Welcome to Litsy!

Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

#Booked2020 @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

Red, white, or blue letters - Death in Berlin
Eccentric MC - 1Q84
YA Novel by POC - Wildcard
#WINEORWHINE - Frederica
Banned Book - Unwomanly Face of War
Armchair Travel - Song of the Lark

Cinfhen

Woohoo 🙌🏻congrats on completing #Summer #Booked2020 👙🌞🍦📚This is your #OfficialThirdQuarterEntry 🎊🎊🎊 4y

BarbaraTheBibliophage Great job!! ♥️📚👊🏻 4y

50 likes2 comments

StaceyKondla

The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 159 #bookstoread #tbrpile #bookstagram

CarolynM I can recommend this one🙂 4y

44 likes1 comment

rmaclean4

The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

so-so

This novel has not aged well. It casual sexism and racism is hard to take.

7 likes

The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

so-so

Thea struggled to achieve her dream, which was to become an opera singer, but I didn't like her character as much as I did Alexandra in Oh Pioneers and Antonia. They struggled with the land and had humility. I didn't sense humility with Thea.

I cannot say enough about the descriptive writing of the environment. Just gorgeous.
#classicschallenge2020 @Reviewsbylola #Booked2020 #ArmchairTravel
#PopSugar20 - passes the Bechdel test.

Reviewsbylola This is a Cather I haven‘t read. I liked the two books of hers I‘ve read but they didn‘t resonate with me enough to make me want to read her other books. 5y

31 likes1 comment

The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

She could become a mere receptacle of heat, or become a colour, like the bright lizards that darted about on the hot stones outside her door; or she could become a continuous repetition of sound, like the cicadas.

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The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Panther Cañon was like a thousand others_ one of those abrupt fissures with which the earth in the Southwest is riddled...lightly fringed with piñons and dwarf cedars...In this hollow the Ancient People had built their houses of yellowish stone and mortar... The dead city had thus two streets, one set in either cliff, facing each other across the ravine, with a river of blue air between them.

Cather was brilliant with her description.

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The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Here were the sand hills, the grasshoppers and locusts, all the things that wakened and chirped in the early morning; the reaching and reaching of high plains, the immeasurable yearning of all flat lands.

Tanisha_A ❤️ ooh! All the goodness. 5y

23 likes1 comment

Ireadkidlit

Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

This darling shop is everything my sister says it is! All manner of books and gifts, though the children‘s section is the sweetest. Our mom—aka the one who raised us rabid readers—was with us. I had a bad case of the “wants.” It‘s probably good that it‘s 900 miles away for me.

Soubhiville I live so close to Georgetown and I‘ve never heard of this place! I‘ll have to look it up! 5y

6 likes1 comment

The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Gorgeously-written portrait of an artist as a woman and her devotion to a life of #music , inspired by the opera singer Olive Fremstad.

So far, out of the Willa Cather novels I've read, this ranks as one of my favourites.

#MOvember @Cinfhen

Cathythoughts Nice review. Stacking. I‘ve only read My Antonia ... which I loved. 5y

batsy @Cathythoughts I definitely recommend O, Pioneers and this one! They form part of her Prairie Trilogy, along with My Antonia. Not an actual series, more like thematically linked books. Just beautiful 💜 5y

Cinfhen Lovely post 🎵 5y

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readordierachel Pretty cover 🕊 5y

emilyhaldi I have yet to read Willa Cather 🤭 5y

LatrelWhite I just finished My Ántonia!? (edited) 5y

batsy @Cinfhen 💙 5y

batsy @readordierachel The Vintage editions are pretty :) 5y

batsy @emilyhaldi Plenty of time to discover 😁 5y

batsy @Latrelwhite How did you like it? 🙂 5y

CarolynM Great choice 5y

batsy @CarolynM Thanks! 5y

LatrelWhite @batsy loved it! I plan on reading them all.😊 5y

kspenmoll Beautiful cover 5y

batsy @kspenmoll It's not the one I own but I agree, it's lovely! 5y

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SerialReader

The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Ideas as friends - such lovely writing from Willa Cather

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BritanyA

The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

so-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️: This started out strong and then got a little dry and boring in parts. The ending was solid, just needed to up the excitement for the middle chunk.

6 likes

CarolynM

Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

pick

Finally finishing this rather belatedly for the #catherbuddyread. Sorry, friends. What an interesting exploration of the nurturing and development of talent. I really enjoyed the musings on what exactly it is that distinguishes the great artists from the also fans. It is interesting to consider how Thea's journey might have been different if fate had dealt differently with the various men in her life - Fred in particular.👇

Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, catebutler, Hooked__on__books, Caterina, Tanisha_A, batsy, Tamra, squirrelbrain, Graywacke, SeabreezeReader

CarolynM Would he have supported her career if he'd been free to marry her? Having decided to marry him, and given her views about going back, would she have chanelled her determination into something else as his wife?👇 5y

CarolynM While I enjoyed finally being present in the narrative while Thea performed, overall the last part was my least favourite. I found it a little repetitive. The epilogue was a nice touch. 5y

Cathythoughts Lovely pic 👍🏻✨ 5y

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batsy I wasn't so fond of the last section, either, which is the only thing that kept this book from being 5 ⭐ for me. I think her life would have turned out differently if she didn't have that single-minded determination about her art. And it was such a poignant portrayal of what it takes, especially for a woman. 5y

Lcsmcat I think you‘re absolutely right that, had she been able to marry Fred, her life would have been different! She may not have been able to give up her music, but she couldn‘t have focused on it enough to be as good as she was. 5y

Graywacke Thinking about them tossing rocks and him trying to be affectionate when she was focused. Not entirely sure how his actual availability would have changed her. She was focused on him and marriage before Mexico, so maybe that changes everything. 5y

Graywacke I find that last section interesting in view of what she was doing here. It‘s the most authentic, the most Olive, her real life model. The first section is the most mythic, based on her sense of the prairie culture. The book tries to meld them into one story. Do the young and professionally successful Thea form a consistent whole? I see it as a provoking strain in the books overall structure. I can‘t say I was entirely conformable with her 👇👇 5y

Graywacke ...at the end. 5y

CarolynM @Graywacke I was making the assumption that they would have married if it had been possible and then wondering what that would have meant for Thea. How would each of them felt about her continuing to train and then to perform? I think there was consistency from the young to the mature Thea - her determination and singlemindedness in working at her art having become more and more focussed and draining as she went on. 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM I think Cather would say that too, about the consistency. Maybe the strain is all in my head. I thought she kind of switched it from an open ended independence to zoned-in to conquer. Also in my head: in marriage Fred holds her back without realizing it and without being able to do anything about it. She needed to break free of everything. (It‘s a great question) 5y

65 likes10 comments

Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

pick

I‘ve developed into a big fan of Cather. I love her prose, her characters and the landscape through her eyes. Enjoyed our #catherbuddyread Looking forward to My Antiona.

