Rhett Butler's People
Dec 22, 2007
Rhett Butler's People
Author: Donald McCaig
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: November, 2007
When I heard that yet another Gone With the Wind book was hitting the bookshelves, I was less than excited. The first one, "Scarlett" was so awful that I only made it thru 3 chapters, blissfully happy that I didn't actually spend any money on it. It was nothing more than a bodice ripper with familiar names.
I had some higher hopes for this book - mainly because it was written by a man - hopefully leaving the bodice ripping to someone else. But still I was not holding my breath that this book would be as enthralling as Gone With the Wind.
In the end I can say it's a pleasant read. It's not of the GWTW standards, but it's not awful. The history and descriptions of the South are good and the depiction of the war rings true.
It does give some interesting history of Rhett and attempts to explain why he was what he was and why he was so attracted to Scarlett. Sadly, the books tries, but doesn't deliver.
I found all of the characters to stay fairly two dimensional except for Belle Watling and Rhett's little sister, Rosemary. These two characters were fully fleshed out and their lives described in detail. You "knew" them. But sadly, even in this book about him, did Rhett stay flat and uninteresting.
I never did understand his want of Scarlett - especially since she completely lacked the spark she had in the original book. In one chapter he is so absolutely furious at her that he nearly hates her. Then a few chapters later they are suddenly married after Frank dies. No explanation of how his loathing of her turned around so quickly, especially since those in between chapters have him in another part of the country - nowhere around to have softened toward her by speaking or being with her.
There are a lot of characters thrown in here that have their own chapters and stories, and I would say Rhett is only in half of his own book. Scarlett basically flits in and out of the story.
It is a good read, and interesting story, but it is not Gone With the Wind and the characters aren't truly Rhett and Scarlett. Go into it with those thoughts, and you'll enjoy it.
