My Mortal Enemy

An update on my #192025 challenge: these are the books I finished in the past few months. 79 prompts done and 27 left to go. I'm optimistic I can finish this by the end of the year!
@Librarybelle

AllDebooks Oooh well done. 👏 I was doing really well and need to get back to it to update the last 6 months. 2w

Librarybelle Excellent job!! I still need to update my list, but I‘m not as far as you are in the challenge. 2w

bthegood Way to go - good luck on the last 27!🥳 2w

kwmg40 @AllDebooks @Librarybelle @bthegood Thanks for the encouragement. These last slots are getting harder to fill! 1w

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kwmg40

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

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A short but poignant novel set partly during the Christmas season. I love the #VMC covers and was happy to have found this edition at a used book store.

#HolidayBookDragons #WinterGames2024 @LiseWorks
#gottacatchemallwinteredition (tbr) #FrozenSick @PuddleJumper
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
#192025 #1926 @Librarybelle

Librarybelle I am hoping to read one of her books for the challenge—I‘ve yet to read anything by her! 1mo

TheBookHippie I love this cover! 1mo

CarolynM This is one of my favourite Cathers🙂 @Librarybelle It‘s short but it packs a punch. (edited) 1mo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1mo

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Litsi

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

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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. 11mo

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

11mo

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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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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

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Louise

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

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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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Graywacke

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

My Mortal Enemy discussion
#catherbuddyread

A fairy tale gone awry, the runaway marriage of Myra Driscoll and Oswald Henshawe. Our Parthian observer, Nellie Birdseye, learns the story, sees the couple mingling with NYC elites and then again as near paupers somewhere along the CA coast.

Character assassination or character love? We‘re doing the whole book in one discussion, so think it through from the beginning. Share your thoughts.

More 👇👇

Graywacke Pictured is a young Hattie McClure - the possible model for Myra. See the essay @Lcsmcat pointed me to, here: https://cather.unl.edu/scholarship/catherstudies/5/cs005.johanningsmeier 5y

Graywacke I‘m curious both about how everyone enjoyed this (if you did) and what you think the purpose of this is. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @CarolynM @batsy @jewright @Tanisha_A @Louise @Sace @Tamra @crazeedi @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @mdm139 @cmastfalk 5y

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jewright Myra gave up everything for her marriage, and he cheated on her. Then he acted surprised she started hating him. I was angry with Lydia for the whole cuff button incident. Oswald shouldn‘t have asked. I do think he feels guilty later, and that is why he waits on her so patiently. This novel perfectly and realistically shows how love can change. Add in some betrayal and resentment and here is the novel. 5y

jewright It took a strong character to turn her back on her family, but Oswald should have know she could just as easily turn her back on him when he betrayed her. She only stays, so she won‘t need to admit her mistakes. It‘s also easy to think you don‘t need money when you are young and in love, but at the end, she realizes how much more comfortable her life would have been in a better financial situation, and she hates Oswald for not providing that. 5y

Graywacke @jewright I‘m putting you in the character assassination camp. 🤣 But, seriously, that is all true, I think. Yet I liked them, both of them...especially Myra. I liked her a great deal. 5y

Tamra I didn‘t reread this one, but I recall really enjoying it. I‘m going to follow the comments for recap - I‘m curious whether you all liked it as well. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke @jewright I think, like with Niel in A Lost Lady, we‘re seeing Nellie growing up and losing her fairytale view of the world. She belies M & O should be happy ever after because they married for love. Lydia tells the story, but is more pragmatic with her “as happy as most.” Then Nellie is forced to lose her illusions one by one, first with O and the cuff buttons, then with M & O‘s fight, and finally M‘s bitterness. But I feel like she 5y

Lcsmcat came back around at the end to accepting them as real, fallible people as opposed to fairytale characters. 5y

CarolynM I liked the story a lot. I was fascinated by the Henshaws and in awe of Cather's ability to create their complex characters in such a short piece. I agree with @Lcsmcat about Nellie's journey with them. I really enjoyed the essay on the real life inspiration. Thank you both for that. What did everyone think about the title? When Myra said it I thought she was referring to herself rather than Oswald. (edited) 5y