My review doesn‘t fit. Find it here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/306026 (add #6840669 for the exact spot). Or, for goodreaders, here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2819433737

SamAnne Oh, I love that country. 5y

Graywacke @SamAnne a bucket list for me. Love the desert 🧡 5y

batsy Fantastic review over at GR. I don't know what I thought of Cather before but she was never part of my personal must-read canon until a few years back. Started with O, Pioneers and very happy to have read my second with the group! 5y

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Lcsmcat Excellent review ! I don‘t usually “click through” on Litsy, but I knew your review would be worth it, and it was. Looking forward to Antonía! 5y

Graywacke @batsy thanks, and yeah, kind of the same here on Cather. Death Comes for the Archbishop was just the next book on a shelf earlier this year. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat thanks! I‘m the same, rarely click. It interferes with the Litsy mindset, somehow. But wanted to share with the buddy read. My Antonia - me too! But I‘ll wait an extra week or so to give some peeps a chance to catch up. 5y

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catebutler

The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Willa Cather is one of my all time favorite authors. Her genius is in her character sketches, in particular early American settlers, & the beautiful descriptions of the American plains & deserts of the Southwest. These descriptions of nature & insight into the human psyche awakens something elemental inside of me.

I‘m still making my way through this book, but hope to catch up with the group soon!

#catherbuddyread #willacather #thesongofthelark

Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, CarolynM, Hooked__on__books, Caterina, Tanisha_A, batsy, Tamra, squirrelbrain, Graywacke, SeabreezeReader

LeahBergen Gorgeous photo! 5y

catebutler @LeahBergen Thanks Leah! 🧡 5y

Lcsmcat Interesting cover! 5y

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Graywacke Love that cover. Beautiful photo and post. 5y

catebutler @Graywacke These Vintage editions are beautiful, I think they‘re the ones I‘ll be collecting. And I‘m sorry I‘ve fallen so desperately behind, I appreciate all the effort and time you‘ve spend on each of the discussions, and plan on participating once I catch up! (edited) 5y

catebutler @Lcsmcat These Vintage editions of her books are lovely! I decided after I bought O Pioneers!, I‘d collect all of them. 5y

Graywacke @catebutler no worries. Enjoy 🙂 5y

Crazeedi Ihave to get this again from overdrive, I got Locked out from my daughters account(She has overdue books, LOL) 5y

catebutler @Crazeedi Too funny! I did that a couple of times to my Mom when I was growing up... ☺️ Excited to see what your final thoughts are of this one. I actually think it‘s one of my favorites of hers. 5y

catebutler @Graywacke Thanks Dan! 😊👋🏼 5y

Crazeedi @catebutler can't wait to finish it!! 5y

marleed My Willa Cather line that I drop whenever it fits: An interesting thing about Nebraska is that it is all day Nebraska. 5y

catebutler @marleed Oh I love that! She really had a love of the American countryside. I‘ve marked so many beautiful descriptions and moments throughout this book! 5y

Graywacke @Crazeedi that sucks...but it‘s also a little funny. 5y

Freespirit I shall put this book on my list Cate if you recommend it @catebutler 👍🏼 5y

catebutler @Freespirit It‘s wonderful! My favorite of hers is

My Antonia (Green)

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Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Song of the Lark - Part 6 and epilogue

Thea has found success, but she‘s a quirky character, focused, but not exactly relaxed and happy. What did everyone think of the end and the novel overall?

#catherbuddyread

Hooked_on_books, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, catebutler, CarolynM, Caterina, Tanisha_A, batsy, Tamra, squirrelbrain

Lcsmcat I loved this one even more on the re-read than I did the first time. I think Thea‘s ending is a happy one for her, but not one everyone would want. Did Cather feel the same way about her writing? That she had to do it, was harsher on herself than anyone else was, and contemptuous of those who did second rate work? I don‘t know, but I suspect so. 5y

Graywacke (just noticed I skipped a word...“not“... you know, small bitty word... Anyway, fixed now.) 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke 🤣 5y

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Graywacke @Lcsmcat It's an interesting question. She was certainly driven. She also was capturing a distinct character in Thea, so some “reporting“ going on - fictional, of course.

I'm also curious who else thought this was happy ending, or maybe an unhappy one. 5y

batsy @Graywacke I was initially surprised at the ending because I found it a lot more melancholy than what I was expecting. But @Lcsmcat makes a good point about how it might have been a happy one for Thea. A focused, driven artist is probably not going to be able to have a conventional happily ever after. She's ambitious and always going to be in competition with herself. I too had the same questions about Cather and her relationship to her own work. 5y

Graywacke @batsy yes, melancholy. I was surprised that Thea turned into someone I‘m not sure I liked. She wasn‘t exactly a friendly person. But, yeah, it might have been her form of happiness. 5y

Graywacke @Hooked_on_books @Crazeedi @Lcsmcat @catebutler @CarolynM @Tanisha_A @batsy @Tamra @squirrelbrain I stumbled across this today in Dante - next post: 4y

Graywacke Like the Lark that soars in the air,
first singing, then silent, content and rejoicing
in the final sweetness of its song (edited) 4y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Cool! Thanks for sharing. I wonder if Cather had that in mind when she chose the title? 4y

Lcsmcat And side note - I can‘t believe it‘s been a year since we read this! 4y

Graywacke That‘s from Paradiso, Canto XX, lines 73-75, translation Hollander. In Italian lark (allodetta) is a near pun on praise. The reference is that a bunch of heavenly souls, clouded together in the shape of an Eagle, have just sung a song of praise to Dante (including a surprise - a pre-Christian Trojan in heaven) and they are self satisfied with their perfect presentation of their song. 4y

Graywacke Thought I would share. 4y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat right. Wow. This one left an impression too. 4y

37 likes13 comments

Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

On Willa Cather interviewing Olive Fremstad: “What she discerned in the dramatic soprano from Minnesota who had been born in Stockholm were the very qualities she had first seen in the fearless women she admired on the Divide. To Willa, Fremstad was like those pioneers, suspicious, defiant, far-seeing.”

Source: https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/literary-musings/willa-cathers-inspiration-f...

