Josh - you know I am a fan. I already read three Cather books this year - My Antonia, Death Comes for the Archbishop, and A Lost Lady. Previously I had read O Pioneers which is the book that made me fall in love with her writing. I don't think I will reread these since I read them so recently but I will definitely following along for the discussions.
The thing I love about Cather is how approachable her writing is. You don't need to be a scholar to decipher the text. Her works, while containing significant depth, read like novels, which they are. The characters are easy to identify with because they are normal people. She creates something extraordinary from the mundane.
What a lovely idea! The slow read-a-long offers so many opportunities for deep dives that even in a classroom you can't do. As a recovering academic myself (gave up tenure, retired early, and started writing full-time), I'm looking for ways to recreate those classroom experiences that I miss. This is gold!
I've had a copy of "Sapphira and the Slave Girl" on my shelf for years (unread), so welcome this chance to read "My Antonia" w/ such esteemed company. Thanks for doing this.
I've been participating in "slow" read-alongs since the pandemic - first in twitter with Yiyun Li and A Public Space's #APSTogether (they're now also on substack); and with an #APSTogether twitter spin-off group currently working our way through Virginia Woolf's novels; and also with author Elizabeth Gaffney in her zoom based writing community where we read aloud together in zoom every morning (www.the24hourroom.org). Hope to join you for Cather!
I think I've read all Cather's novels except Alexander's Bridge which I skipped for a forgotten reason. That was 30+ years ago. I reread The Song of the Lark and Death Comes for the Archbishop every few years, but I'd like a reason to be nudged into rereading the others. Looking forward to it!
Looking forward to this new read-along. I've read her books but it's been years since I've reread them and would enjoy as much reading what you have to write about them. You've given me an excuse to read along. Thanks!
Great that you're doing this. I started Archbishop a long time ago, but got distracted so I left him to his fate somewhere in the desert. Having a guide to a book makes a huge difference, and i know you will be a wonderful one.
Josh, I'm so excited about this idea! I could never read My Antonia enough times. Also, looking at the 61.1 volume (2018) of The Willa Cather Review is such a great way to have more resources as we're reading. I can't wait to see your prompts! (https://www.willacather.org/discover/educational-resources/readers/willa-cather-review)
Josh - you know I am a fan. I already read three Cather books this year - My Antonia, Death Comes for the Archbishop, and A Lost Lady. Previously I had read O Pioneers which is the book that made me fall in love with her writing. I don't think I will reread these since I read them so recently but I will definitely following along for the discussions.
The thing I love about Cather is how approachable her writing is. You don't need to be a scholar to decipher the text. Her works, while containing significant depth, read like novels, which they are. The characters are easy to identify with because they are normal people. She creates something extraordinary from the mundane.
If any of your readers are interested in my thoughts on her they can refer to my recent article: https://open.substack.com/pub/matthewmlong/p/my-willa?r=2x99tr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Looking forward to this. Thanks.
I hope to follow along in the last weeks of the semester. My Antonia is the one of Cather’s novels I reread (and assign) most.
I'm in! I've long meant to read this book. Now to find my copy of it . . .
Thank you! I love Cather.!
What a lovely idea! The slow read-a-long offers so many opportunities for deep dives that even in a classroom you can't do. As a recovering academic myself (gave up tenure, retired early, and started writing full-time), I'm looking for ways to recreate those classroom experiences that I miss. This is gold!
I've had a copy of "Sapphira and the Slave Girl" on my shelf for years (unread), so welcome this chance to read "My Antonia" w/ such esteemed company. Thanks for doing this.
I've been participating in "slow" read-alongs since the pandemic - first in twitter with Yiyun Li and A Public Space's #APSTogether (they're now also on substack); and with an #APSTogether twitter spin-off group currently working our way through Virginia Woolf's novels; and also with author Elizabeth Gaffney in her zoom based writing community where we read aloud together in zoom every morning (www.the24hourroom.org). Hope to join you for Cather!
I haven’t read My Antonia since college and look forward to revisiting it!
I think I've read all Cather's novels except Alexander's Bridge which I skipped for a forgotten reason. That was 30+ years ago. I reread The Song of the Lark and Death Comes for the Archbishop every few years, but I'd like a reason to be nudged into rereading the others. Looking forward to it!
Looking forward to this new read-along. I've read her books but it's been years since I've reread them and would enjoy as much reading what you have to write about them. You've given me an excuse to read along. Thanks!
Josh,
Great that you're doing this. I started Archbishop a long time ago, but got distracted so I left him to his fate somewhere in the desert. Having a guide to a book makes a huge difference, and i know you will be a wonderful one.