From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

O Pioneers!

Willa Cather

Start date: June 1, 2018

Finish date: June 30, 2018

Discussion: Lesser Know/Wilderness Classics

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What Members Thought

Apr 02, 2018 Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics

I found this short novel beautifully written. Cather's style was so simple, quiet and lovely. The Nebraska plains of a century ago were so purely drawn that the time and place leapt off the page. Alexandra was an intriguing, strong, loyal protagonist.

I had only one problem with the book: the ending weakened her character in my opinion. ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Feb 21, 2025 Jenna Scribbles rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I think I loved this one more than My Antonia. Such beautiful writing. I wish Cather had 20 more novels to read.

6 likes · Like · see review

Apr 20, 2016 Pamela(AllHoney) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: am-west-historical, classics, fiction-general, books-to-movies, small-town

Alexandra Bergson is the daughter of Swedish immigrants who settle in Nebraska. They are a farming family and times are difficult. More difficult after her father dies and tells Alexandra to keep the farm going. She has three brothers, Oscar, Lou, and the youngest, Emil. Alexandra goes on to make her farm a success when many of her neighbors give up.

May have been the timing on this one but it didn't pull me in. I have never seen the movie made on this so it was all new to me. I should probably a ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 14, 2014 Jim Townsend rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Very interesting portrait of life on the frontier. Growing up first in Virginia and then in Nebraska, where this 1913 novel is set, Willa Cather (1873-1947) vividly writes of early settlers, their lives, loves, triumphs and losses. Strong female characters like Alexandra Bergson contrast with weak, possessive ones such as Frank Shabata and Lou and Oscar Bergson, Alexandra's brothers. The novel is a fairly quick read but draws you slowly into the story at first, yet rewards the reader with a rich ...more

2 likes · Like · see review