#catherbuddyread

Hooked_on_books, Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, catebutler, CarolynM, Caterina, Tanisha_A, batsy, Tamra, squirrelbrain, SeabreezeReader

Lcsmcat Cool article ! Thanks for sharing! And we finally got to “hear” Thea sing in this section. 😀 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat helps Thea make more sense, no? I was a little confused at how bleak her life was. And yes, Dr Archie‘s first impression of her singing was fantastic 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I‘m a classically trained musician, married to a man who has worked in music for the past 40 years. So Thea totally made sense to me. I know people like that, who give everything to their music and have nothing left over for anything else. (Which is one of the reasons I shifted focus while I was still at the conservatory and taught instead of performing.) But knowing the soprano Thea is based on made the rep make sense to me. ⬇️ 5y

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Lcsmcat I was wondering why so much Wagner and so little of the Italian school. Or Mozart. Most singers don‘t start out with Wagner. It takes a mature voice, and a very specific type of voice to do Wagner. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat wow, Linda. Very interesting insight. I have no music background so when I read it about I just try my best to get a gist. But - what you say makes. There is a cost to that - giving everything to the music. Cather catches some of it. 5y

CarolynM I'm a bad buddy reader, I haven't read any this week. I will finish and post when I do, and keep following everyone else's comments in the meantime🙂 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM no worries here, but - a week without reading !! 😲😳 May you recover. ... Ok, seriously, just keep us in mind when you continue. Curious, as always, on your thoughts. 5y

CarolynM I have been reading, just not as much as usual and not this book🙂 Goodness! The idea of a week without reading😱😱😱 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM phew! Happier for you now. 5y

batsy Thanks for the link; look forward to reading this later! 5y

48 likes10 comments

The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

I love Cather‘s ideas of art and artists! #catherbuddyread @Graywacke

26 likes

The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Woke with another chronic migraine very early and couldn't do my planned workout (run/walk, weights, stretch class), but at least I finished this book on #SerialReader for the #CatherBuddyRead! 😊 I quite enjoyed it, though I don't think I would reread it. This is book finish 24/12 for the #BookFitnessChallenge #BFC @wanderinglynn .

Graywacke Glad you enjoyed. Hope you feel better! 5y

Lcsmcat Feel better! 5y

wanderinglynn Hope you feel better soon! 💚 5y

28 likes3 comments

The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

It seems like every generation feels this way. And yet, as Dr. Archie says, they keep on doing it. #catherbuddyread @Graywacke

Graywacke We‘re a strange animal. 🙂 5y

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Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Parts 3-5 The Song of the Lark

The Ottenburg section. Interesting that Cather is waxing on German culture as WWI rages. But this is before all that - in Chicago, among the Anasazi cliff dwellings and then to NY city, briefly (via Mexico City). Her spiritual refreshment in AZ is magical and stands out. Where are you at and what are your thoughts? What of Thea‘s guides? How much does she control of herself? #catherbuddyread

Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, catebutler, CarolynM, Caterina, Tanisha_A, batsy, Tamra, SeabreezeReader

batsy I agree that it's magical. The part about Thea being in that environment & having such a clarity of sensation that her ideas/conceptions seemed almost to materialise to her as something tangible that she could hold. You could feel the power of the place, its potent energy, infusing her. Cather depicts Thea as almost an element of nature itself. I really loved that. On a trivial note, I found it hard to fully warm to Fred & I'm not sure why 🤷🏽‍♀️ 5y

Graywacke @batsy Glad you mention that about Fred. I thought he comes across as a player. (It's a little tough to judge because we have different standards and expectations than was the case in then... and the formality doesn't help...maybe a read-between-the-lines formality) Anyway, I haven't warmed to him either. 5y

Graywacke @batsy But loved Arizona and her relationship to it (and also how you elegantly put it in your comment 🙂). I imagine 1970‘s spirituality would approve... 5y

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Lcsmcat I loved the description of the land taking her cares away. I used to feel that way every time we entered Yellowstone. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat love Yellowstone. We were there last summer. Felt like a different world. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke It is. And it‘s been my “happy place” since the 90‘s. We used to go every year and as soon as that alpine air hit my lungs I dropped all the weight of the previous year! 5y

Tamra @Graywacke yes - I think for good reasons that I don‘t feel I can type because I can‘t recall which section material is in and I read it on Kindle so I can‘t easily flip thru! 😏 5y

Tamra I finished up the novel and I did really enjoy the AZ section especially. I love most natural focused descriptions. Honestly, I was rooting for Thea not to leave, though that would have been a very different story, but one I think I would have appreciated. Cather was making a different & necessary statement for the time. 😊 (edited) 5y

Graywacke @Tamra part 5 ends as she is about to leave for Germany from NY City. I‘m guessing you‘re referring to after that. And, if so, good! (I haven‘t read ahead.) 5y

Graywacke @Tamra The AZ section may be my favorite so far from her. A master of natural descriptions spending time in magnificent and fascinating landscape. (edited) 5y

CarolynM I'm a bit behind with the reading. I'll catch up and comment in the next day or two. 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM no worries. Cather is best un-rushed. 🙂 I‘m curious what you‘re thinking, though. 5y

CarolynM One thing I am thinking at the moment - we never see how Thea is received by audiences.I would love to have seen the performance she gave for Mrs Nathanmeyer's guests. 5y

Lcsmcat @CarolynM I would have liked that too. I wonder what Cather‘s reasoning was for that choice? 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM @Lcsmcat Huh, yeah, she never performs in a show, and we never see her funeral or church performances. Only that one show in Moonstone. I hadn‘t thought about that, even as I‘m busy being anxious to learn what audiences will think. 5y

Lcsmcat I was thinking about this section last night, and I wondered if Cather had patrons that she felt mixed feelings about. Both Fred and Dr. Archie give me the feeling that Cather didn‘t quite know what to do with them. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat it‘s a great question, what was behind these flawed characters? I suspect Cather knew what she wanted to do, but intended to keep the reader wondering. She certainly creates an experience of a woman dealing with controlling, even if well-meaning, men. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I‘m not convinced she did know. They‘re both rather odd in their mix of good and inappropriate. But maybe her imagination was just that strong. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat we need to ask by Ouija board. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke 😂 5y

Tanisha_A I don't recall the AZ section I am afraid. 😮 Now I feel like my copy is missing something. So in my section she is in NY ready to go to the place suggested by Fred which is in AZ right? And then it directly comes to the Germany part. I have been having a weird feeling about it. 5y

Graywacke @Tanisha_A What part and chapter are you on? 5y

Tanisha_A Yes, an entire section is missing from my copy. Now I have to read from when she leaves for AZ. It's called The Ancient People. 5y

Graywacke @Tanisha_A that stinks - well, kind of. Now you have a really nice section ahead... Do you have access to that section somewhere? 5y

40 likes24 comments

CarolynM

The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

#30JuneBooks #CurrentReads

Song of the lark for @Graywacke 's buddy read, Standard Deviation in my handbag for any available moment, Private Charter for light reading at bedtime.

howjessicareads

JennyM How you liking Standard Deviation? It‘s on my pile for this week or next x 5y

CarolynM @JennyM It took me a few pages to get into the humour, but it is making me laugh out loud now🙂 5y

JennyM @CarolynM sounds good. I read this one of hers a few years back, and I was the same. Some of it was just hilarious 👉

Single, Carefree, Mellow

(edited) 5y

CarolynM @JennyM Thanks for the tip😘 5y

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The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

"In the gully below them there was, indeed, a little rabbit with a white spot of a tail, crouching down on the sand, quite motionless. It seemed to be lapping up the moonlight like cream."

