tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post4987698963505904258..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: My Antonia by Willa CatherBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-63372430009637773312020-01-26T12:28:34.418-05:002020-01-26T12:28:34.418-05:00Hi Hila - I have recently discovered Cather myself...Hi Hila - I have recently discovered Cather myself.<br /><br />You raise a good question about Jim. He is not passive in his studies or intellectual life and by extension his career, , just when it comes to relationships. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-1859370647350043792020-01-26T12:05:50.030-05:002020-01-26T12:05:50.030-05:00I've been discovering Cather's work and al...I've been discovering Cather's work and also love the descriptions. Sublime is the right word for it.<br /><br />The ambiguity in the relationship between Jim and Antonia sounds interesting. Also the fact that Jim is passive - is this in relationships or career-wise too? Because somehow he does end up in NY as a lawyer.HKatzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17653570160517335758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-88550802544170879462020-01-20T17:12:43.560-05:002020-01-20T17:12:43.560-05:00Hi WG - This is a book that stays with you. It rea...Hi WG - This is a book that stays with you. It really is sentimental in a sad way. Cather is somewhat elusive. She is very subtle.<br /><br />It should never be a rush to comment on a post. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-23772713439139685712020-01-20T13:27:29.208-05:002020-01-20T13:27:29.208-05:00Life has been busy here in eastern Australia but I...Life has been busy here in eastern Australia but I've finally caught up with this post. My Antonio is one of the few books, outside Austen that I've read more than once. I greatly enjoyed your review and love that you researched that Ukraine tale. One of the things that sticks with me about this book is is sort of melancholic of nostalgic tone. Catcher is an interesting author. Not as easy to pin down as, say, Wharton.Whispering Gumshttps://whisperinggums.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-40527516508524518272020-01-20T12:00:32.409-05:002020-01-20T12:00:32.409-05:00Thanks Naida - Cather produces some of the best pr...Thanks Naida - Cather produces some of the best prose out there. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-7315805463941475792020-01-20T11:13:29.724-05:002020-01-20T11:13:29.724-05:00I'm glad you enjoyed this one. The descriptive...I'm glad you enjoyed this one. The descriptive writing sounds wonderful and I like that last passage you shared.<br />Fantastic commentary as usual. the bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15357796617059183930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-86297762687569690472020-01-19T17:30:28.274-05:002020-01-19T17:30:28.274-05:00Hi Jane - I would be curious as to what you would ...Hi Jane - I would be curious as to what you would thought on the second reading. <br /><br />On the Thea and Jim thing, it is interesting how authors revisit themes over the course of several books. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-3578118373900315002020-01-19T15:56:37.998-05:002020-01-19T15:56:37.998-05:00I am really looking forward rereading this--last t...I am really looking forward rereading this--last time I read it was in high school, but I have enjoyed the other two books in the trilogy, which I just read recently.<br /><br />I liked your comparison of Jim to Thea--I can definitely see the parallels.<br /><br />I absolutely love Cather's description of the prairies. JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-47055240043208227492020-01-19T05:47:56.665-05:002020-01-19T05:47:56.665-05:00Thanks Belle! Thanks Belle! Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-47708200714074891072020-01-18T20:10:54.877-05:002020-01-18T20:10:54.877-05:00Thank you for sharing such an insightful review. ...Thank you for sharing such an insightful review. Seems like my sort of book.The Liberty Bellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05677266288990024025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-92035678193579008992020-01-16T05:20:44.108-05:002020-01-16T05:20:44.108-05:00Thanks Baili. The connection here between Antonia ...Thanks Baili. The connection here between Antonia and Jim is profound. It is moving.The relationship is very special. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-2148360276103280022020-01-16T02:33:10.917-05:002020-01-16T02:33:10.917-05:00this is treasured post to me dear Brain!
i found ...this is treasured post to me dear Brain!<br /><br />i found this deeply connected to my heart because almost same central idea was laying in bottom of my soul for story i might have written someday <br /><br />such soul filling relationships are externally rare in world full of people who try to bring "reason "out of everything which is thing of mind <br />to form such selfless connections soul is needed and truly pure one i believe <br />i loved this story line and specially how writer is capable to say all so magnificently <br /><br />thank you for sharing it with so brevity and sublimity specially paragraphs you chose are truly amazing and worth sharing ,first one made my eyes teary !<br />i think of world all the time where men and women are with such strong characters exist and have power to inspire as much so they can wish to have them in their life <br />i am sure i will read this one :) <br />thank you again for being incredibly wonderful to share such great blog my friend!<br />blessings! bailihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06498012175058870980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-35753826890137381202020-01-15T21:22:42.763-05:002020-01-15T21:22:42.763-05:00Hi Scott - I think that you make a good point abou...Hi Scott - I think that you make a good point about leaving versus staying and the duality here. I also like your description of the wolf story. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-79116161612113093242020-01-15T17:31:27.393-05:002020-01-15T17:31:27.393-05:00Now I'll have to read The Song of the Lark.
