I did it!

Not that! Geesh...

I finally finished Gone with the Wind. It took me a little over a week but I've finally managed to get through all 1024 pages of the monstrous epic.

It started out kind of slowly. I'd enjoy it while I was reading it, but I could only stick with it for 15 minutes at a time. However, once the battles started happening and Atlanta started burning I was consumed with Scarlett, Ashley, Rhett, Melanie and all the others for the better part of each day.

I like to think I'm a fast reader, but that depends solely on the writer and style of the book. Hemingway takes a few hours (if that), but Hugh McLennan takes some dedication. I actually gave up on the Hugh McLennan book (Two Solitudes). It was really good and interesting, but I didn't have the gumption to get 'er done.

Anywho, back on track. I finished Gone with the Wind and but I haven't decided if I'd want to be like Scarlett or not. There I things about her that really annoyed me, as I'm sure they annoy a lot of people. Her vanity, naivity (not nativity), her lack of compassion, her frustrating blindness when it comes to other people, etc. etc.

But she didn't have any patience for people who wouldn't fight for themselves, and she held strong contempt for those who chose to be weak. She had a certain stick-to-itiveness that I certainly lack. Though overall, I doubt we'd get along in real life.

However, and it's a big however, she would get so consumed with something she thought she cared so much about that she lost what she really did care about. How insanely frustrating!!!

Being a Canadian public schooler, I learned nothing about American history in class so this book was quite informative. It was kind of surprising to learn that the Confederates were Democrats... I wonder when the South switched to being largely republican. hmmmmmmmmmmm

I guess know I'm going to have to read the Scarlett Letter to see what happens. I hate those conclusions that don't really conclude everything you want it to. That will have to wait however, as I have seven other books clamouring for my attention.

I read outside on our balcony for most of the morning. It was amazingly refreshing. I haven't been spending enough time outside recently, but now I'm thinking it'd be nice to walk down to the lake and read for a little while. I'd feed the ducks, but that's a little weird for someone to do by themselves... next thing you know I'll be pushing a shopping cart stuffed with thousands of dollars because I've lost my mind somewhere along the way and have decided this is the best method of saving (where did those thousands of dollars come from? I'll never tell). Not to mention the ragged overcoat I stole from some rich guy and the dingy yellow beaner I'd undoubtedly be wearing.

I bet I have a cat too.