Rating: 
Summary: Do not buy the "Bookcassette Edition"; poor product quality
Review: I purchased this new audio cassette version from Amazon and it was a complete waste of money. The tape requires one to shift the balance of the stereo entirely to the left or the right. Apparently two different parts of the story play on the tape simultaneously so you have to either listen to the left earphone or the right (or the left speaker or the right). This is quite unusual and difficult to get used to. I could not entirely block out the second track by shifting the balance of my car stereo. Apparently one is only supposed to use these audio tapes on a top quality home stereo system. Am I the only person who buys audio books for the car? If I'm at home, I'll just read the actual paper book. This is a horrible concept for an audio book.
I might have gotten used to the bizarre stereo settings except that the magnetic tape inside the first cassette broke just after Antonia's family moved into the run-down house. Now, my car stereo is clean and has _never_ eaten a tape. I listened to two Amy Tan books on tape just after this happened with no similar occurences; I am inclined to believe this was just a shoddy product. I was very, very disappointed in the quality of these tapes.I have no idea how good the story is because of the poor quality of the tapes. I would strongly recommend that you buy a different audio version of this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad after all.
Review: I was able to sink into the story after getting past the first few chapters. It took that much time for me to open up to the early twentieth century language. Once into the rhythm of the story, the only thing left was to imagine; an easy task given the writing ability of Willa Cather. As I reflect on the story, I'm certain that it was the strength of the characters that kept me interested. Antonia's voice is, now, as familiar to me as a close friend's. I won't bother with a summary of the story, plenty has been written about it over the years. I will say that I have been enriched by the experience and much better informed about the life of early settlers of the Western planes. While I'm not a big fan of the 'Classics" in general, this one held its own. No need to rush out and buy it, but put it on your list and be sure to get to it.
Rating: 
Summary: My Antonia - is it worth your precious time?
Review: ...I think 'My Antonia' is a long, boring, and confusing book.
'My Antonia' is a book about a young boy and a Bohemian girl's relationship as they grow up, neighbors in Nebraska. The young boy's full name was James Quayle Burden, but everyone in the West referred to him as Jim Burden. The Bohemian girl's name was Antonia Shimmerda. In the beginning of the story, Jim is travelling from Virginia to live with his grandparents in Nebraska and Antonia and her family are moving to Nebraska in hope of starting a new and better live. This is when they meet and become new neighbors. The rest of the story tells of their adventures and what they do growing up together.
Who might like this book? Well, like I said, I thought 'My Antonia' was long and confusing because of all the things the story referred to that people today no longer use and because Jim and Antonia seemed to grow in a span of around 2 whole pages. Another thing is, the Introduction alone was aproximately 14.5 pages long!!!!
I would recommend this book to older people or any person who enjoys classics that take place in the country. But I definitely think older people would appreciate this story more than I did because they might be familiar with the unique words used in 'My Antonia'.
Want more info about the actual story? Mmmm... Well, 'My Antonia' has been called 'one of those rare, highly prized works of great literature which not only enriches its readers but immerses them in a tale superbly told'. But I, personally, would have to strongly disagree with that statement. For one, this book did not enrich me in the least bit, but instead, bore me entirely. For another thing, the tale of the two friends was, in my opinion, not superbly told because it confused me and at the end of the story, left me completely hanging.
But please do not allow my opinion to affect your decision. If 'My Antonia' sounds interesting to you, check it out...
Rating:
Summary: My Antonia - is it worth your precious time?
Review: About a month ago, I read this book called 'My Antonia' because I was assigned to it. 'My Antonia' is a pretty long book so it took me a while to finish it.'My Antonia' was written by Willa Cather who was born in Winchester, Virginia in the late 1800's. The actual book was published by Signet Classic, an imprint New American Library which is a division of Penguin Putnam Inc. The very first printing of 'My Antonia' was during January of 1994 and the Introduction copyright by Sharon O'Brien also in 1994. The whole book was published in the United States.
Over all I think 'My Antonia' is a long, boring, and confusing book.
'My Antonia' is a book about a young boy and a Bohemian girl's relationship as they grow up, neighbors in Nebraska. The young boy's full name was James Quayle Burden, but everyone in the West referred to him as Jim Burden. The Bohemian girl's name was Antonia Shimmerda. In the beginning of the story, Jim is travelling from Virginia to live with his grandparents in Nebraska and Antonia and her family are moving to Nebraska in hope of starting a new and better live. This is when they meet and become new neighbors. The rest of the story tells of their adventures and what they do growing up together.
Who might like this book? Well, like I said, I thought 'My Antonia' was long and confusing because of all the things the story referred to that people today no longer use and because Jim and Antonia seemed to grow in a span of around 2 whole pages. Another thing is, the Introduction alone was aproximately 14.5 pages long!!!!
I would recommend this book to older people or any person who enjoys classics that take place in the country. But I definitely think older people would appreciate this story more than I did because they might be familiar with the unique words used in 'My Antonia'.
