A novel about European settlers/pioneers in mid West America. Very will written, depicting the lives and landscape of the families and their struggles. A good read, but passed me by this time. Hope you will enjoy though...

Hope you like it...

Wasn't going to pick this up until I read the blurb at the front. The author moved to Red Cloud, Webster County, Nebraska in 1883. Spookily, I just discovered, this week, that my great great grandfather's sister emigrated to the very same town in 1871 and stayed there for the rest of her life.

I just have to read this!

My Antonia by Willa Cather - Very Good

I picked this book up a few years ago now. It was a serendipitous choice as I soon found out that the township it is based on (Red Cloud, Nebraska) was where a distant relative (3rd Great Aunt) had emigrated to in 1871 - around the time setting of the book and also the time the author lived there. The reason it popped up to the top of the pile is I recently discovered that my missing 2nd Great Aunt (different branch) had also emigrated to join them there in 1913. It just had to be read.

The book looked 'dry', I wasn't at all sure I was going to enjoy it, but as it is listed in The Guardian's 1000 best novels http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jan/23/bestbooks-fiction
and in the 102 Greatest Books by Women:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariannarebolini/how-many-of-the-greatest-books-by-women-have-you-read

I thought it was a good choice for August's #2016classicschallenge.

I couldn't have been more wrong about it being dry or dull. It is a lovely story of a Bohemian (ie Czech) family arriving in Nebraska to start a new life. On the same train is a young orphan, Jimmy, on his way to live with his Grandparents at the next farmstead. He strikes up a friendship with Antonia which will last a lifetime, despite hardships and separations.

Beautifully written. It describes a landscape and life that I knew nothing of. A lovely story too with characters that really 'live'. I shall certainly search out more of Willa Cather's work (the central library had a few when I checked). It was especially poignant for me, describing the life and times my distant family relocated too.

One of The Guardian's 1000 books, this is a lovely book about settlers in the American Midwest. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it and feel it deserves a wider audience, so I've started a bookray.

You can find the forum entry here:

http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/20/536961

List so far:

Blue_Berry, in UK prefers UK then EU postage
Trojanhorse, in UK, prefers UK then EU postage
Clairby11xxx, in UK prefers UK postage
DianeO, in UK will ship anywhere
Greenbadger, in UK, will ship anywhere
Lindasaurus, in Austria, will ship anywhere
kiki66, in Germany will ship anywhere

If this changes for any reason, I'll update this journal entry and the forum post

Posted out to the first on the list.

Happy travels little book!

Received with thanks! Thank you for sending, I will start this after my current read.

This was an enjoyable read about European immigrants to America. I liked the stories of different characters, they are very believable and likeable. Being an immigrant myself I can relate a little to their spirit and 'grit' they seem to possess. I also liked the historical setting and the descriptions, it must have been very difficult for people to start a life in the new country and especially in farming. Recommended reading.
I have the next reader's details so will pop this in the post soon.

Sent to the next reader in the BR. Enjoy!

Thank you for sending me this book Blue_berry. I'm looking forward to reading it soon.

I have enjoyed reading this book and for a gentle read it certainly moves along nicely and isn't in the least dry. With some humour peppered amongst the various events, I too will be looking for more of Willa Cather's work. Some of the character descriptions are priceless (e.g. The Cutters) although I'm still not sure how I feel about Antonia herself.

Have contacted the next in line for postal details and hope to move it along soon.

Sending this on to the next person on the list. Happy Reading!

Arrived safely thank you!