This scene between Thea and Dr Archie on a July summer night during the full moon was pretty magical. #TheMoonSong #MayMovieMagic

Thank you for a fabulous month ? @rohit-sawant @Cinfhen

Art: "Two Rabbits", Shoson Ohara (1930s). Woodblock print.

Cinfhen Beautiful 💕thanks for playing along 🎶 5y

Tanisha_A Oh I loved reading and imagining this particular scene. 😍 5y

batsy @Cinfhen ❤️ 5y

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batsy @Tanisha_A Me too! I read it a few times, it was so evocative and lovely. 5y

RohitSawant Lovely post!🐰💜 Thanks for joining in! 😊 5y

batsy @rohit-sawant It was my pleasure! And honestly rabbits creep me out if I think about them too much (Donnie Darko added to that!!) but with moonlight and whatnot I'm happy to let them frolic at a distance 😂😂 5y

RohitSawant @batsy Hahaha. Oh man, Donnie Darko messed up rabbits for me for a while too 🤣 5y

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The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Work has been hindering a lot with my reading, ugh! Caught up on #catherbuddyread late last night. I am loving the whole new phase in Thea's life. She is out by herself, tired–learning, thinking, working–but determined. And, how her talent(s) have evoked her tutor's personality. It's been lovely seeing this young girl's arc from a child to the person she is becoming.

@Graywacke

JennyM Boo to work! Hope you can sneak in some reading this weekend 😘😘😘 5y

batsy I hope you get some much needed downtime this weekend! And yes to all you said about Thea! 5y

Lcsmcat I hate when work does that! 5y

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Graywacke Wishing you a break, but glad you‘re able to sneak in some reading time. I‘m wondering what Thea is becoming. 5y

Tanisha_A @JennyM Yes lovely, this weekend is being cathartic. I came to my hometown- now spending time with my parents, reading, painting a bit. Hope you are having an awesome weekend! 💜 5y

Tanisha_A @batsy Yes love, i am glad I decided to squeeze a trip to my hometown (so hot though 😥). I am very curious as to what's going to happen further! It's going so fast in this book! Hope you are having a booklicious weekend! 🧡 5y

Tanisha_A @Lcsmcat My project is so hectic right now. Reading feels like a luxury and not a routine right now. Ugh! 5y

Tanisha_A @Graywacke Thanks Dan! ❤️ I wonder the same. I am at the part where she has started taking lessons from Bowers. Can't wait to read further! Also, that scene between Harsanyi and her, the dialogue exchange where he tries to convince her to learn to sing, was very emotional for me. 5y

Graywacke @Tanisha_A curious what got you in that conversation. For me, it reminded me how much other people are controlling her life - even as they try to help. I want to see her take control. But she‘s so young... 5y

Tanisha_A @Graywacke The fact that she didn't want to leave him and his sadness too at letting her go, both of them motivate something in each other, and that there would be no more of it. But, i am now at the Ottenburg, Nathanmeyer part and i see what you say about other people being the puppeteers of her life. She is losing her own self day by day, and it's making me sad and angry at the same time. 5y

Graywacke @Tanisha_A it‘s part of her path, I guess. She‘s quite a character 5y

52 likes11 comments

Death Comes for the Archbishop

The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

pick

Thanks @Graywacke for hosting another #catherbuddyread; I found a new Willa book to love. I will never not appreciate her gorgeous, textured descriptions of the landscape, & this time the theme of a young female artist's awakening was so utterly compelling. I found Thea admirable & fearsome & so far from the likeable/relatable artist that women are sometimes pressured to be. This is partly a Künstlerroman, partly a love letter to the Great Plains.

BiblioLitten Great review! I have a feeling I‘ll like the book. 😊💜 5y

Graywacke Lovely review. !! And on Thea, yes, that! 5y

erzascarletbookgasm 👏 sounds like an author I need to explore. 5y

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Cathythoughts Beautiful review. I‘ve only ever read My Antonia, I need to explore her more ♥️👍🏻 5y

Lcsmcat Yes! Cather does an excellent job of creating strong women and powerful landscapes. 5y

Leftcoastzen What a pretty edition! 5y

Tanisha_A I am loving this too. Awesome review! 🧡 5y

batsy @BiblioLitten @Graywacke @erzascarletbookgasm @Cathythoughts @Lcsmcat @Tanisha_A Thank you! I'm a bit drunk on Cather's writing; feel all swoony 🥰 5y

batsy @Leftcoastzen Penguin did the Great Plains trilogy with Ansel Adams' photographs; they're beautiful, aren't they 💙 5y

Hamlet Great review 5y

Tamra 💚 Have you read this one yet? It‘s my favorite!

batsy @Hamlet Thank you! 5y

batsy @Tamra No, I've only read this one and O, Pioneers! I look forward to slowly discovering all of her work 🥰 5y

Tamra @batsy I am enjoying Lark too, I‘d say more than Pioneers this time around. The characters seem to be more fully developed? 5y

batsy @Tamra I loved Pioneers, but I only read it for the first time last year! There is a sense of Cather taking her time to develop her characters in Lark and it's so good to see different sides to them... Not just Thea, but even Dr Archie, or her mother. 5y

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Tamra

Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

I wish this sentiment was embraced today. #catherbuddyread

@catebutler @crazeedi @Lcsmcat @Tanisha_A @Tamra @CarolynM @batsy @Caterina @Graywacke @TheEnd

Graywacke Yes, me too. 😕 5y

Graywacke Cather has a lot to say on that train ride. Good stuff. 5y

Tamra @Graywacke definitely! 5y

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DGRachel I love your cover. It‘s looks very similar to the one I have on my iPad. 😊 5y

GingerAntics I agree. When did America become the land of A-holes? 5y

Tamra @DGRachel it‘s very cheery! 5y

Caterina Yes that sentence is so lovely and I wish that was the prevailing attitude right now. And those immigrants make us stronger and better, they bring so much to this country. 💕 5y

batsy A beautiful sentiment, simply stated, and all the more moving for that 💚 5y

Lcsmcat Indeed! 5y

Cathythoughts Beautiful 5y

82 likes10 comments

Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Part 2 The Song of the Lark

Above, a book Thea certainly did not consult, since she hardly lifted her head up to look around while in the city. Thea‘s life direction is evolving, and we keep seeing her through everyone else‘s opinions, whether Harsanyi‘s or a train conductors. And, despite her bright eyes on the train, she is quite emotionally beaten down. Where are you at and what are your thoughts? #catherbuddyread

Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, catebutler, CarolynM, Caterina, Tanisha_A, batsy, Tamra, squirrelbrain, SeabreezeReader

