My Antonia is a novel published in 1918 by American writer Willa Cather, considered one of her best works. The novel tells the stories of an orphaned boy from Virginia, Jim Burden, and the elder daughter in a family of Bohemian immigrants, �ntonia Shimerda, who are each brought to be pioneers in Nebraska towards the end of the 19th century, as children. Both the pioneers who first break the prairie sod for farming, as well as of the harsh but fertile land itself, feature in this American novel. The first year in the very ...
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My Antonia is a novel published in 1918 by American writer Willa Cather, considered one of her best works. The novel tells the stories of an orphaned boy from Virginia, Jim Burden, and the elder daughter in a family of Bohemian immigrants, �ntonia Shimerda, who are each brought to be pioneers in Nebraska towards the end of the 19th century, as children. Both the pioneers who first break the prairie sod for farming, as well as of the harsh but fertile land itself, feature in this American novel. The first year in the very new place leaves strong impressions in both children, affecting them lifelong. This novel is considered as Cather's first masterpiece. Cather was praised for bringing the American West to life and making it personally interesting.
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I enjoyed Antonia very much. It was recommend by
David McCullough I would recommend lt to anybody.. Loved it.
DT
Bookwit
Apr 2, 2010
My Antonia
So enjoyed this book both for its historical detail re. 19th century life in Nebraska but also for her very fluid style of writing.An excellent but quite short read.
pawkitt
Jul 24, 2008
All time favorite book
I love this book, I just can't say it enough. Willa Cahter writes with such beauty. I felt like I was there when she would describe the parries and the people that lived there. She really has a way of telling a story, you can almost smell and hear what is going on in her books. This is a very good look at what it was like to settle on the parries, she dosen't sugar coat how hard it was to live there. One of the familes even lives in a sod house. What I hard life that must have been. This is a story of a young boy and his journey into a first love. He falls for Antonia, who is from Europe and very difrent from him and the people he has grown up with. I think he is so taken with her beacuse she is so diffrent. This is really a coming of age stroy told with beautiful pros. I will never forget how she describes the sun flowers I felt like I was there.
Dolores
Jan 17, 2008
my antonia
Must have been avant-garde when it was published. An unusual perspective on telling a story.
Johnny2read
Jun 21, 2007
Good Solid Book
This is a book that really gives one the "feel" of the midwest of that specific time. The characters are well-drawn and varied, and the story line keeps the reader interested and not quite sure of what the ending will be.
There is pain, joy, fun, and tragedy all woven into the story, which deals with life on those hard bleak plains of Nebraska many years ago, when life was simple, but hard.
I gave it a three-star rating, because I feel it was not THE MOST exciting book I have ever read, nor did the prose "grab" me, as the prose of some authors has. It is, however, a wholesome read, and gives the reader real insight into the life and times of people who make up such a large part of the USA.
