Scan barcode
kategci's review against another edition
5.0
Read this collection of Willa Cather short stories, one per month since March 2019. This is probably the best way for me to read short stories, as I am not a fan of the genre. This was such a great collection and reading along with Chris Wolak of The Book Cougars providing background and context made this an enjoyable project. On to Phase II of the Willa Cather project!!
graywacke's review against another edition
5.0
Cather wrote numerous stories published in various magazines, and 19 of them were released in five different collections, two posthumous. This collection includes those 19 and an essay by [a:George N. Kates|81281|George N. Kates|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] that was included in the last story collection published in 1956.
Cather was a dynamic author who reveals here much more complexity than her novels indicate. Beginning in a Henry James‘s style, she quickly cultivated her own voice, tying to various experiences in her life and imagination. I liked her novels better, but I love what this collection reveals. So 5 stars.
I have reviewed all the stories in two of my LibraryThing threads. So I won't revisit them here. Below is a list with links to all these posts on LibraryThing.com.
From [b:The Troll Garden: Short Stories|459301|The Troll Garden Short Stories|Willa Cather|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328818983l/459301._SY75_.jpg|2466718] (1905)
• Flavia and Her Artists
• The Garden Lodge
• The Marriage of Phaedra
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328037#7402738
[b:Youth and the Bright Medusa|1257797|Youth and the Bright Medusa|Willa Cather|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348186436l/1257797._SX50_.jpg|1246613] (1920)
• Coming, Aphrodite
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328037#7430403
• The Diamond Mine
• A Gold Slipper
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328037#7430439
• Scandal
• Paul's Case
• A Wagner Matinée
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328037#7430714
• The Sculptor's Funeral
• “A Death in the Desert”
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328037#7443797
[b:Obscure Destinies|48235|Obscure Destinies|Willa Cather|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328821357l/48235._SX50_.jpg|47197] (1932)
• Neighbour Rosicky
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328037#7464416
• Old Mrs. Harris
• Two Friends
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330945#7464517
[b:The Old Beauty, and others|542378|The Old Beauty, and others|Willa Cather|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1394790193l/542378._SY75_.jpg|529707] (1948)
• The Old Beauty
• The Best Years
• Before Breakfast
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330945#7477272
[b:Five Stories|892969|Five Stories|Willa Cather|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1269741106l/892969._SY75_.jpg|878202] (1956)
• The Enchanted Bluff
• Tom Outland's Story
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330945#7494176
• “Willa Cather's Unfinished Avignon Story," an article by [[George N. Kates]].
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330945#7495920
-----------------------------------------------
16. Collected Stories by Willa Cather
published: 1992
format: 493-page paperback
acquired: April 2020
read: Jan 25 – Apr 29
time reading: 21:56, 2.7 mpp
rating: 5
locations: New York, London, Pittsburg, Boston, Kansas, Wyoming, Nebraska, France, Nova Scotia, New Mexico...
about the author: born near Winchester, VA, later raised in Red Cloud, NE. December 7, 1873 – April 24, 1947
Cather was a dynamic author who reveals here much more complexity than her novels indicate. Beginning in a Henry James‘s style, she quickly cultivated her own voice, tying to various experiences in her life and imagination. I liked her novels better, but I love what this collection reveals. So 5 stars.
I have reviewed all the stories in two of my LibraryThing threads. So I won't revisit them here. Below is a list with links to all these posts on LibraryThing.com.