Want more info about the actual story? Mmmm... Well, 'My Antonia' has been called 'one of those rare, highly prized works of great literature which not only enriches its readers but immerses them in a tale superbly told'. But I, personally, would have to strongly disagree with that statement. For one, this book did not enrich me in the least bit, but instead, bore me entirely. For another thing, the tale of the two friends was, in my opinion, not superbly told because it confused me and at the end of the story, left me completely hanging.
But please do not allow my opinion to affect your decision. If 'My Antonia' sounds interesting to you, check it out. If you happened to have any questiond throughout my review, I hope I have answered your question to the point where you understand things better. If you do think this book sounds good, I encourage you to get more information on it. Maybe from someone who liked the book more than I did. So thanks for giving me some of your precious time!
Rating:
Summary: Yuck, just awful
Review: The most boring book I have ever read. Just think, have you ever read a book with no point? My Antonia sure captures that quality. If you are going to buy this book I suggest that putting it down the disposal is the best place to put it. Note to Willa Cather: I've seen better lady.
Rating: 
Summary: A MUST READ BOOK
Review: Set in the harsh Nebraska plains during the late 19th century, MY ÁNTONIA follows a Bohemian immigrant family as they attempt to tame their wild land and become self-supporting farmers. Narrated by Jim Burden, a young orphan who recently moved from Virginia to his grandparent's farm in Nebraska, he first encounters the Shimerdas as they embark from the same train to settle in the rugged and wild plains. MY ÁNTONIA is about the platonic love and admiration shared between Jim and Ántonia from their initial meeting on the long train ride from the East and long into their adulthood. Although Jim and Ántonia are separated geographically for up to twenty years in late adulthood, both find that the other remains in their hearts and center of their childhood memories. Aside from the human characterizations in this novel, the Nebraska prairie plays a significant part in MY ÁNTONIA. The reader is given a glimpse of the beginning land cultivation and an understanding of the hard work involved in transforming the wild prairie land with the red grass to farm plots of corn and wheat. In a time before county roads and highways are constructed, horses must pave their own path through the terrain to travel to the next farmhouse or the nearest town. MY ÁNTONIA captures brilliantly how farmers are essentially controlled by weather and sun patterns than by a time clock. Written mere decades after the Native Americans left the prairie, MY ÁNTONIA displays the initial founding of this land by Anglo farmers and merchants. Another aspect of MY ÁNTONIA that I enjoyed was the portrayal of the traditional of oral storytelling. With the lack of modern forms of entertainment and high illiteracy rates, individuals living on the plains were left to tell stories at the end of a hard day's work. There certainly wasn't a lack of highly imaginative stories told around the kitchen fire. Some of these stories included tales of why neighbors were forced to leave their homeland due to scandals while others involved questionable behavior that occurred in their own back yards. These stories were told with much detail and humor that I couldn't help but laugh while reading them! I found them to be clever and original. MY ÁNTONIA is a delightful story that is difficult to put down. I believe it deserves to be classified as an American classic as this story contains so many timeless elements and enduring characters that continue to stay with you long after you finish the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Emotions and Events
Review: My Antonia was a colorful book full of exploration, times of life and laughter, and times of heartbreak and sorrow. My Antonia written by Willa Cather portrays how life was for imigrants trying to make it in the world. Also, how life was for those already living in North America.
The book opens up with Jim Burden, a 10 year old boy who has just lost his mother and father and is traveling with a ranch hand, Jake. They are both going to Nebraska to live with Jim's grandparents. After Jim has gotten settled in and has made himself known to most of his new surroundings, he and his family go to visit their new Bohemian neighbors. There they meet the Shimerdas consisting of: Mr. Shimerada, Mrs. Shimerada, Ambrosch,Yilka, Marek, and Antonia. Once Jim and Antonia meet they become close friends rather fast, by hanging out and teaching Antonia English. This is only the beginning of many years of love, friendship, heartache, and emotion.
The weather represents many events and emotions in My Antonia such as, "As the sun sank there came a sudden coolness and the strong smell of earth...." Another place that Cather uses emotion is Antonia, "looked off at the red streak of dying light," although Antonia knows her father would have liked her to go to school and get a good education she must stay at home and do chores like a man. Her hope that she might do what her father would have liked her to do is that, "of dying light."
Whether you are into the adventure novel or the romantic sappy one; My Antonia is both. I began reading this book and didn't want to put it down. Although certain parts of the book were slow, that happens in the best of novels. I would recommend this book to the avid reader and even to the every once in a while reader.
Rating:
Summary: "Optima dies...prima fugit."
Review: Willa Cather's My Antonia takes place in the late 1800s and proceeds through the turn of the century. In this book that takes place on the Nebraska plain, Cather undoubtedly has no trouble describing the lives of Jim Burden and Antonia, a Bohemian immigrant through strong feeling and emotion. Although the story does start off a little slow, Cather manages to tell a lovely story where two people's lives become intertwined forever.
