The Willa Cather Book Club got off to a great start yesterday. There were ten of us who met to discuss My Antonia. For some it was a re-read and for others it was their first time reading Cather.
We started the year off with My Antonia because the novel is celebrating its centennial in 2018. The Willa Cather Archive even started a website to capture the celebratory events planned for this great American novel:
One of the highlights of yesterday’s meeting was that two of the participants came having not finished the book because they couldn’t really get into it. I love that they still came! It shows such a willingness to try something new and stretch themselves as readers. We all discussed reasons why they may not have gotten into the book, everything from mood, to what they had just finished reading being in a very different style, to the fact that My Antonia isn’t a novel with a focused plot to drive the reader’s attention, but is more a series of vignettes. After our lively discussion, these two readers said they’d give it another go.
Next Meeting:
Our group is meeting quarterly in 2018. Our next read is The Song of the Lark, which we’ll discuss at the bookstore on Thursday, April 19th at 2pm.
About The Song of the Lark:
Willa Cather’s third novel, The Song of the Lark, depicts the growth of an artist, singer Thea Kronborg, a character inspired by the Swedish-born immigrant and renowned Wagnerian soprano Olive Fremstad. Thea’s early life, however, has much in common with Cather’s own.
Set from 1885 to 1909, the novel traces Thea’s long journey from her fictional hometown of Moonstone, Colorado, to her source of inspiration in the Southwest, and to New York and the Metropolitan Opera House. As she makes her way in the world from an unlikely background, Thea distills all her experiences and relationships into the power and passion of her singing, despite the cost. The Song of the Lark presents Cather’s vision of a true artist.
More dates:
- Thursday, July 19, 2pm, Book: One of Ours
- Thursday, October 18, 2pm, Book: to be decided
All are welcome to join us! The Book Club Bookstore & More is located at 869 Sullivan Ave in South Windsor, CT. Phone: (860) 432-7411.
After the discussion were they motivated to finish the book or did they still feel it wasnt for them?
One was going to start again from the beginning and the other was going to keep reading from where she was. Fingers crossed.
I’d consider that a success for your group!