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emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My dad has recently embarked on a journey to read "The 100 Greatest Works of American Literature" (using some random list he found in a Google search that contains widely-agreed upon classics). He recommended O Pioneers! to me, which I always assumed was boring as a child. I consider myself converted. Beautiful.
Had to read this for a reading class in high school and didn’t like the old writing style of this.
My mother is a high school English teacher, so my halcyon days of youth were filled with such classics as "The Awakening" and "Madame Bovary" instead of "trash" (my mother's term) such as Sweet Valley High. These novels served their purpose though, particularly Cather's. Such strong female protagonists, and a sweeping mix of history, adventure, and romance--she always makes me long to be a bare-footed hearty Bohemian lass with dark, burning eyes, toiling away in the fields and plains. One of my all-time favorites.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was may first Willa Cather and a very enjoyable read it proved to be such that I will read more of her books.
The story begins at the end of the 19th century. Alexandra Bergson comes into the local town with her young brother Emil where as children two other characters significant in the later book are briefly introduced. Her Swedish father is dying, he has settled the hard land of Nebraska and struggles with the unforgiving land, on his death bed he tells Alexandra to look after the farm as her two other brothers are not sufficiently committed to maintain what is tough work, and seals Alexandra's future. The remainder of the book develops the story over twenty years plus as Alexandra skilfully buys neighbouring properties in lean times with mortgages and grows a prosperous body of land. Her brothers Oscar and Lou generally have plenty to moan about during this time as Alexandra asserts her individuality and talents, she is a strong woman in a masculine world but has sacrificed her personal life and particularly the attentions of Carl another local farmer who we see in the opening scenes and we are aware has feelings for Alexandra.
The final part of the book has a tragic element and very reminiscent of the tragedy of say 'Ethan Frome' where individuals in the early years of American settlers are pitted against the elements it always proves to be love that undoes them.
It is a short book but the writing skilfully describes life in pre ww1 Nebraska and it is a page turner. I'm sure plenty of readers are aware of Cather as a significant American author of the earlt twentieth century but she is someone I have only recently heard about and seems to have missed the fame of say Edith Wharton. The book certainly tells much about the time and given when it was written is unusual to have such a strong central female character , I will definitely be exploring more of her works.
The story begins at the end of the 19th century. Alexandra Bergson comes into the local town with her young brother Emil where as children two other characters significant in the later book are briefly introduced. Her Swedish father is dying, he has settled the hard land of Nebraska and struggles with the unforgiving land, on his death bed he tells Alexandra to look after the farm as her two other brothers are not sufficiently committed to maintain what is tough work, and seals Alexandra's future. The remainder of the book develops the story over twenty years plus as Alexandra skilfully buys neighbouring properties in lean times with mortgages and grows a prosperous body of land. Her brothers Oscar and Lou generally have plenty to moan about during this time as Alexandra asserts her individuality and talents, she is a strong woman in a masculine world but has sacrificed her personal life and particularly the attentions of Carl another local farmer who we see in the opening scenes and we are aware has feelings for Alexandra.
The final part of the book has a tragic element and very reminiscent of the tragedy of say 'Ethan Frome' where individuals in the early years of American settlers are pitted against the elements it always proves to be love that undoes them.
It is a short book but the writing skilfully describes life in pre ww1 Nebraska and it is a page turner. I'm sure plenty of readers are aware of Cather as a significant American author of the earlt twentieth century but she is someone I have only recently heard about and seems to have missed the fame of say Edith Wharton. The book certainly tells much about the time and given when it was written is unusual to have such a strong central female character , I will definitely be exploring more of her works.
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a good book, but I was a terrible reader of it. I started on Serial Reader, but then stopped. Then started again. I was confused. Then download on my kindle you finish. I read, but only for a few minutes when I was really tired. I was so confused about the characters by then. I had to read a synopsis to make sure I got the book.
I love her writing, but I should not have read this on serial reader.
I love her writing, but I should not have read this on serial reader.
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Beautiful writing of place and a few very human characters but a confused and rushed last quarter. Inconsistent quality
I have always been fascinated by pioneers (and loved Little House on the Prairie growing up), and this book truly brought the landscape to life. My ancestors were German and Dutch immigrants/farmers in Wisconsin in the 19th century, and though I don’t know much about them this book allowed me to picture some of what their lives may have been like.
I loved the many beautiful quotes that personified the landscape.
My only issue was I don’t like how Alexandra responded in the end. It may be that I am still young and around their age, and I suppose it was how Alexandra was raised and the time period, but blaming Emil and Marie seems very wrong to me. They were pursuing happiness, especially in a time when I imagine it would be difficult for a woman to get a divorce, and they were planning on ending all ties to avoid infidelity. Hardly a justification for a murder! I was glad Carl brought this up, but it bothered me.
I loved the many beautiful quotes that personified the landscape.
My only issue was I don’t like how Alexandra responded in the end. It may be that I am still young and around their age, and I suppose it was how Alexandra was raised and the time period, but blaming Emil and Marie seems very wrong to me. They were pursuing happiness, especially in a time when I imagine it would be difficult for a woman to get a divorce, and they were planning on ending all ties to avoid infidelity. Hardly a justification for a murder! I was glad Carl brought this up, but it bothered me.