Caterina I love seeing Thea realize how little she knows and has experienced. I feel like we all go through that around that age, realizing how vast the world is and how ignorant we are. When I went away to college I remember the culture shock being hard at first, but then just my voracious appetite to learn more about the world, different people and ways of life and politics. And then going back to your home town and not feeling like you "fit" anymore. 5y

CarolynM I enjoyed Part II. I'm fascinated by the relationship truly talented people have with their art, especially musicians, and I thought the way that was treated here was really interesting. It was also interesting to see the reactions of others, both in Chicago and at home, to Thea's burgeoning personality, especially her steeliness and determination. 5y

Tamra I liked Part II in Chicago better than I thought I would - I hope the same characters are further developed. I highlighted the passage where she was unimpressed with the city noise & hustle & bustle, because I am the same, but clearly it has grown on her! 5y

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Tamra @Caterina Cather put her thumb on it when she describes how though people may be family members, even close ones, but they don‘t necessarily value or aspire to the same things. (edited) 5y

Tamra Was anyone else disturbed in Part I by the interest in Thea by the two adult male characters? It began when she was 11 - it‘s my modern sensibilities of course, but acknowledging that didn‘t make me less uncomfortable with it. 5y

CarolynM @Tamra I liked that she didn't quite know how to go about living in the city at first - didn't know she could visit the Art Institute, for example - but gradually began to find her feet. The older men thing was a bit unsettling, but they both gave her things she needed in her life and didn't take from her in any way I could see. 5y

Graywacke @Caterina I was really entertained at Thea awakening, almost against her will. She was so focused, afraid of not being constantly responsible and of not mastering that piano. (College was a life-changer for me, certainly. I switched from an overly-stressed South Florida to an extra-relaxed New Orleans. After I got over the “come-on, move it!” there was a realization of, oh, there are, like, actual relaxed happy people in the world. Who knew?) 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM It is really interesting to see the different types of artistic expertise. Turns out Wuench (sp?) didn‘t know so much, or chose to shelter Thea. Harsanyi was terrific. Maybe we‘ll learn about Bowers next. And, like not-seeing Chicago, Thea‘s blindness to her own talents was kind of funny. Love how tough she is. 5y

Graywacke @Tamra that passage was terrific, when she finally takes in the busy city (then gets openly harassed twice 😡) A quote: “For almost the first time Thea was conscious of the city itself, of the congestion of life all about her, of the brutality and power of those streams that flowed in the streets, threatening to drive one under. People jostled her, ran into her, poked her aside with their elbows, uttering angry exclamations.” 5y

Graywacke @Tamra @Caterina - her family, just, wow. Seriously - these kids all grew up in the same house? When she realizes her sister never liked her... !! 5y

Graywacke @Tamra I never got over Ray. I mean I understood it was a different time and Cather lays it out as normal and it probably was, and he was a good guy. I liked him. But, yeah - no. 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM ( @Tamra ) - guess we could add Dr. Archie in there too, as creepy. But he never crossed any lines. Interesting scene there in the end of Part 2. (edited) 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM The part on her not realizing what was in the Art Institute and her landlords asking her about it was very funny. 5y

batsy I agree with @CarolynM I'm always interested in depictions of artists & how to get on in life while trying to fulfill a driving passion. I was also really drawn to the description of Thea's alienation from her siblings, & the kind of hostility you face if you're different & don't really seem to need the protection of socially-sanctioned values (wanting to get married and have kids, etc.). Thea's self-confidence rubs her sister the wrong way. 5y

batsy I'm also a terrible buddy reader in that I've read ahead and am at the last section 🙈 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke @Caterina @Tamra @batsy @CarolynM I thought the return “home” after Chicago and her family‘s various reactions to her rang so true! That feeling of disconnect, and the shock of it, because nothing has changed, but because Thea had changed it feels like everything has changed. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @Caterina @Tamra @batsy @CarolynM This is sad, not really being able to feel at home again, having sort of left the family behind. Not something I‘ve experienced. The racism really bothers me, and it shouldn‘t, but shocks me. It never came up before in the family. What @batsy says will stick with me: “the protection of socially-sanctioned values”. It all parallels Alexandra‘s brothers‘ men-are-superior bit in O Pioneers. 5y

Graywacke @batsy 😂😂 You‘re an awesome buddy reader. 🙂 And it‘s a good sign of Cather‘s magic. 5y

Graywacke @catebutler @crazeedi @Lcsmcat @Tanisha_A @Tamra @CarolynM @batsy @Caterina ( @squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books ) Reminder, Sunday, June 2, we‘ll discuss Parts 3-5 Stupid Faces, The Ancient People & Dr. Archie‘s Venture 5y

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The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Love the fierceness with which she speaks her mind. Thea! ❤️

Still catching up. #catherbuddyread @Graywacke

Graywacke The 🍿 looks good. 🙂 5y

Tanisha_A @Graywacke Good book and good popcorn is good life! 😁 5y

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The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Y'all, Mrs. Kronborg just makes me smile. "No use spoiling your Sunday dinner with race prejudices." You tell 'em Mrs. Kronborg! ?? #catherbuddyread @Graywacke

Graywacke Diplomatic, I guess. 🙂 5y

Graywacke (Sorry, just thinking, it could be a US public announcement...) 5y

Caterina @Graywacke She's definitely diplomatic! Right, we could've used this right around Thanksgiving. 😂🤣 I love how Mrs. Kronborg is so straightforward and simple and no-nonsense. Like she's not going to engage in a deep, meaningful conversation about racism, but she does make it clear that she does not approve. 5y

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Tanisha_A She is such a badass that way! 5y

Graywacke @Tanisha_A @Caterina I do like her more and more as the book goes on. She really gains a lot more of our respect in Part 2. When she stares down one of her grown sons into silent obedience ... had to smile at that. 5y

Lcsmcat She‘s one of my favorite characters! 5y

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Tamra

Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Cottonwood leaves talking about rain.....love this description. They do indeed chatter! 🌿🌨

Finished Part I, but I‘m fearful I‘ll miss the nature writing. #catherbuddyread

@catebutler @crazeedi @Lcsmcat @Tanisha_A @Tamra @CarolynM @batsy @Caterina @Graywacke

Caterina I loved that description too! 💕 5y

Lcsmcat So true, and so poetically put. 5y

Graywacke I love that. Keep thinking about the those trees talking about rain. Great image. @Caterina Left an impression on several of is. 🙂 5y

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batsy I loved it, too. (I've moved on to the city setting and I do miss the nature writing, but Cather is just so good at describing everything, even urban malaise.) 5y

Tanisha_A Love that. All the nature descriptions are just gorgeous! Hey @Graywacke quick question, my copy is weird, where does part 1 exactly ends? 5y

