Customer Rating:
Review Summary: When women went west
Review: The narrator of this story makes a point of mentioning that the name of the heroine is pronounced with a stress on the first syllable, like the male name 'Anthony', with an 'a' on the end. This is not an insignificant choice by the author, who in her youth dressed in men's clothes and called herself 'William'. Not that this is a 'lesbian novel' as such, but it is a very particular viewpoint, in which strong, androgynous women carve a civilization out of a hostile landscape often despite their menfolk rather than thanks to them.

There are some parallels with Owen Wister's The Virginian, where the narrator often leaves the scene to be replaced by the heroine, so that the two take turns in interacting with the idealized hero. Here, Cather has a male narrator speak for her and to interact with Antonia. However, he often adopts a distinctly womanly perspective, with feminine references to hairstyles and fashions and so forth, references that sound somewhat out of character. Many readers have been puzzled by the relationship between the narrator and Antonia, but if you occasionally think of him as really being a woman, it all makes perfect sense.

The story unfolds in a gentle, understated manner. It is about characters and their relationship to the landscape, and how the former and the latter evolve together. There is a hint of mystery associated with a violent death early in the story, but this is not developed or remarked on again.

What makes the novel worthwhile is the fine quality of the writing and the authenticity that Cather brings to the narrative. This is my second Cather novel, the other being Oh Pioneers! which I did not particularly like. If you are new to Cather, I think My Antonia is the place to start.

The Barnes & Noble Classics edition has an excellent introduction by Gordon Tapper (but, as with all introductions to novels, you should read it after reading the novel itself, as it summarizes the plot) plus useful notes. As it is also cheap, it can be heartily recommended.

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Nebraska 5, settlers 0
Review: I had previously read "Death Comes to the Archbishop" by Willa Cather and was disappointed in this book. Although Ms. Cather's descriptive writing made the raw Nebraska farmland very real, the story line and the characters were, in my opinion, weak. I really didn't care too much what happened to any of them. The title character, Antonia, was especially disappointing. What made her such a delightful playmate? What about her was so special to the author? If she was so special, why didn't he form more of an adult relationship with her? There was nothing about the story's narrator to make him likeable or detestable. He was just a "good" kid who did what was expected of people in his social class, lacking the character to take action on his alleged love for Antonia. Again, the descriptive passages regarding the farmland and the hardships faced by the immigrants who came to Nebraska were excellent but, overall, I was disappointed in this classic.

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A TIMELESS CLASSIC OUT OF AMERICA'S HEARTLAND
Review: I first read this book when I was in junior high school. I admit that, at the time, I did not appreciate the strengths of the book and the quality of its writing. I am quite glad that I decided to give it another chance, as, having re-read it, I now understand why it is considered to be a classic in literature. It is simply a beautifully written book, covering many of the themes that one stumbles across in life and coalescing them into a work of extraordinary breadth.

The book is the story of two young people, Jim Burden and Antonia Shimerda. They meet for the first time when Jim is ten years old and Antonia is fourteen. Recently orphaned, Jim has moved to the Great Prairie to live with his grandparents in Nebraska. Antonia, on the other hand, has been wrenched from her homeland in Bohemia, emigrating with her parents to the United States and finding herself in Nebraska. Jim and Antonia's chance encounter on a train sets the stage for the forging of a friendship and unconditional love that time will not diminish.

The book relates the harshness of immigrant life through the eyes of Jim, who narrates the events contained in the book. There is a relentless stoicism about the book, which is written in spare, clear prose. With intense imagery and descriptive exactitude, late nineteenth century Nebraska comes to life. It also relates the paths that each of the characters choose to follow, as well as the vicissitudes of life that mold and shape them in ways that no one would have imagined.

The focus of the book, which is also a coming of age tale, seems to be on the female characters and their strengths. All the women in it seem to be survivors, despite the hardships that they encounter. This is, without a doubt, a life affirming book, wrought with great feeling and a decided sense of time and place. Yet, despite its poignancy, the book is surprisingly unsentimental and straightforward. It is a testament to the author's literary talent that this book has emerged as a timeless classic. Bravo!

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Skip the LONG introduction, and get into the book.
Review: A 35 page introduction on one persons thoughts on this book is 35 too long. I loved this book. Willa Cather was a genius of her time. My Antonia is not only the story of the pioneers out west, but also of the immigrants who made it their home.

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