TEArificbooks @CarolynM I agree she was talking about her self rather than O 5y

TEArificbooks I didn‘t get a chance to re-read this one but I remember thinking the characters and their love were complex and I wanted the book to be longer. 5y

Lcsmcat @CarolynM I thought she could be talking about herself, but also Oswald or maybe their marriage, which is kind of a thing apart from either of them. She went back to the religion of her youth so maybe she was blaming the marriage for putting her soul in jeopardy? 5y

CarolynM @Lcsmcat I like the idea that the marriage was a thing apart. That could be the meaning. I think she didn't like herself very much, she made a few disparaging remarks about her own character. Perhaps she felt turning her back on her religion for her marriage meant her faults couldn't be forgiven on earth or in heaven. 5y

jewright @Lcsmcat I hadn‘t thought about this before, but I love this idea. Happily ever after is good in theory, but marriage takes real work and is often a challenge to make work between two flawed people. Because while I like Myra, and I think Oswald was wrong to cheat on her, she‘s a strong personality. I‘m sure she was difficult to live with. 5y

Lcsmcat @jewright @CarolynM I agree, she didn‘t like herself much, and that can make one hard to live with. And Oswald did love her. Cather hasn‘t hesitated to have men abandon women in her books, so having him stay and take care of Myra was a deliberate choice. 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM @Lcsmcat @jewright regarding the title - this line comes to mind: “It‘s all very well to tell us to forgive our enemies; our enemies can never hurt us very much. But oh, what about forgiving our friends? That‘s where the rub comes. “ 5y

Graywacke I suspect Myra‘s hatred of Oswald is as powerful as it is because of her affection for him. I‘m not saying the line doesn‘t have multiple meanings, but I think that might be one. 5y

Graywacke @Tamra @mdm139 thanks for joining. @Tamra I adored this book and Myra‘s character, and her sharp bitter wit. @mdm139 such a complicated relationship and worth pondering, especially because we are like that, the love/hate dependencies, and so on. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat i was thinking about Jim Burden more than Niel based on the voice, but in terms of lost illusions, Niel is a better and interesting parallel. Actually, it‘s interesting to compare Myra and Mrs. Forrester - or contrast them. (edited) 5y

Tamra @Graywacke re: forgiving friends....so painful! (edited) 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke That‘s a great quote, and I agree that M is so bitter because she loves him. Someone once said hate is not the opposite of love, indifference is. If she didn‘t love, she wouldn‘t hate. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I thought of Jim too, but somehow his voice, even when narrating his childhood, was the voice of an adult. Niel & Nellie seemed to grow as the book progressed. 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM Myra‘s turn back to religion was fascinating. Cather‘s love of religion without embracing it, it‘s such an interesting perspective. Seeking is finding - what a simply brilliant line.(and Nellie adds desire is fulfillment). These lines are add ons to the book, and yet they have their own independent weight. 5y

Graywacke @jewright that essay I linked above - you should read that. It‘s very revealing about the nature of the marriage thar Cather had in mind. In her model, it seems philandering was more acceptable than I would have anticipated. Well, anyway, the McClure‘s are a curious model 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat yes, Jim doesn‘t really grow up. 5y

Graywacke Any thoughts on Nellie‘s autobiographical role - her hatred of journalism (Cather was having fun. Also, I thought the teachers here would get a kick out of Myra‘s advice against teaching)? And, the young journalist in CA - that could actually have been Cather. That‘s how I saw her. (edited) 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat I think this book is mainly a character study of M. She‘s such a powerful, bold,character, to the end. And yet her life is a series disappointments and all partially due to that boldness. I don‘t think she wanted to be worldly, I think she just was there to conquer, whatever was to conquer - an impossible situation and yet she was always up to it. A reverse King Lear - she gave up her inheritance, he gave it away too soon... (edited) 5y

Graywacke I have more thoughts on Lear... but going to hold my tongue a bit. 5y

CarolynM @Graywacke @Lcsmcat It is really interesting to compare and contrast this book with A Lost Lady. That one was more about the relationship between Niel & Mrs F than the marriage whereas here the marriage was front and centre, Nellie little more than an observer. How do the gender switches re initial wealth, unfaithfulness and patient/carer affect our judgement of the characters? Are we influenced by the romantic backstory the F's lacked? 5y