Cathythoughts Beautiful 5y

Graywacke @Tanisha_A part I ends when Thea is about to head to Chicago. It was about 112 pages in my edition. 5y

Graywacke @batsy I‘ve moved on too. Thea is a little overwhelmed, you might say. 5y

Crazeedi I just got the book, I'll try to catch up!! 5y

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The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Went for another run/walk at 6:30 am, then weight machines and stretch class at the YMCA. Showered and enjoyed a smoothie on the porch, and now it's nap time after reading a couple issues of The Song of the Lark on #SerialReader in bed. #BookFitnessChallenge #BFC @wanderinglynn #catherbuddyread

OrangeMooseReads Way to go! That is a full day already lol 5y

bewareofwords Dang, you‘re on a roll! Way to go! 💪🏽 (edited) 5y

hes7 Wow, way to go! Definitely sounds like nap time now. 5y

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rockpools You‘re going great! 5y

wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 5y

alisiakae Yum!! 5y

jb72 Good job! 5y

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The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

"Mrs. Kohler was always getting by mail packages of seeds from Freeport and from the old country. Then the flowers! There were big sunflowers for the canary bird, tiger lilies and phlox and zinnias and lady's slippers and portulaca and hollyhocks,–giant hollyhocks."

Cather's beautiful prose on nature inspired me to paint this. It was a good Sunday!

#catherbuddyread @Graywacke

batsy Beautiful 😍 5y

Oryx Lovely! 5y

lover.of.the.classics It‘s BEAUTIFUL!!! I love the colors! 5y

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Tamra Love it! 5y

Graywacke Beautiful! And love the it was inspired by your reading. 5y

Trashcanman That's lovely, truly lovely. 5y

ephemeralwaltz 😍😍 5y

sudi 😍 5y

RohitSawant How wonderful! 5y

Mdargusch Lovely! 5y

merelybookish So pretty!! 5y

LeahBergen How pretty! 5y

JennyM You have talent my friend. Beautiful ♥️ 5y

readordierachel That is so lovely! 😍 5y

Lcsmcat Wow! Pretty! 5y

minkyb 😍 😍 😍 5y

Tanisha_A @minkyb @Lcsmcat @readordierachel @JennyM @LeahBergen @merelybookish @Mdargusch @rohit-sawant @sudi @ephemeralwaltz @Trashcanman @Graywacke @Tamra @lover.of.the.classics @Oryx @batsy Thank you, thank you all! Y'all are my encouragement to further do this. ❤️ 5y

Tanisha_A @Graywacke Yes, I love that too. I have made a note of that to reminisce later in life. 🙂 5y

Centique That‘s BEAUTIFUL 😍 5y

catebutler This is beautiful! I love how this book inspired you! 5y

Tanisha_A @Centique Thank you, Paula! 💌 5y

Tanisha_A @catebutler Thanks Cate. 💕 I am loving this book, think i want to read everything Cather has written. 5y

BiblioLitten The colours are so pretty! 🤩 5y

MemoirsForMe Simply gorgeous! 😍 5y

Tanisha_A @BiblioLitten @UwannaPublishme Thank you ladies! 💕 5y

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Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Song of the Lark, Part 1 Friends of Childhood

Pictured is Swedish-born American sonata Olive Fremstad, the inspiration for Thea Kronborg. Part I has Thea growing up in a railroad town in the sand hills of the northeastern Colorado Prairie. Too much to mention - prose, descriptions of nature and people, American mythology, the unspoken. What were your thoughts? Did it work? What did, what didn‘t?#catherbuddyread

Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, catebutler, CarolynM, Caterina, Tanisha_A, batsy, Tamra, SeabreezeReader

Graywacke I loved this, thought it could be a standalone novella. Have a bunch of unstructured thoughts on this, but trying to reign them in... 5y

Lcsmcat There‘s so much to unpack here. It‘s a different landscape from O Pioneers! but she depicts it with equal clarity. I loved the descriptions of the sand hills. 5y

Tanisha_A I am loving the description of Mrs. Kohler's garden so much. The effort she puts in, obsession about it coming out in the narrative so strongly! 5y

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Graywacke @Lcsmcat yes, there is a lot to unpack. Where to begin? And, yes, totally different. I'm having trouble placing myself in this little town and this landscape. Whereas the town in Nebraska felt very familiar. Intrigued that this is maybe all just background. 5y

Graywacke @Tanisha_A Those trees are like another character in the novel. I'm trying to figure out what she is saying with this garden. Any thoughts? 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Having lived out west helped. It‘s not Cather‘s usual landscape. 5y

Caterina I'm loving this book! I grew up a pastor's kid in a pretty small Southern town, and Cather's descriptions of the life and pressures of a minister's family feel very accurate. Oh and that small town rivalry between different churches!! 😂 I love the characters too... I love the descriptions of Mrs. Kronborg, and I'm completely heartbroken about Ray Kennedy. At first I thought he was creepy because of the age gap, but he grew on me! 5y

Caterina @Tanisha_A @Graywacke I love Mrs. Kohler's garden and trees! I feel like she and her husband have a lot of love to give, and now that their kids are off in the world, that love and care is lavished on the trees and Wunsch. 5y

Graywacke @Caterina Ray is a curiosity to me. Was that considered ok at that time. He doesn't come across as anything other than a really good person - who happens to be courting a teenager. But, yeah, can't really not like him. 5y

Graywacke @Caterina also, that's a special perspective you have this. That rivalry between the churches was very entertaining. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat I simply don't know that area. I've driven through it, made memorable geological stops for field trips in far west Kansas (not Colorado, but similar), but never saw the sand hills. It's my 3rd book from Cather, and each landscape has been unique. (She captures New Mexico magically) 5y

Graywacke @Caterina now thinking of the garden as Mrs. Kohler‘s children. 🙂 5y

CarolynM I'm a bit behind, I've only made it halfway through Part I do far, but most of what has been said reflects my thoughts. I haven't yet seen Ray's good points, he just looks creepy to me. I love the way all those differences between the various groups of immigrants are described, it's good to remember these issues have always been there (in Australia as well as in the US) but they don't have to be as nasty as they are now. @Caterina (edited) 5y

Lcsmcat Ray never felt creepy to me because he was waiting for her to grow up. Maybe because my husband‘s grandfather was 10 years older than his grandmother and “picked her out” when she was in elementary school. 🤷🏻‍♀️ But Ray just seemed like one of those decent guys who never quite catches a break. 5y

