First published in 1918, My Antonia is the final book in Willa Cather's prairie trilogy and considered to be one of the best of her novels.
An introduction takes place during a train trip on which lawyer, Jim Burden, meets up with a childhood friend and they reminisce about their old hometown and share their recollections of the Bohemian girl, Antonia Shimerda. Jim agrees to let his friend read his written memories of Antonia.
Narrated by Jim, his recollections begin when he is a boy and is travelling to Nebraska after the death of his parents to live with his grandparents. Also on the train are the Shimerda family, Bohemian immigrants and pioneer farmers who will become close neighbours.
I did enjoy this first part of the story. Simple but beautiful prose that vividly brings to life the vast skies and prairie landscape. The harsh reality of the immigrant's experience, many of whom must, like Mr Shimerda, have been unsuited and unprepared for the back breaking struggle of every day. The winter scenes were chilling in more ways than one - the story of the wolves still lingers!
A few years on and Jim's grandparents move into the town of Black Hawk and to rescue Antonia from a life labouring on the farm, his grandmother finds her a job in service. The difference between Jim and Antonia's ages and social positions begins to take their lives in separate directions.
Eventually Jim goes away to further his education and only hears about Antonia through secondhand reports. I didn't find Jim a particularly interesting person, I wanted Antonia, and without her presence I lost interest in the story. Overall, while I appreciated the author's descriptive prose and enjoyed the historical background My Antonia left me unsatisfied.
I felt as though I was looking through an album of photographs, pictures of people and places, and someone by my side was explaining who and where. I can look and I can listen but I can never share their thoughts or their feelings and to really love a story I need that emotional connection. After three attempts I've come to the conclusion Willa Cather is not for me.
The Willa Cather Challenge
The Classics Club
I was a bit ambivalent towards this book too. I liked the themes of it but felt the whole thing was a bit nostalgic given the hardships Antonia's family went through.
ReplyDeleteI suppose that's because it was a boy's recollections and by choosing this method of telling the story WC could avoid the heavy emotional stuff. Didn't work for me!
DeleteI remember loving this book, but I don't remember a whole lot else about it. I definitely didn't know it was part of a prairie trilogy. Maybe I'll pick up the rest..
ReplyDeleteMost readers seem to love it but it falls short for me.
DeleteWow, I didn't know My Antonia was part of a trilogy. I have it on my Classics Reading List, but going by your review, I don't think I am going to like it very much :(
ReplyDeleteIt's a trilogy of the Nebraskan prairie, the characters are different in each story. Don't be put off by my thoughts - most readers love it.
DeleteI haven't read this since I was..well, let's just say it was long ago ;) I don't remember much about it. I *think* I have it on my Classics Club list. (that list is so long that I forget what I put on it!)
ReplyDeleteI keep changing my list which leads to a similar problem. Hope you'll enjoy your reread of My Antonia.
DeleteI read this one earlier this year and felt the exact same way. It was so built up, I thought it was going to be amazing. I will say that I read Cather's O Pioneer and loved it, so I haven't given up on her yet.
ReplyDeleteToo many expectations does often lead to disappointment although even without the buildup I think my response would have been the same. I liked O Pioneer more but I didn't love it either.
DeleteWell, if you've tried her three times and still not enjoyed her writing, I think you're free to try someone else - that's more than most people are willing to give an author!
ReplyDeleteI know :-(. I tend to think there's something wrong with me and I should like her more than I do because everyone else does! Ridiculous!
Delete"...to really love a story I need that emotional connection." I agree with this. I've been wondering whether I should try Willa Cather or not, maybe I'd skip her for the time being... :D
ReplyDeleteI think she's worth a try - you might love her! They're very short and easy to read.
DeleteI read this nearly a year (and a hundred books) ago, so I had to go re-read my review to remember exactly what I thought. All I remembered was that I liked it! But now I see it was Cather's evenness and calmness and the resolution with which to accept the harsh prairie life. I also mentioned that Jim was a drag :) I am looking forward to O Pioneers! though! -Sarah
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