From [b:The Troll Garden: Short Stories|459301|The Troll Garden Short Stories|Willa Cather|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328818983l/459301._SY75_.jpg|2466718] (1905)
• Flavia and Her Artists
• The Garden Lodge
• The Marriage of Phaedra
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328037#7402738
[b:Youth and the Bright Medusa|1257797|Youth and the Bright Medusa|Willa Cather|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348186436l/1257797._SX50_.jpg|1246613] (1920)
• Coming, Aphrodite
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328037#7430403
• The Diamond Mine
• A Gold Slipper
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328037#7430439
• Scandal
• Paul's Case
• A Wagner Matinée
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328037#7430714
• The Sculptor's Funeral
• “A Death in the Desert”
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328037#7443797
[b:Obscure Destinies|48235|Obscure Destinies|Willa Cather|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328821357l/48235._SX50_.jpg|47197] (1932)
• Neighbour Rosicky
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328037#7464416
• Old Mrs. Harris
• Two Friends
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330945#7464517
[b:The Old Beauty, and others|542378|The Old Beauty, and others|Willa Cather|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1394790193l/542378._SY75_.jpg|529707] (1948)
• The Old Beauty
• The Best Years
• Before Breakfast
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330945#7477272
[b:Five Stories|892969|Five Stories|Willa Cather|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1269741106l/892969._SY75_.jpg|878202] (1956)
• The Enchanted Bluff
• Tom Outland's Story
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330945#7494176
• “Willa Cather's Unfinished Avignon Story," an article by [[George N. Kates]].
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330945#7495920
-----------------------------------------------
16. Collected Stories by Willa Cather
published: 1992
format: 493-page paperback
acquired: April 2020
read: Jan 25 – Apr 29
time reading: 21:56, 2.7 mpp
rating: 5
locations: New York, London, Pittsburg, Boston, Kansas, Wyoming, Nebraska, France, Nova Scotia, New Mexico...
about the author: born near Winchester, VA, later raised in Red Cloud, NE. December 7, 1873 – April 24, 1947
missnicelady's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed these stories so much that I think I'm going to dive into a novel next. Where should I start, Catherphiles? My Antonia?
lcsmcat's review
dark
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mcastello13's review against another edition
4.0
I haven’t read Willa Cather for almost a decade so it was a real joy to find this book and dive into these stories. Since my main knowledge of her work is inextricably linked to ideas of the American Midwest, I was surprised to find so many stories set on the east coast and in Europe.
Willa Cather writes place extremely well, and I was so excited to find a few stories set (at least partially) in Pittsburgh! Prior to reading this I had no idea she had a connection to my hometown.
Despite her obvious skill as a storyteller, many of these stories felt somewhat incomplete to me. A few hit me really hard, however, and “Old Mrs. Harris” actually made me cry. “A Wagner Matinee” was my favorite.
Overall I really enjoyed these stories - they remind me a lot of Edith Wharton’s books and I LOVE Edith Wharton. I greatly admire the ways in which Willa Cather links sadness and suffering with simple joys and pleasures. I recently read something that mentioned “the melancholy of American life” and I feel that phrase applies so aptly to Cather’s work. If you’re looking to develop a knowledge of American literature, you must read her work.
Willa Cather writes place extremely well, and I was so excited to find a few stories set (at least partially) in Pittsburgh! Prior to reading this I had no idea she had a connection to my hometown.
Despite her obvious skill as a storyteller, many of these stories felt somewhat incomplete to me. A few hit me really hard, however, and “Old Mrs. Harris” actually made me cry. “A Wagner Matinee” was my favorite.
Overall I really enjoyed these stories - they remind me a lot of Edith Wharton’s books and I LOVE Edith Wharton. I greatly admire the ways in which Willa Cather links sadness and suffering with simple joys and pleasures. I recently read something that mentioned “the melancholy of American life” and I feel that phrase applies so aptly to Cather’s work. If you’re looking to develop a knowledge of American literature, you must read her work.
robingustafson's review
5.0
I really enjoyed participating in Phase I of Chris Wolak's Willa Cather Short Story Project, https://chriswolak.com/the-willa-cather-short-story-project-on-chriswolak-com/
I've been reading one story a month in this collection since February 2019. Reading these stories from different periods of Cather's career has really deepened my love for her writing. I'm looking forward to Phase II of the project as well as continuing in my journey of reading all of Cather's novels.
I've been reading one story a month in this collection since February 2019. Reading these stories from different periods of Cather's career has really deepened my love for her writing. I'm looking forward to Phase II of the project as well as continuing in my journey of reading all of Cather's novels.
More...