I...Now I'll have to read <i>The Song of the Lark</i>.<br /><br />I've very much liked all of the Willa Cather I've read, as well as the arguments that seem to spring up around her. This is nothing new, but Antonia and Jim, the one who stayed and the one who went, seem really a single representation of the dual nature of Cather herself, her inescapable ties to Nebraska and her inability to return. <br /><br />The wolves scene is delightfully horrid. seraillonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17654593356535433945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-51382923097926653142020-01-15T16:10:04.220-05:002020-01-15T16:10:04.220-05:00Thanks RT. I have not read those Cather books. But...Thanks RT. I have not read those Cather books. But I plan to at least read Death Comes for the Archbishop soon.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-36722705654690797022020-01-15T14:26:11.411-05:002020-01-15T14:26:11.411-05:00Great post! Have you read my two Cather favorites:...Great post! Have you read my two Cather favorites: Death Comes for the Archbishop and The Professor's House? BTW, your posting is a catalyst for my to reread Cather, so thank you!<br />Best wishes from Gulf coast curmudgeon at https://perfectmurders.blogspot.com/<br />RTDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17113953356514605424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-22501422936708049752020-01-14T18:54:01.275-05:002020-01-14T18:54:01.275-05:00Hi Susan - You raise a really good point. Cather k...Hi Susan - You raise a really good point. Cather kind of built her own world with her descriptions of landscapes. <br /><br />I would be curious to know what you thought if you read this book now. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-90948802677104295352020-01-14T17:46:47.537-05:002020-01-14T17:46:47.537-05:00Yeah it's been a 2 or 3 decades since I read t...Yeah it's been a 2 or 3 decades since I read this one, so I think it would be great to reread it & see what I think about it now. I recall liking all the natural features & landscapes in this book, which took me away to the world then. thecuecardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08870323589682197091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-39143039324912057452020-01-14T17:14:18.948-05:002020-01-14T17:14:18.948-05:00Hi Sue - I also noticed that there was a televisio...Hi Sue - I also noticed that there was a television film out there. Maybe I will give it a try. <br /><br />I thought that the entire trilogy was well worth the read. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-91709820859671770612020-01-14T15:16:41.317-05:002020-01-14T15:16:41.317-05:00I see this became a telemovie in 1995, with a few ...I see this became a telemovie in 1995, with a few familiar names playing in the leads. I confess I’m not much into mainstream fiction, but this sounds like a satisfying end to the trilogy, and the author considered it her best work. Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-22341158953236754862020-01-13T06:24:32.357-05:002020-01-13T06:24:32.357-05:00Hi Lory - I recently discovered Cather. It seems t...Hi Lory - I recently discovered Cather. It seems that a lot of people read her when they were younger but still love her work. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-90124671494518391882020-01-13T06:22:51.480-05:002020-01-13T06:22:51.480-05:00Hi Jacqui - The landscape descriptions here are so...Hi Jacqui - The landscape descriptions here are some of the best in all of literature. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-71459718050568197132020-01-13T06:20:44.781-05:002020-01-13T06:20:44.781-05:00Thanks Sharon. As I get older I see it too. The pa...Thanks Sharon. As I get older I see it too. The past is there and it effects us throughout life. One thing just occurred to me, many stories, especially newer ones, seem to dwell on the negative aspects of people’s pasts. For the most part, Cather dwelled on the positive. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-32836957529196769752020-01-13T02:55:53.779-05:002020-01-13T02:55:53.779-05:00I'm glad you are reading and enjoying Cather. ...I'm glad you are reading and enjoying Cather. Her writing is wonderful. I need to do more reading and rereading!Loryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08519976394732029323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-39194961286055880442020-01-13T02:25:42.015-05:002020-01-13T02:25:42.015-05:00I recall enjoying this book very much when I read ...I recall enjoying this book very much when I read it a few years ago, so it's lovely to have a reminder of it here. As you say, Cather's descriptions of the landscape are stunning, perfectly capturing the beauty and brutality of the natural world. JacquiWinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05821296196011645410noreply@blogger.com