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What Members Thought
Cather’s first novel follows one family over decades as they settle the great plains of Nebraska. The heroine is Alexandra Bergson, who comes to the prairie near Hanover, NE, as the only girl in a family of brothers. Yet it is Alexandra who grows up to take over the farm from her father and ensure the family’s prosperity.
I loved Alexandra, despite her blind spots. This is a strong woman! Her love of the land is evident, but she is no romantic. Her eyes are wide open to potential disasters, but ...more
I loved Alexandra, despite her blind spots. This is a strong woman! Her love of the land is evident, but she is no romantic. Her eyes are wide open to potential disasters, but ...more
Very interesting portrait of life on the frontier. Growing up first in Virginia and then in Nebraska, where this 1913 novel is set, Willa Cather (1873-1947) vividly writes of early settlers, their lives, loves, triumphs and losses. Strong female characters like Alexandra Bergson contrast with weak, possessive ones such as Frank Shabata and Lou and Oscar Bergson, Alexandra's brothers. The novel is a fairly quick read but draws you slowly into the story at first, yet rewards the reader with a rich
...more
Oct 12, 2021
Bucket
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
life-and-death,
classic,
reviewed,
tragedy,
identity,
women,
culture,
literary,
love,
nature-the-outdoors
A truly stunning first novel.
At first, the story line here seemed a little simple and quaint, albeit with a beautiful sense of setting on the great plains. But the story quickly gained emotional complexity. Cather's characters are trapped by cultural norms and mores, particularly the women, and the results are heartbreaking.
As readers, we see the tragedies coming and can only ache for Alexandra and the others and yearn for a world for them that has a little more freedom. ...more
At first, the story line here seemed a little simple and quaint, albeit with a beautiful sense of setting on the great plains. But the story quickly gained emotional complexity. Cather's characters are trapped by cultural norms and mores, particularly the women, and the results are heartbreaking.
As readers, we see the tragedies coming and can only ache for Alexandra and the others and yearn for a world for them that has a little more freedom. ...more
A beautiful, classic tale of life in the plains states during the mid-1800’s. Well-written and moving.
first read in 2000
May 2016: Read this again for a book club, and as the discussion leader I delved into some of the more interesting literary themes. The ducks represent freedom, the mulberry orchard is symbolic of the Pyramus and Thisbe story from Ovid's "Metamorphosis", and this was a very important book in 1913 because it was about a strong female character and is also told from her point of view, although not in her voice. I really love the pauses Cather takes to describe the land, as some o ...more
May 2016: Read this again for a book club, and as the discussion leader I delved into some of the more interesting literary themes. The ducks represent freedom, the mulberry orchard is symbolic of the Pyramus and Thisbe story from Ovid's "Metamorphosis", and this was a very important book in 1913 because it was about a strong female character and is also told from her point of view, although not in her voice. I really love the pauses Cather takes to describe the land, as some o ...more
Sep 21, 2012
Melissa (ladybug)
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
yearly-challenge,
radcliffes-best-novels
Aug 01, 2015
Angie H
marked it as to-read
Nov 04, 2016
Sallie(GeorgiaGirl)
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audio,
kindle,
classics,
series,
historical-fiction,
2016,
2016-goodreads-reading-challenge,
willa-cather
Jun 14, 2017
Carrie
marked it as to-read