Lcsmcat Side note, I was fascinated by the reversal of train status - how the freight trains had to wait for the passenger trains to go by. Now it‘s the opposite, as anyone who rides Amtrak can tell you. (edited) 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM on immigration: Cather seems very sensitive to origins, particularly since so many people are immigrants or first generation Americans. She is respectful. The country wasn‘t. This was published in 1915, the US effectively closed its borders ~1924. First anti-European immigration act was passed in 1917 (Anti-Chinese was much earlier). So tensions were high. 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM @Lcsmcat I like Ray, but if any 30-yr-old man tried to respectfully court my 14-yr-old daughter, I‘d call the police. So, it‘s weird to me. Also, I thought the text implied she was really too young for that kind of attention, that‘s she still forming her mind in very fundamental ways. No?? (edited) 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat everything about the trains was interesting to me and pretty much all new. Had no idea how they coordinated anything then with any effectiveness. And never thought about small train-stop towns in the Colorado plains (ok, I never thought about anything in Colorado east of Denver...) 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke @CarolynM True, today it would be perceived differently. But we wouldn‘t expect our 15 year olds to quit school and go to work to help support the family either. One of the things that has changed a lot in the past 100 years is our perception of childhood. And girls in particular had to grow up fast. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke @CarolynM On the immigrants: I think that capturing the “flavor” of life in the different immigrant communities is one of Cather‘s amazing talents. They‘re fully-formed characters, not caricatures, but still have distinctive character traits. She finds the laudable in each culture. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @CarolynM I do believe in trying to read from the perspective of the author‘s era, and not our era. (Key word - trying. 🙂) So, yeah, I‘m trying to be more passive and learn from Cather (instead of judge). So, I give Ray credit, but also wonder what happens if...well, this is a spoiler for CarolynM, but if part I doesn‘t end as it does. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I think he‘d be disappointed again. Thea has no interest in marrying anyone and settling down to her mother‘s life. 5y

batsy So much to cover! I found Cather's descriptions of the landscape as evocative as ever. The Ray thing makes my skin crawl, nice guy or not. Glad to see the end of him, to be very honest. Thea is fascinating but I also love the depiction of Mrs. Kronborg. There was something about how when she learned that Thea had talent, she knew it meant discipline & practice, not decking her daughter out in ribbons to perform for every audience. Loved that! 5y

batsy @Graywacke @Lcsmcat Great points. So far I really appreciate her sensitive and respectful portrayal of immigrants. I was worried about general stereotyping, but she always pulls inward to capture nuances and to describe them as individuals. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat well, yeah, probably so. 5y

Graywacke @batsy so much to cover, yes! Good points about Mrs. Kronborg. She‘s get a tough intro by Dr. Archie who thinks giving birth is no big deal. 🙂🙄😳 She is subtly very sharp. 5y

Graywacke @batsy @Lcsmcat @CarolynM - on immigrants - individually she is really respectful of everyone. She‘s kind of master at character. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke She does have a very good ear for character! 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke @batsy Mrs K is such a great no nonsense woman! 5y

batsy @Graywacke Yes, Dr Archie is so dismissive of the mother at the start! Cather peels back the layers to show the other side. She's a master of character indeed. 5y

CarolynM @Lcsmcat My grandmother began "teaching" in her country school at the age of 13 (so that would have been 1919) and the school leaving age for my parents' generation was 14. You are so right about the changes in attitude to childhood. While I'm very glad that I, and my children, didn't have the pressures to be in the workforce at that age, we may have gone to far in reducing our expectations of teenagers. 5y

CarolynM @Graywacke On immigration - I take your point. She is dealing with day to day interactions, not the political environment. 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM hmm. Is she not being political? I‘m not sure that‘s true. Something to think about 5y

Tanisha_A @Graywacke My thoughts are on the same lines as @Caterina. She is full of love and she showers it on her garden. Also, that keeps her busy in her daily life, with nothing else to do (as she doesn't really go out, not many friends etc.). 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke @CarolynM I think she‘s being the best kind of political - leading by example - and saying all of us deserve the respect of being treated like human beings. Subversively political? 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat elegantly put. 🙂 5y

Graywacke @catebutler @crazeedi @Lcsmcat @Tanisha_A @Tamra @CarolynM @batsy @Caterina Just a quiet little reminder: Part 2 this week, for Sunday. A bit shorter than last week. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I‘ve finished reading this week‘s bit, but may not chime in until Monday, after the wedding. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat enjoy your weekend! 5y

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The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Sitting on the back porch with my morning smoothie (still can only eat very very soft things) and book so that Pippin doesn't scare off the 10 deer munching in the front yard. I'm looking forward to going to church soon, I missed it last week because of the surgery and am longing to go back! 💕 A little sad though that I don't have time for a walk on this lovely morning. #BookFitnessChallenge #bfc @wanderinglynn #catherbuddyread

tpixie Pippin is on alert! But nice and quiet! My little dogs dart out and bark loudly at our deer!! #DogsOfLitsy. Fast healing! ♥️♥️♥️ 5y

wanderinglynn Enjoy your morning! 💜 5y

Graywacke Wishing you rest and healing 5y

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Clwojick Happy Sunday! 💙💜 5y

Megabooks Smoothie looks great! 5y

VanChocStrawberry Feel better!! 5y

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The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Finished Part 1 for the #catherbuddyread discussion tomorrow! ? Not without a tear or two. I'm enjoying this book a lot so far, it's hard to put down! And it's fun that Thea is a pastor's kid like me; I'm enjoying some of the commentary on the expectations of pastors' families in small towns. "The fear of the tongue, that terror of little towns, is usually felt more keenly by the minister's family than by other households." Very true. ?

Caterina Re: #BookFitnessChallenge #BFC @wanderinglynn I've spent the morning lazing around and reading this book, still trying to convince myself to go for a walk. I only have 185 steps and it's nearly 10:30. 😅😂 5y

jb72 You can do it! (Although I‘m in the same boat right now 😂). 5y

wanderinglynn You got this! A walk at lunchtime will be lovely. 😉 5y

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Caterina @jb72 @wanderinglynn Thank y'all, I made it out there!! 🙌 5y

Caterina @jb72 You can do it!! Have you made it yet? 5y

jb72 @Caterina Well I am up and cleaning the house so I guess I‘d call that a win. LOL 5y

Caterina @jb72 Definitely! 5y

Graywacke Glad you got your walk in. Love your perspective on this small town. 5y

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The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

"And it was Summer, beautiful Summer!". Those were the closing words of Thea's favourite fairy tale, and she thought of them as she ran out into the world one Saturday morning in May, her music book under her arm. She was going to the Kohlers' to take her lesson, but she was in no hurry.

On a fine Saturday evening in May, I start reading my second Cather. Happiness!

