warning. It's kind of a weird story.
"Dealing with Dragons" by Patricia C. Wrede
My dad found this book for me when I was just breaking into chapter books. It's an amazing series for young girls, and I loved it (and still love it) desperately. I dutifully introduced it to my younger sisters.
"Green Rider" by Kristen Britain
The library in my middle school was a magical place. There were so many books packed into the enormous space. I could've spent all of homeroom there. It was among these shelves that I discovered two of my pre-teenage-hood favorites, "Green Rider" being one of them (and the book below being the other). Ms. Britain is stilling writing "Green Rider" books today. There's about a 3-6 year gap between them. So, in a way, I've grown up with these books. Which is so cool. I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment!
"Lirael" by Garth Nix
This book terrified and exhilarated me at the same time! Walking dead controled by bells? A dangerous library with monsters sealed inside rooms? An outcast girl becoming friends with a talking "disreputable" dog? Yes, please! I still love this book to this day. Though I don't get scared quite so easily.
Do you have any childhood favorites that are near and dear to your heart? Give them a shoutout in the comments!
