November Challenge - Whatever Wednesday

November 5 - Whatever Wednesday - Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig

Rhett Butler's People
by Donald McCaig

For those who know me well will understand why I chose this particular book for my first Whatever Wednesday. This book, like so many other books can fit into more than one of the categories for my November Challenge. However, I wanted to spotlight this title today because it has one of my all time favorite characters as the title character. I have loved Rhett Butler from the moment he appeared on the pages of Margaret Mitchell's novel, Gone with the Wind. I could hardly wait for this book to be released. I was going to be able to read more about Rhett, to find out about his life, his family, and Miss Katie Scarlett O'Hara from his perspective. I was not disappointed, and I don't think anyone who loves the characters from GWTW either from the pages or the screen will be disappointed either.

An East Texas Gone with the Wind

Roses
by Leila Meacham

Recently I posted a review of a book similar to my second favorite book Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier. The title of this 2014 homage is Alena. It was written by Rachel Pastan. You can read my review here. As you noticed I stated Rebecca is my second favorite book. Today I am reviewing a book written in 2010 by Leila Meacham, Roses. If Alena can be compared to Rebecca, then Roses most definitely is a Texas based Gone with the Wind.

The story takes place in the fictional East Texas town of Howbutker, in the Piney Woods. Covering a span of one hundred years in the lives of the families in the powerful timber and cotton industries, Roses intertwines the lives of these founding families with all aspects of a soap opera. The saga begins in recent times, remember the book was written in 2010. The use of a cassette recorder in one section eludes to a time period a little earlier than the then present. It is masterfully told in flashbacks through the character's stories, beginning with Mary's, then Percy's, and finally with Rachel's. Reading the details from each of the character's perspective is ingenious.

Meacham's new book, Somerset, published in 2014 is the prequel to Roses. Initially I thought about reading it first, but decided to wait. I will now start this new book which tells the story of the Tolivers, Warwicks, and DuMonts as they leave South Carolina and make their way to the what will become Howbutker, Texas. I look forward to the back story of these three families I came to love.