CarolynM I'm also interested in Cather's take on religion. Seeking is finding ... yes, brilliant line. Why make her Catholic, I wonder, when the real life model wasn't? I was amused by the anti-teaching line - both my parents were teachers and they strongly discouraged me when I showed an interest in it. 5y

TEArificbooks Wow, I feel we should all meet sometime. I could see us all in a farm house in Nebraska sitting in wingback chairs by a fire and discussing these books. I am loving our conversation today. I agree the title may have multiple meanings and the marriage was like a character in itself. I will need to read The Lost Lady soon. 5y

batsy @CarolynM I also read the "mortal enemy" line as being about herself, but then went and read the link to the essay @Lcsmcat shared and saw how it could be about her husband. Which raises interesting questions about one's self and the one that's closest to you being kind of the same "enemy" when love turns into disillusionment. 5y

batsy I loved it and thought it was so biting despite being novella-length, kind of "gently" savage if that makes sense. There's a ruthlessness to Cather's probing eye here. The way she uses both male and female characters to analyse the trappings of heterosexuality is quite interesting to me. It's a queer eye on straight marriage, and it seems like an overarching theme in her work. 5y

Lcsmcat @CarolynM I hadn‘t thought about Cather flipping the wealth/unfaithfulness bit. That‘s a good observation. I thought the F‘s had a romantic backstory too, just a different one. No one gave up an inheritance but Mrs F did dump a fiancé after the heroic rescue. But I do think we as a society are more apt to treat harshly women who cheat. Men get the “boys will be boys” pass. (Back to Lydia‘s they were as happy as most comment.) But to have both ?? 5y

Lcsmcat 👆🏻end by patiently taking care of their ailing spouse - what was Cather saying? Was it remorse? Or, happy marriages being rare in her work, was it how she viewed heterosexual marriage, as @batsy pointed out? Lots to ponder in this short work. 5y

Lcsmcat As to her choosing Catholicism, it gave a reason for the uncle to stay opposed to O even after he became successful, as well as providing a place to leave his $ that was both a salve to his conscience (the convent had to take her in any time) and a slap in her face (I‘ll support you again but only if you give up O.) And M tried to have it both ways at the end, in a way. Not leaving O for the convent & admitting “defeat” yet being 👇🏻 5y

Lcsmcat 👆🏻cared for by the Church in the form of the priest. 5y

Lcsmcat @mdm139 I agree! I get so much more out of these books because of our discussions that I‘d even consider going to Nebraska in the winter. 😀 5y

Graywacke @mdm139 Litsy is such a great place for these kinds of discussions. And this is a terrific group. I hope you read The Lost Lady. It‘s brilliant and compact and I remember finishing with a similar feeling to how I finished this. (I didn‘t say here, but I finished this one in that state of, “wow, Cather‘s best yet”. Not that it was or wasn‘t, just, you know, that feeling when you just finish a great book.) 5y

Graywacke @mdm139 @Lcsmcat I‘m maybe not sure about a winter in NE...(having spent three winters skidding on ice in Kansas) 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM @Lcsmcat I‘m thinking about your questions. Does this book work if O gave up the fortune? As for unfaithfulness, it‘s such a strange thing with such a strange history. I liked that in ALL it was Mrs F who was unfaithful and still forgiven. Here, Myra - well, she brings up another question. Mrs F was beautiful, Myra was not. They were both pretty sharp, but only Myra was fighting against her appearance with her personality. ... 5y

Graywacke If Myra stays beautiful, not sure O stays faithful, but she has an added power, she could have done more, and her bitterness might have been reduced. Actually, if she‘s a man, she has control over finances and no worries about looks. As a woman, she only has her personality. This all plays into her bitterness and Cather‘s criticism of NY society. (Oye - I‘m going too far again. And haven‘t mentioned Lear again yet.) 5y

Graywacke @batsy gently savage, a ruthlessness - Cather is a little different here. Her lack of marriage does allow her to take a more...distant view. To remain reporter. 5y

Graywacke @CarolynM On Catholicism: it‘s an interesting question. I assume Cather was drawn to Catholicism because it‘s the most ritualized form of Christianity, hence the one where less is told and more is taken in without (being corrupted by?) conscious rationalization. Just my two-sense (and my Jewish nonbeliever perspective) 5y

