Anyone read Scarlett? (spoilers)

[aurora]

So I am embarrassed that when I picked up Scarlett I was drawn in by the "Sequel to Gone with the Wind" description and didn't pay attention to the fact that it was written by a different author 55 years later.   I went ahead and read it after realizing, but I'm a bit torn overall because I don't know that I really like the ending.  Or some of the telling.  I mean, it was entertaining to read more about Scarlett's life (from Ripley's perspective, obviously, not Mitchell's), but it seemed more simplistic than the original.  For example, many of the conflicts just kind of got forgotten about, not resolved.  Scarlett herself just moves through life, winning at everything.  And of course at the end she's with Rhett, who apparently forgot about frankly not giving a damn.  OK, so maybe I'm being overly harsh as a reaction to feeling taken in, but that's why I'm posting here to see others' reactions.  To be fair, it was an entertaining read even if not of the same literary quality as the original.

For anyone who wants to talk but hasn't read this particular book, feel free to comment on other "sequels" you've read that weren't written by the original author.

[labbie]

It's been years since I've read it, but I knew going in that there is no way it could compare with the original- even if it had been by the same author! I generally feel that way about most sequels, and GWTW is one of my all time favorite books. I "enjoyed" Scarlett, but it's more because I love Margaret Mitchell's character versus anything to do with the Scarlett story. I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't recall all of the details of the ending- but I do remember thinking that it was just "ok". These are the same reasons I'm reluctant to read the slew of Pride and Prejudice prequels/sequels that sit on my shelf. They sound like a good idea, but....

[msmerymac]

Yeah, I felt that it was a bit more of a bodice-ripper than the original novel. I think there might be another one Ripley wrote as well? I can't quite remember. She wrote a lot of historical fiction. Scarlett was also made into a TV mini series, back in the 80s when those kinds of things were big (Lonesome Dove, North and South). It wasn't that good, lol.

I also felt the same way about Mrs. de Winter, the sequel to Rebecca, but written by a different author. I feel like Rebecca ended the way it did for a reason, and sequels like that almost tarnish the original for me - I have to separate the two books in my head. Like, the things in the sequel didn't ACTUALLY happen to the characters the way the original author intended.

I'm actually fine with all the Pride and Prejudice and other Jane Austen-style sequels that have come out. Maybe because there are so many options that it seems more like fan fic than canon, and maybe because they are so far removed from the original? For some reason I've been much more able to separate the original from the "sequels" in my mind.

[aurora]

Sept 16, 2014 7:58:32 GMT -5 labbie said:

...I "enjoyed" Scarlett, but it's more because I love Margaret Mitchell's character versus anything to do with the Scarlett story. I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't recall all of the details of the ending- but I do remember thinking that it was just "ok". ...

I think you make a good point here. As selfish and often unlikeable as Scarlett is, I still like her and wanted to learn more of her story. I'm just not convinced I like the complete turnaround in the ending (compared to GWTW), specifically with regards to her relationship with Rhett. I'm torn between rooting for her happiness and thinking " this isn't how it's supposed to turn out.

[aurora]

Sept 16, 2014 10:30:32 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Yeah, I felt that it was a bit more of a bodice-ripper than the original novel. I think there might be another one Ripley wrote as well? I can't quite remember. She wrote a lot of historical fiction. Scarlett was also made into a TV mini series, back in the 80s when those kinds of things were big (Lonesome Dove, North and South). It wasn't that good, lol.

I also felt the same way about Mrs. de Winter, the sequel to Rebecca, but written by a different author. I feel like Rebecca ended the way it did for a reason, and sequels like that almost tarnish the original for me - I have to separate the two books in my head. Like, the things in the sequel didn't ACTUALLY happen to the characters the way the original author intended.

I'm actually fine with all the Pride and Prejudice and other Jane Austen-style sequels that have come out. Maybe because there are so many options that it seems more like fan fic than canon, and maybe because they are so far removed from the original? For some reason I've been much more able to separate the original from the "sequels" in my mind.

Bodice ripper is a strangely apt description given how little sex there is in the book.

I haven't even read Rebecca so I wouldn't know what sequels are out there. I did read P&P but non of those sequels. Actually I'm having trouble thinking of other examples I've read like this. The Wheel of Time is different because Jordan knew he was dying and worked hard to pass along his storyline to Sanderson. I tried to read some HP fanfic when I was in serious withdrawal after book 7 but I never really got into it.

[secretlyevil]

Since GWTW is my favorite book, I read Scarlett. It was...ok. I really recommend reading Rhett's People by Donald McCaig. I think that's the author's name. Anyway, he had the support/authorization of Margaret Mitchell's estate. It was so much better.

[aurora]

Sept 20, 2014 13:22:12 GMT -5 secretlyevil said:

Since GWTW is my favorite book, I read Scarlett. It was...ok. I really recommend reading Rhett's People by Donald McCaig. I think that's the author's name. Anyway, he had the support/authorization of Margaret Mitchell's estate. It was so much better.

I hadn't even heard of Rhett's People. Thanks for the rec!

[elletr13]

Ditto the recommendation for Rhett Butler's people. A much more worthy "sequel" than Scarlett.

[aurora]

Sept 21, 2014 8:52:04 GMT -5 deej said:

I read it years ago. I remember liking the beginning but once she went to Ireland, I didn't like it.

It seemed like a fun adventure at first, but then everything worked out so perfectly for her all the time that it seemed unreal!  And the whole reason she went was her extended family, but they became like mud to her after she started hanging out with the rich people again.

[dragonfly08]

Sept 20, 2014 13:22:12 GMT -5 secretlyevil said:

Anyway, he had the support/authorization of Margaret Mitchell's estate. It was so much better.

So did Scarlett.  Not that being authorized by the estate helped the quality of Ripley's writing...by some accounts, the estate was incredibly embarrassed by it (maybe they should have insisted on more control over the final product).  GWTW is my all time favorite book, and I was really hoping Scarlett would be worth while but reading it was a couple wasted hours of my life I'll never get back.

[aurora]

Sept 27, 2014 17:23:17 GMT -5 dragonfly08 said:

Sept 20, 2014 13:22:12 GMT -5 secretlyevil said:

Anyway, he had the support/authorization of Margaret Mitchell's estate. It was so much better.

So did Scarlett.  Not that being authorized by the estate helped the quality of Ripley's writing...by some accounts, the estate was incredibly embarrassed by it (maybe they should have insisted on more control over the final product).  GWTW is my all time favorite book, and I was really hoping Scarlett would be worth while but reading it was a couple wasted hours of my life I'll never get back.

You must be a very fast reader if it just took you a couple of hours.