A book about some kids growing up in the pioneer days and follows up with them as they age and remember their fond youth. I felt that with the number of great reviews this book got, I should have liked it better. For the first half of the book I was pretty bored with it and couldn't wait for it to end. Yes, the descriptions of the land are beautiful... around half way through I grew to like it enough to finish it. I loved this book. It is very simply written, with short chapters that tell so much. This is a coming of age story about Jim Burden growing up on his grandparents' farm in Nebraska, and the life-long friendship he develops with Antonia, the eldest daughter of an immigrant family trying to get by. Antonia is tireless and fearless, and wants nothing more than to work to help support her struggling family. In contrast, Jim has the chance to go to school, study hard, and make something out of himself outside of farming. Though Antonia is bound to her destiny, she maintains a greater sense of freedom in a lot of ways because of the pride and happiness she takes in working hard and building a strong family. Jim is of course madly in love with Antonia and vice versa because of who they are to each other, but they foster a life-altering friendship based on what they experience and their memories of each other. This book reminds me of Lonesome Dove in how down to earth it is, and how it tells of a certain time and place, but in a way that's timeless. Cather's style much different, though, providing more of a feminine perspective. I recommend this book to my mom and to Erin and Ginny!
Do You like book My Antonia / O Pioneers! (2000)?
Interesting look at life in Early Nebraska. Would have liked to see more characte development.
—squared
