This and that

[selenak]

Rhett Butler's People, yet another Gone With The Wind prequel/sequel/spinoff/whatever you want to call it, manages to be worse than Alexander Ripley's Scarlett. I browsed through it yesterday and was stunned at the badness. Particular highlights include Melanie being pen pals with Rhett Butler's sister and entrusting her with her sufferings

Comments

[curtainpull]

Oh God, thank you so much for that video link! Possibly the greatest thing ever.

[artaxastra]

I haven't read Rhett Butler's People either, but I flipped through and was likewise unimpressed. It seemed to me that it committed the worst sin of historical writing -- trying to make the modern reader like a character by having them suddenly sprout anachronistic attitudes. Heaven forbid Rhett should be racist! Heaven forbid Melanie should trust that Ashley will not betray her! I wanted to shake the book and yell "These are 19th century people! Let them feel like it!"

[selenak]

Heaven forbid Rhett should be racist!

Indeed. When Rhett lectured Ashley on the evils of racism and slavery, I rolled my eyes. Not that I don't think a GWTW derived novel showing racism and slavery not sugarcoated would be wrong, but Rhett Butler is simply not the character to do this with. How about a Prissy pov?

Heaven forbid Melanie should trust that Ashley will not betray her!

Or Scarlett. One of the crucial things about GWTW is the absolute faith and trust Melanie has in Scarlett, and how Scarlett comes from seeing Melanie as the enemy and a burden to realizing she loves her and needs her as her best friend because of the quiet strength Melanie has. Grrrh. Argggh.

[artaxastra]

I think the thing that they're missing about Rhett and about writing historical in general is that people are not compromised as good people by believing what is generally accepted at their time. Of course a man in the 17th century is going to be sexist! You've really got to do some heavy lifting to convince me otherwise if you want this particular man not to be. Or that a man in the 19th century is going to be racist, etc. I think that some writers believe that if they let the characters be who they are in their own cultural context, readers will hate them.

And yes, Melanie. Melanie trusts Scarlett. I do think Scarlett comes to love her dearly, as much as Scarlett ever loved anyone. And needs her. To have Melanie not truly trust her is to totally destroy Melanie's character, and turn Scarlett's only true friendship into a sham. Besides, the bottom line is that the reader knows that the scene at the mill when India walked in wasn't how it looked -- Scarlett is honestly over Ashley at that point, and it is just about

[ffutures]

Thanks for the Watchmen link - greatly appreciated.

And the outtake was wonderful!

[watervole]

Love the Dr Who clip. I really must get around to reading Watchmen - so many people have recommended Moore's work to me.

[selenak]

It's a blast, isn't it?

And Watchmen - yes. As I said, for me it's a case of admire, not love, but you definitely should read it.

[wee_warrior]

There is another sequel to GWTW? Why? (I know, silly question.)

Fortunately, the DT video is an awesome distraction. *g*