Night Bookers Book Club's Discussion of My Antonia by Willa Cather

The group had an interesting discussion of My Antonia. The leader of the group enjoyed the book, especially the descriptions of the Nebraska scenery in the late 1800s, and the strong character of Antonia. Some couldn't put it down. Others thought it was difficult to get into, and that it dragged. Everyone loved Antonia and the other strong women in the book, Lena and Tiny, who were successful in San Francisco. The group thought Jim, the narrator of the book, was always in love with Antonia. Some thought the woman he chose to be his wife was like Antonia, her own person. Some thought Jim made a poor choice in choosing his wife. Some people thought the book was a slice of American history, and that Willa Cather was a good writer because she wrote what she knew about. Someone commented about the picnic scene. She said she could have stayed there forever. People found it interesting even though Antonia had a spiteful mother, she was a great mother. When she had her first baby out of wedlock she was not ashamed. She was proud of her life and proud her child. She did not need Jim (not the father of her child) to marry her. The group then spent some time talking about Antonia's father. He was very sensitive, and did not adjust well to life in Nebraska. Some thought he might have, had there not been so much poverty. They wondered how he picked his wife, since she was so different from him, but the book said the marriage was arranged. There was a debate as to how he died, suicide or murder. More people thought it was suicide. The group then talked about the different contrasts in the book. One person read a quote about two luminaries on the opposite ends of the world. She believed this referred to Jim and Antonia. Other contrasts included the country girls and the city girls. The boys liked the country girls better. Then there was a discussion of the wolf story, about two immigrants in their old country who were driving a wedding party, while being pursued by a pack of wolves. Eventually, they threw out everybody, including the bridge and groom, and saved themselves. They had to leave their country after that. People wondered what that had to do with the book. Some thought it was just a fable. People wondered why there were not more details about certain things, such as the grandparents. One woman brought up that she thought she reading short stories until she came to the part when family moved into town. Then she thought the book became more cohesive. Another woman said that Jim was writing from his memory about Antonia, and memory tends to be selective. It will remember some things in great deal, and other things not at all, or just briefly. Everyone agreed that the book had a happy ending. Antonia is surrounded by many children, and has a loving husband. People agreed that Antonia was a happy person who had a spark, and she was always proud and never ashamed. They think she was happy because she lived life the way she wanted to. Overall, a great thought provoking discussion about the classic My Antonia.