#catherbuddyread @Graywacke

Graywacke Lovely lines to start your day. 5y

Tanisha_A @Graywacke I am absolutely loving this one too. Sending so much love to Willa! 5y

Lcsmcat I loved that scene. Cather‘s language is deceptively simple, but puts the reader right there. 5y

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Tanisha_A @Lcsmcat You said it. Very tangible descriptions! 5y

batsy ❤ 5y

LeahBergen I really, REALLY need to get to Cather soon! 5y

LeahBergen I just watched this lovely Booktube video about Willa Cather yesterday (posted by Shawn the Book Maniac @shawnmooney ). Check it out. 😃 https://youtu.be/4Z0faNHuQTI 5y

shawnmooney Wasn‘t Chris WONDERFUL ？ 5y

Tanisha_A @LeahBergen Aha! I will definitely check it out. Love Cather! 5y

Tanisha_A @LeahBergen Thankee! 🎈💚 5y

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The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Thea is almost 13 and there's something about this paasage, as Thea discovers certain intangible truths about her artistic nature, that gives me strong Emily vibes (of L.M. Montgomery's Emily of New Moon series). I love it 💜

#catherbuddyread @Graywacke

Tanisha_A Ah! Gorgeous prose like always, by Cather. I am excited to embark on this one. 5y

Cathythoughts Beautiful piece ♥️ 5y

LeahBergen This sounds lovely! 5y

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Graywacke The passage has kept me wondering. It caught my attention too, but I‘m not sure exactly what Cather is getting at. Could be very religious, for example, or gently so. And I‘m still wondering what it is about Thea. Is she actually special in a physical way (like brain structure physical), is it determination, attitude, her complete lack of anxiety? ... Sorry, too wordy. It‘s also quite beautifully put. 5y

Reggie This is lovely. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke It‘s interesting that you went to religion rather than art. Do you think that because her father‘s a minister? 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat come now, it‘s not art, it‘s Kunst! In der Brust! 😂 No, seriously, it could be art or something ineffable inside her personal spirit or whatnot. It‘s just that I read Death Comes for the Archbishop first and now I‘m hyper-alert for religion in her writing. It‘s ambivalent. She doesn‘t front it, and she doesn‘t show her hand, but it‘s always in there. In O Pioneers Emil had quite a religious experience towards the end. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I agree that there‘s “hidden” (or not so hidden) religion in her work. But I see Thea as that part of Cather that was outside the community, different from her neighbors, because of her artistic nature. As much as Cather loved the west, she didn‘t stay. She moved to NY in her 30s. Thea seems closest to those who are “other.” Spanish Johnny, the doctor (respected but not loved) and her alcoholic teacher. A clue to her otherness? 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat I‘m with you on the “other”, although I‘m on some kind of multidimensional fence as to what the nature of it is. Is she artistic because that‘s her nature or is she artistic because she‘s able to be because of her steady resilient nature? Is her openness to others because she‘s artistic, or is she artistic because of the way she‘s open to others? Hmm. I need to rethink these questions because they confuse me when I reread...but...👇 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat but these lines that @batsy highlights on her “friendly spirit” that always seems to be there, imply something spiritual. Doesn‘t need to be biblical and it can be viewed outside that, non-spiritually...but an inner spirit/will/something of some sort. I think Cather might hint at her feelings but give us plenty room to maneuver. Well, maybe we‘ll see. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat good conversation 🙂 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke You know how really good authors say that writing isn‘t a choice, that they _have_ to write? Music can be like that, and I see that as the “friendly spirit” referred to. And, no spoilers, but have you read chapter XVII yet? 😀 And I concur, this is a good discussion! 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat I‘m on chapter XVI... 5y

batsy @Tanisha_A @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @Reggie It is lovely, her writing is something to savour ❤️ 5y

batsy @Graywacke @Lcsmcat Interesting discussion; I really enjoyed this convo :) I took it as an artistic calling, which is why I made the comparison to the Emily books (that inner drive to be a writer, in those books). With Thea I didn't see it as religious but I'm intrigued by the possibility; not familiar enough with Cather's work, but perhaps the spiritual and artistic impulse overlap for her. There is something spiritual/mystical in her writing. 5y

RaimeyGallant Lovely. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @batsy ok, I finished part I and it didn‘t enlighten me more - except that her dad is a complete dork. Her conversation with Dr. Archie was fun and Ray‘s brief interaction with Mr. Kronborg was awesome. Lots of play on belief and meaning. But, really, I should stick to art in my head since that‘s at least clearly meant on some level. (@batsy - i‘m l m Montgomery deficient. 🙁 ) 5y

batsy @Graywacke The Emily series by Montgomery is so beautiful and pure, for lack of a better word. It's kind of young adult, I guess (though I dislike how that term limits its reach and power) and Cather and Montgomery are vastly different writers, but I just found some interesting parallels between Thea and Emily :) 5y

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The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

Reading the middle chapters of Part 1 sent me to YouTube to listen to Orpheus and Eurydice. #catherbuddyread @Graywacke

Graywacke Cool 5y

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Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

“The summer moon hung full in the sky. For the time being, it was the great fact in the world.”

Getting going, discovering things I never knew, like sandsage prairie (Cather calls them sand hills). And all the other things she does. #catherbuddyread

Lcsmcat Great photo! 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat (power of Safari ☺️) 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke 😆 5y

batsy Lovely photo to pair with the quote. Her descriptions of nature make me swoon 🥰 5y

Graywacke @batsy Yes, They‘re wonderful. And it‘s a region I know nothing about. 5y

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The Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

More strong intelligent women. #catherbuddyread

batsy A little further on there's a description of her raising her children with discipline but not wanting to control their minds, and I loved that. 5y

Caterina Yes I love her so much from the descriptions so far!! 5y

Lcsmcat @batsy Yes! There‘s much about her to admire. 5y

Graywacke I like the next few lines too! I‘m enjoying her characters and all their complexities. Her quiet take downs of Dr. Archie and Mr Kronborg. 5y

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Song of the Lark | Willa Cather

#catherbuddyread reminder.

(Also inviting anyone who wants to join. We‘re on book two.)

Crazeedi, Lcsmcat, catebutler, CarolynM, Tanisha_A, batsy, Tamra, SeabreezeReader

Graywacke A note for slow readers like me - part one is 124 pages in my ebook. It‘s the longest of these sections. (And probably 3x as long as any sections in O Pioneers.) 5y

Lcsmcat 👍🏻 It‘s a reread for me, so that‘s usually faster. 5y

Caterina I read O Pioneers! last year on #SerialReader and have been meaning to continue the trilogy. This is great timing! Count me in. :) 5y

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Graywacke @Caterina welcome. You‘re in! 👍 5y

Crazeedi I have to find the book and I'll be with you! Hopefully the 19th!! 5y

Graywacke @Crazeedi good luck. There‘s always the ebook options (if you use them). 5y

CarolynM Thanks. Looking forward to getting started.🙂 5y

Crazeedi @Graywacke that's where I'm planning to get!! 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM Me too! I might start tonight. @Crazeedi 👍 5y

catebutler My copy is showing up today, looking forward to reading this! 5y

Graywacke @catebutler enjoy, take your time. 5y

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