Litsy

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My Antonia is one of the “best loved” American novels. I hate it, which is shorthand for saying that the book did not speak to me & I am jealous that it speaks to others. I decided to give her another read. I did this with Steinbeck last year and while I still hate The Grapes of Wrath, I happily found The Red Pony to be a marvel. I chose Cather‘s My Mortal Enemy. And it is a revelation. The characters & situation are drawn with care & pain.

CarolynM This and My Antonia are my favourite Cathers. 10mo

batsy I love this book, and if you're looking for another Cather to discover this one is close to my heart

The Song of the Lark

10mo

5 likes2 comments

ManyWordsLater

Willa Cather and the Politics of Criticism | Joan Acocella

Found these on the “pay what you will” cart at the library.

I‘m guilty of reading political criticism within Cather‘s works. So, let‘s see what this book has to say about her feelings.

61 likes

CarolynM

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

#12BooksOf2020

I've loved being part of the #CatherBuddyRead with @Graywacke and all the others. This is my favourite of the books we've read this year.

Andrew65

BarbaraBB Happy new year 🎈 Carolyn, make it a good one ❤️ 4y

batsy This is also in my top reads for the year. The #catherbuddyread has given us some gems 🙂 4y

CarolynM @batsy It sure has! Happy New Year, Suba💕 4y

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batsy Happy New Year, Carolyn ❤️🎉 4y

Graywacke This was a gem. Love seeing on your list. Happy New Year! 4y

Lcsmcat I‘ve loved your insights as we read Cather together. Happy New Year! 4y

BarbaraBB I know I already wished you a happy new year and I know you‘ve already started 2021 but here it‘s 2 PM and on the brink of 2020 I received your sweet card and it really touched me. I feel the same about our friendship, Litsy and the past year. Thanks for being there dear Carolyn 🤍🤍 (edited) 4y

CarolynM @Graywacke @Lcsmcat I doubt that I would have read it without the buddy read and I know I wouldn't have got as much out of it if I'd read it on my own. I'm really grateful to both of you and all the others for giving me the opportunity to take the Cather journey with you. Happy New Year, Dan💕 Happy New Year Linda💕 4y

CarolynM @BarbaraBB It has always been a joy to know like minded readers and share books around the world, but this past year it has been essential to my wellbeing. I hope so much that 2021 will be an easier year for all of us but I will still be eager for your company here.❣ We've celebrated the new year at home with old friends and French champagne. Enjoy your celebrations tonight😘 4y

Graywacke @CarolynM also appreciate the sharing and company here. Just wanted to add that. And no question Cather was better with our group. 🙂 (still many hours till 2021 here) (edited) 4y

arubabookwoman I joined late, and this is one of the Cathers I missed. It‘s on the shelf, so I will have to read it soon. 4y

Andrew65 Looks wonderful. 4y

rubyslippersreads I missed this one too and, based on how much you all loved it, I‘ll have to read it and then visit the discussion. Thanks, @Graywacke for hosting this group. And Happy New Year to all of you. 🎉🥂 4y

CarolynM @arubabookwoman @rubyslippersreads It's only short but it packs a punch! I know you'll enjoy it. Happy New Year, Deborah💕 Happy New Year, Ruby💕 4y

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GatheringBooks

Willa Cather on Writing: Critical Studies on Writing as an Art | Willa Cather

#QuotsyOct20 Day 9: #Mold

TK-421

30 likes

hwestfall

The Old Beauty and Others | Willa Cather

I love Willa Cather. My chores are done and I am making a pot of tea to enjoy while reading.

3 likes

Lcsmcat

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

My #MarchStats #MarchWrapup isn‘t very long due to longer work hours and certain global distractions. #MagnificentMarch #MarchMadness @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620 @Eggs

Eggs Nice work 👏🏻🥳👏🏻 5y

OriginalCyn620 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5y

38 likes2 comments

Louise

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

pick

Another incisive gem from Willa Cather. The #catherbuddyread group posted some fabulous insights. What struck me personally in the 2nd half was that the character of Myra Henshawe was remarkably like someone I know who recently passed away. The parallels were astonishing! And I could understand Oswald‘s wish to remember the good and let go of the bad. As Myra said herself, she “couldn‘t help” being cruel to those she loved. A complex character.

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batsy

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

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Short, sad, sharp novella of a young woman watching the disillusionment of marriage & old age. So interesting to read in light of Cather's own personal life; I feel like a recurring theme in her work is a queer eye on heterosexual norms & marriage. It's gentle but ruthlessly savage all at once. There's some continuity with A Lost Lady & The Professor's House; themes of personal fulfillment vs societal expectations & lost ideals. #catherbuddyread

batsy @Graywacke Thanks for leading a super interesting discussion, as always. Much to mull about still what's being talked about 🙂 5y

Graywacke @batsy 🙂 Thanks for being a part of it. These discussions have been pretty amazing, and great fun. 5y

Lcsmcat Great review! And I‘m loving the variety of covers we have for this one! I don‘t think any two of us have the same one, which is fascinating since this isn‘t one of her “greatest hits” novels. 5y

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batsy @Graywacke They're always so illuminating! 5y

batsy @Lcsmcat Thank you! I've enjoyed looking at the covers, too. I think the earlier Virago edition had a different cover, as well 5y

readordierachel What a lovely edition 😍 5y

LeahBergen Oooo, pretty edition! 💚 5y

batsy @readordierachel @LeahBergen 💚💚 5y

Graywacke (Ps - I really like your phrasing: “gentle but ruthlessly savage” Captures this book.) 5y

batsy @Graywacke Thanks, she has such a way with how she probes, but with that language! 5y

On1 Nic baby 5y

Hamlet Another great review! I‘m intrigued to think of the links or parallels between these books. Cather is wonderful. 5y

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Graywacke

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

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After a terrific discussion with ythe #catherbuddyread, not entirely sure how to review. This is Cather at her best: critical, penetrating, and yet compassionate too. She holds nothing back on Myra and Oswald Henshawe‘s difficult marriage and fascinating personalities. Add to that Nellie‘s small town perspective, the tarnished fairytale image and a spot of sharp insight into religious faith. All in 85 pages. Recommended.

TEArificbooks What will our next book be? 5y

Graywacke @mdm139 should be

Death Comes for the Archbishop

Graywacke @mdm139 ah, when... not sure yet. I‘ll check with the group but I‘m thinking April 18 will be the next discussion. We‘ll break the boon into bite-able chunks so we can read other stuff too. 5y

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arubabookwoman My records say I read this in 1977, but I have no memory of it. I didn‘t join in b/c Ducks and Proust, plus I did not have access to a copy and didn‘t want to buy another copy b/c move is imminent. I looked over the discussion thread tho‘, and I think a reread is warranted. I will also try to join in Death for the Archbishop. Is there a date for that? 5y

Graywacke @arubabookwoman I‘m thinking April 18, 1st discussion. But I haven‘t worked it out at all. But, after Ducks. 5y

Lcsmcat I last read this one in 2011 and am looking forward to a reread. This is the book that started your Cather journey isn‘t it @Graywacke ? 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat yup. I read it with a lot of skepticism, because of the religious aspect, but it won me over. @catebutler then suggested a group read...and here we are. So, a reread for me. It will be a different book this time! 5y

cmastfalk So, I finally got to read this! It‘s an interesting observation of love and, in part, an illustration of how we always hurt the ones we love the most. I appreciated the complex characters and Cather‘s keen observations. I know Cather was not Catholic, but having read this and Death Comes for the Archbishop, she has a tremendous grasp of the sacramentality of the faith. 5y

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