I’ve wanted to read one of Cather’s books for a long time. I grew up on a farm in the plains of Colorado and I readily looked forward to her description of the plains and farm life in Nebraska. I was excited I could use this as an “O” title and a 1910’s title as well.
I was a little disappointed in the book, though. It started off very slowly for me, but by the second chapter I was enjoying it. It is the story of the Bergson family and their struggles to make their farm successful. Alexandra Bergson (the oldest daughter) does a very good job managing the farm and they succeed when other people are selling the land. She and her brothers have different ideas about the farm, though, and split the land equally thereafter. When Alexandra’s land flourishes, her brothers still think they have a say in it and in her personal life. Thankfully, she is a strong woman and stands up to them.
I really enjoyed the basic story and the description of the Nebraska plains. I just felt, though, that the story was a bit incomplete. In the middle of the book it skips over several years and I would have liked to have read about them. In addition, I thought the ending was a little weak. Not in what happens, but in the writing of the ending. It just left me a little unsatisfied. I guess I wanted the story to continue. Still, it deserves its classic status, and I look forward to reading more of Cather’s work.
1913, 176 pp.
Rating: 4
I agree, it was good, but it just seemed like there should be more. And it turned really soap opera like at the end for me, really dramatic. I wasn’t expecting such violence.
I think I was expecting more like Little House on the Prairie, that kind of gentleness. Not the book’s fault it wasn’t what I thought before.
Oh…I really loved this one. But I love a good
strong female character, and Alexandra was
definitely one. They was a lot of time that
was skipped, but I thought it went well with
the story. Very sparse, but a lot of depth!
I agree with Stephanie. I loved this book almost precisely because it was “very sparse with a lot of depth.” I read this for a course in literature once, and I remember it being the only book that I actually engendered any reader’s pleasure from. You’ve reminded of my long ago vow to read more Cather.
Raidergirl3, I was a little surprised by the violence as well.
Stephanie and J.S., I really want to read My Antonia and Death Comes from the Archbishop as well. I’d like to see how they compare with each other.
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