My first read O Pioneers! is part of the Great Plains Trilogy book series by Willa Cather which includes the novels O Pioneers! #1, The Song of the LaMy first read O Pioneers! is part of the Great Plains Trilogy book series by Willa Cather which includes the novels O Pioneers! #1, The Song of the Lark #2, My Ántonia #3. I would actually give it 4 1/2 stars. Her writing style is amazing. I just wish it was a little longer.
Cather's main character is the strong and intelligent woman we all are searching for in a frontier story. Set during a period of time that having a successful farm was not really likely to happen. Most families are led by a strong male figure, but when her father fell ill, he saw in her, the drive that it would take to finish making his dream come true.
Alexandra went through many test of faith and stood her ground when she knew she was right. Her choices led the entire family in prosperity, an easier life, and her desire left her alone, to a point.
The Homestead gave Alexandra the comfort, security and peace that no place else did. And Carl? finally the safety and love she was missing most of her life.
My Antoniá is the third book of The Prairie Trilogy by Willa Cather. The Story of immigrant pioneers. (pages 1-211) When Jim's parents die, he moves toMy Antoniá is the third book of The Prairie Trilogy by Willa Cather. The Story of immigrant pioneers. (pages 1-211) When Jim's parents die, he moves to live with his Grandparents in Nebraska. He shares his views of the prairie life no fences, creeks or trees. The land was flat and no farming fields to be seen. An untamed land, but ten years later there are wheat, sorghum and corn fields. The awful compact red grass was replaced by homes, orchards and barns. Change in homeland is so hard and leads to wishing of the past life. Some immigrants (that provide a painter's palette of cultures) had never farmed before, such is the case with Antonia's Father. Some try so hard to overcome, to be successful but homesick is always around the corner and with health, loneliness and missing the past cause the feeling of loss. "We are not beggers...in the old Country we made good wages and we were respected" The land for some only rewarded in hardships like locusts, drought, fires and frost. When Jim goes off to further his education he is leaving the joy of nature and Antonia behind. She is strong and takes things seriously and works very hard and develops herself in this new land. Antonia has the spirit needed to make the best of nature, to be resilient and becomes successful at farming. The land for Antonia gave rewards of abundance. The story does make one question the why of the people. Why be so brave to leave their known behind, bring their families to such vast prairies of the west with nothing but unknowns to come. Cather's style is outstanding, you can tell she admired the pioneers who struggled daily to cope with what nature provided. Nature full of grasses, wildflowers and few trees that connected the pioneers to their new homes. Cather realized that the pioneer life was full of passion, bravery and hope. ...more
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