Book Review: Rhett Butler's People

Book Review: Rhett Butler’s People

I have always enjoyed reading however; it has been a long time since I finished a book. For the past year or so, I grounded myself from reading in an effort to finish a cross-stitch project. The good news is the cross-stitching portion of the project is now complete. So I decided to warm back up to reading again with a little brain candy.

In case you can’t guess, Rhett Butler’s People is an authorized “sequel” to Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind and shares Rhett Butler’s side of the famous story. I think I first read GWTW in middle school and it is one a very few books I’ve read more than once. While everyone is familiar with the Scarlett/Rhett love story, I think Ms. Mitchell does something else in the novel that is overlooked or dismissed. If you look past the obvious romance, you will notice that the story of Scarlett is one of a woman who defies the traditional female stereotypes of her culture and uses the tools available to her (including marriage) to ensure her survival. She includes a lot of items of cultural significance, especially if you’re a born southerner. But I digress…

Rhett Butler’s People starts out well enough and provides background and additional character depth for some of the GWTW characters. There are also plot snippets taken from the original that are embellished with greater detail and are of more importance in this novel. I do think the novel is well written and has a cohesive, if sometimes hokey, plot. It is an enjoyable story to read. However, I’m not completely satisfied with the character development of Rhett as the story progresses. Quite frankly, in many cases the images presented do not at all match the dashing, cavalier character presented in the original. I understand that everyone is entitled to a bad day, but some scenes could cause one to believe that Rhett is bi-polar.

I also think the book gets weaker as it goes on. It’s almost as if the author can’t decide how he wants the book to end, so he defaults into a “happily ever after” mode that certainly does not mesh with the original.

I think trying to write a sequel to such a classic is just playing with fire. I do think the author did a good job with embellishing the characters and plot snippets from the original to add to this story, and I even liked how some of those were developed. On its own, I’d say the book is worth a read if you like Southern or Historical fiction. As a companion to GWTW, you’re better off sticking with your own imagination if you don’t want to be disappointed, even though this one is scores ahead of the previously released Scarlett.

Goodbye, Dear Friend

One of the problems with Ordinary-ville is that we sometimes have sadness. This Saturday was such a time as we had to say goodbye to our dear Dixie dog. Dixie lived a long and exciting 13 years. She could have just as aptly been named "Lucky" as she survived being hit by cars 2 times. As a result, she had one good lung, and three good legs. Neither of these slowed her down from ruling the neighborhood, but the hurt leg was helpful in coercing treats from the unsuspecting.

Dixie was everything a good southern dog should be. Her mother was a championship, pedigreed coon hound, and her daddy was a rogue who was smart enough to climb a fence. We adopted her while we were in college. She was too loud for the dorm, so she temporarily lived with our friend in off campus housing, where we discovered she could be soothed with Willie Nelson music.

When we settled in Blythewood, Dixie soon found a second home at our neighbor's horse farm. We often joked that we had the only employed dog in the area. I'll never forget the time I was surprised to see her in the neighbor's truck, accompanying them to town for an errand.

She was also gifted at barking late into the night and digging holes in the yard. She was sweet and docile with those she loved and possessive and territorial with those who were not familiar.

Rest in Peace, dear Dixie. We'll miss you.

Falls Park- Greenville, SC

Last Saturday was a family fun day with a road trip to the Upstate. One of the great things about SC is that the state is small. Living in the middle of the state, we can make it to the coast or to the foothills in around 2 hours. Our default day trip is to Charleston. This time we opted for fun on the other end of the state, and headed for the foothills.

Not moving in a great hurry we got up, dressed and packed way more than was needed for a day trip. (This is the mommy in me coming out – trying to be prepared for every conceivable circumstance.) We all piled into the family mobile and started our journey. We used backroads as much as possible, saving the interstate driving until absolutely necessary. In these high-tech times, we arrived safely using the low tech devices of my general knowledge of the area and street signs.

And boy, did Greenville get this right. The city has been undergoing a downtown transformation for as long as I can remember, and it has really paid off. The park is not huge, but packs a lot into small spaces. There is a small waterfall with a wide creek running through grassy areas. A suspension bridge allows visitors a lovely overview of the entire space. Steps and walking paths have been installed and large swings and benches dot the area. There is a small ampi-theather and some picnic shelters. Signs located throughout draw attention to the history of the area, pointing out the ruins of the old mill and where the mill village used to be.

I think what surprised me the most was that this lovely spot is connected directly to Main Street – where there is plenty of dining & shopping to be had. We wandered out of the park and had some lunch. Then spent some time in a few of our favorite stores – Mast General Store & O.P. Taylor’s toy store. A local author & artist were doing a book signing for a children’s book, Mice on Main Street that details a scavenger hunt for bronze mice around the downtown area. (We located several, but did not take on the full mouse hunt.) Little girl received a signed copy of the book and was delighted to pick out her own stuffed mouse to accompany the storybook. Later we learned that she enjoyed playing in the creek much more than in the nearby children’s splash fountain.

We packed up and headed home with a brief stop at Grandma’s house. We arrived home tired, but a good day was had by all.

Obligatory Introduction

Hi. My name is Angie. Welcome to my blog. I’m not really sure why I’m doing this, except it seems a good place to capture some small moments in time. I hope to share some thoughts about books, places, things & interests. You’ll need to bear with me, as I haven’t composed many essays since hanging an expensive piece of paper on my wall.

I am a SC native, having grown up in the Upstate region and currently residing in the Midlands. I graduated from Erskine College (which is perhaps most notable for its lack of a football team) where I met my husband of 11 years (and counting.) I graduated with a teaching degree and lofty ideas of changing the world through education. I taught for a year, married & moved and wasn’t able to locate another teaching job. Apparently having a history degree and not having the ability to teach a sport, does not make one overly marketable. Economic realities forced me into a job in insurance, where I have happily resided ever since in some form or fashion. Yes, I’m a dork. I enjoy my job in insurance.

After many years, and even more cars, my husband and I decided to increase our circle of happiness. We were blessed with a daughter in January, 2008. She is delightful, and yes, everything you’ve been told about toddlers (& more) is true. You can expect a great deal of reflection on this little topic.

My interests are many and varied, but a few get more time than others. In my “Free Time” (= after baby is asleep) I enjoy reading, cross-stitching, restoring cars & napping.

So, the title says it all. If you’re looking for great intellectual insight or the meaning of life, you probably won’t find it here. If you’re interested in how ordinary people live & have fun, join me here for more Tales of the Ordinary.