My Antonia
My Antonia
by Willa Cather
250 pages
Fiction
Told through the voice of her childhood friend Jim Burden, Antonia becomes a beloved character for what she endures, what she gives out and mostly how she inspires. Antonia is an immigrant girl who moves with her family to the plains of Nebraska. There is so much in this book, people learning to accept immigrants and their customs, people getting along, childhood memories, and yet My Antonia is mostly about a woman, her choices, her value and the endurance of love.
This book has been sitting on my shelf for about a year or so. I needed a change of pace and picked it up, I could smack myself for not doing so sooner. I loved My Antonia. It is hard for me to explain all the reasons, but I know that the most significant was the value of unending love and friendship. Jim holds his love for Antonia for years and years, if not in his day to day life in his memory. The unyielding life that the main characters show and just the nitty-gritty of growing up as pioneers is extremely enchanting.
Technically I read this this year (2009) but I can still say that it is in my top 5 books ever. I tried and failed to find even one imperfection with My Antonia, I am stunned by Willa Cather's ability, she did win the Pulitzer prize and know for sure I will have to grab another of her books soon. My Antonia was simple, beautiful and I enjoyed reading every word.
My Antonia easily earned a Stellar Five Chicken Book Award from me!
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I (adoringly) HEART—>
January 6th, 2009 - 13:23
I have this book sitting on my shelf…My daughter, I believe had to read it for a class. I will read this very soon…thanks..I am excited!
January 6th, 2009 - 13:30
Yep, this is a great one, and I’m so glad you liked it. I read it several years ago in a college class and was profoundly moved by it.
January 6th, 2009 - 17:31
I’m almost done reading My Antonia! I hope to get the review up soon. If you liked My Antonia so much, you should try O Pioneers! by Willa Cather. My Antonia is good, but I think I liked O Pioneers! better.
January 6th, 2009 - 18:00
I haven’t read anything by Willa Cather. I’ve read mixed reviews of her books, but since you liked it so much I may actually have to give this a try at some point.
January 6th, 2009 - 20:58
That’s quite an endorsement, I’ll have to give this one a try!
January 6th, 2009 - 22:00
I’m pretty sure I read this years ago, but I remember NOTHING about it. Perhaps I should give it another shot!
January 6th, 2009 - 22:25
I’ve read this 3 times and always loved it
January 7th, 2009 - 01:11
I read it for the first time last year and adored this book. Great review!
January 7th, 2009 - 04:12
I’m planning to read this book in 2009 sometime. I loved Song of the Lark and O Pioneers!
January 7th, 2009 - 04:15
I’m so pleased that you loved it. It’s one of my favorites :)
January 7th, 2009 - 04:59
ronda- oh, bust that baby out!!
the booklady’sblog- oh, it is SOO good. I really want to try something else by her.
bookworm- I will try that one. I have to tell you though that it is really in the last chapters that I fell completely in love with the book, before that I liked it a lot and ad the end I loved it.
Alyce- Oh, you really should!! I loved her style, she is an exceptional writer.
Ali- you sure will!! :)
Dreamybee- oh, really!crazy.
Katrina- I think I could read it over and over too. I loved it. Have you read anything else by her?
mominsanity- adored is certainly the right description.
Laura- Oh, I have to try those too!
Corinne- YAY!! It is now one of mine too! :)
January 8th, 2009 - 16:13
willa cather is an amazing writer. she deserves any accolades she recieved. some are better than others, though. i am still working my way through her books. song of the lark is one of my favorites.
January 8th, 2009 - 18:26
I remember this book being on my mother’s shelf when I was a child, but I never knew much about it. Thanks for the review.
January 9th, 2009 - 04:29
So glad you liked this one! I’d have to re-read my review to remember what it was that didn’t do it for me…whether it was timing or coming off of another good book? Antonia is such a fabulous character, though!
January 16th, 2010 - 20:08
I love that book. Most of the bad reviews given online are from high school kids who are forced to read them and have no concept of good literature. This is one of the most beautiful novels I’ve ever read :)