"Optima dies...prima fugit," are the words that Jim Burden uses to describe the days that he tells about in this story. "The best days are the first to flee." Through the memories of Jim's experiences, he tells the story of a Bohemian immigrant, Antonia, and the hardships she had to face on the Nebraska prairie. An orphan himself, he is sent to live with his grandparents at the age of 10. Jim tells of his family, the Burdens, and their acquaintance with the new Bohemian neighbors, the Shimerdas. The two families help one another in the harsh Nebraska winter. Both experience the same losses and gains. Jim teaches Antonia English while Antonia teaches Jim a few things about life. One way Jim describes Antonia towards the end of the book is "She never lost the fire of life."
As Jim grows older, Antonia continues to be a shadow in the back of his mind. As the prairie does, Jim's life changes and takes shape. He takes a different path than that of Antonia. He goes off to the University in Lincoln to study Latin and later moves on to Harvard to attend Law school. Antonia stays in Nebraska to help her family. He begins to leave behind those that have made him what he is...his grandparents, the Norwegian Lena Lingard, Tiny...and the Harley family. However, with all the memories, what Jim remembers most is his dear Antonia on the Nebraska prairie... "The idea of you is a part of my mind; you influence my likes and dislikes, all my tastes, hundreds of times when I don't even realize it. You really are a part of me..."
Rating:
Summary: My Antonia
Review: My Antonia, by Willa Cather, was mostly about a boy, Jim Burden's infatuation with Antonia Shimerida, a beautiful Bohemian girl. This mainly takes place in Black Hawk, Nebraska. The other main parts are set in Lincoln, Nebraska, and how life was growing up in the 19th century.
Jim Burden was going to live with his grandparents in the west. When he arrived, he met Antonia. Her family was living next to his grandparents. All throughout the novel, Jim and Antonia have a special connection. Antonia had to give up many things, like education, so she could help her family out.
Near the end of the book, you could see the kind of life's struggles that Antonia and Jim both went through. Jim with his college life, and Antonia with the struggle to find herself. When Jim came to visit Black Hawk, he hears people pitying Antonia, so he decides to visit her. They are happy to see each other again. They share memories and are sad when Jim has to go back to school. They come across one another again 20 years later. Jim gets to see Antonia with her family, fully mature and happy. He goes back in time to his childhood and remembers his life in the country, and his never-ending friendship with Antonia.
At first, this book didn't really get my attention. I thought some parts were boring, and not that interesting. Once I read into the book more, I realized that this book was about the hard times in the 19th century. I liked the special connection with Jim and Antonia. They always had a special connection, but it would never go beyond friendship. I liked how their friendship overcame their individual hard times. Their own paths in life take them through childhood, and adulthood. At the end, Antonia was able to find herself through life's up's and down's and I believe that everybody can find their direction and life, and be happy with it, and be able to look into their past for guidence for the future.
Rating:
Summary: My Antonia - worst book ever... don't read it!
Review: I would defiantly not recommend "My Antonia." This book is just very boring and the plot stinks, oh wait, there isn't a plot. There is no conflict or climax. The author, Willa Cather, is so verbose, it gets really annoying. She just keeps giving details about the most irrelevant things, throughout the whole book. I could barely get through this novel. I just wanted to put it down. It was defiantly not a page turner. Most of the chapters were not long at all, so they couldn't really even form a thought or idea. The ending was awful as well. But I was relived when I could finally be done with this horrible piece of literature, if you could even call it that. The book is very slow moving from the beginning. I thought it was never going to end. Jim Burdens, the main character, is like any other average person. There is nothing spectacular that makes him stick out in the novel or that makes me want to read more about him. He comes to a farm, in Black Hawk, Nebraska to live with his grandparents because his parents have died. On the train, to his grandparents' farm, he meets a Bohemian family, the Shimerdas. Jim immediately falls in love with their daughter, Antonia. He thinks they have a "special relationship." The Shimerdas end up living very close to Jim and his family. So they become friends with the Burdens. The Burdens help them out the first winter they are there, because they have never been in these winter weather conditions. This novel makes me mad, because it is supposed to be a love story, but the love only goes one way. I never got the impression that Antonia thinks about Jim like that. Jim talks about this wonderful girl and how much he loves her, but he never acts on it. He doesn't tell her or do anything about it. He just lets her go to do what she wants. I love chick flicks and romantic comedies. They are my favorite kind of movies. I also love reading romantic books. My favorite author is Nicholas Sparks. His books are amazing. I recommend you read them, especially "A Walk to Remember". It is a must read, but don't see the movie, it's nothing like the book. I would also recommend "The Beans Trees", written by Barbara Kingsolver. Also a very good read. Please spare yourself the time and don't read "My Antonia".
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