Graywacke I‘m talking to much again. I have more on Lear. I probably should start with a question. Later... but if you‘re inclined, think about Myra and Lear and inheritance and toothless tyrants and “Glouchester‘s hill” 5y

Graywacke (I just noticed my post had “Oscar Henshawe” 🤦🏻‍♂️ Now fixed...) 5y

TEArificbooks I grew up in Northern Kansas. I would suggest a summer or fall trip. I found out that my sister lives 2 hours from Red Cloud, Cather‘s home town. I am planning on going to visit next year and will make a stop there too. I noticed that there is a Catholic Church a block from her childhood home. Could be the reason she made her character Catholic, something as simple as living so close to the church. 5y

Currey @Graywacke I am not a part of your group but I just finished reading My Mortal Enemy and was excited to find your discussion. Most enlightening. Thank you all 5y

Lcsmcat @Currey We‘ve been reading all her novels. You should join in! 5y

Graywacke @Currey thanks for stopping by. echoing @Lcsmcat , you should join and feel free to comment here, it‘s our only discussion on this one. (I might have to postpone the next book one until I finish Ducks, Newburyport) (edited) 5y

Graywacke @mdm139 Maybe...but after reading many of her books, I‘m not sure that‘s why she chose Catholicism. When she stays in Nebraska she covers pretty much all immigrant cultures, so some Catholicism but also other denominations. She‘s pretty equitable, to a degree, and Catholicism was a minority there. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I wouldn‘t say Catholics aren‘t _told_ . They opened so many schools because they wanted to instruct children in their faith. It is ritualized, but no more so than the Episcopal church. It is, however, much more dogmatic than the Anglican/Episcopal Church ever was. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke She also dealt with extreme dogma of a Protestant variety in the short story Eric Hermmnnson‘s Soul, so I think she was interested in the concept of dogma. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat thanks. I‘m clearly not an expert or very knowledgeable... so, if I can encourage you, feel free to add more. (Edited to specify “told” but really on anything Christian, or etc) (edited) 5y

Lcsmcat I‘m not sure how much M‘s lack of beauty is responsible for her strong personality, but it can be true that beautiful people get “lazy.” But then, as my mother told my sister and I, women who marry for money work harder for it than those who earn their own. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat you had a good mom. Today it‘s a little different (but not enough). But imagine a beautiful Myra working over NY. A different story in some ways, maybe. Would she be so bitter? Maybe she‘d be more bitter, actually. (!) Anyway, I think she was aware (of everything) and saw it as another life miss. (As, I suppose, did Hattie, possibly.) 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I think she might be more bitter if she were beautiful. Because even a handsome woman isn‘t the beauty she was as a young woman. And if what you‘re counting on is something that is doomed to fade, you have no hope. Further, I suspect O would have cheated on her even then, because he was seeking validation and feeding his ego.i think it said more about him than it did about M. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat that all makes sense to me. Maybe I‘m complicating the dynamics. Just seemed she was an accomplisher without anything to accomplish other than a society that mostly was judging on finances...not character. There seems to be an inevitable tragedy in there. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I think that‘s a fair assessment, and a situation many/most women have found themselves in throughout history. And Cather would have been very sensitive to that since she was in that herself. It is tragedy. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat so true, it is. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @CarolynM @batsy @jewright @Tanisha_A @Louise @Sace @Tamra @crazeedi @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @mdm139 @cmastfalk
5y

Graywacke Next book should be the tagged one, a nice follow up to “seeking is finding”. I‘m thinking we hold the 1st discussion April 18. Let me know of that interests and is reasonable.

Death Comes for the Archbishop

Lcsmcat Count me in. 5y

CarolynM Can't wait 🙂 Thanks for another great discussion. 5y

Suet624 I‘ve always tried to push myself to read this one. My mom used to tell me a lot about Cather and my great-aunt whenever the subject of Death Comes came up. Something about their time there or the theme. Wish I had paid more attention. But this book was the one my mom talked about most whenever talking about Cather. 5y

Tamra @Graywacke unfortunately I will be back in a class then. 😢 I know I loved Archbishop as well! It will be an intriguing read for you as you come full circle with Cather! I understand she has a number of short stories too. 5y

batsy @Graywacke That sounds great and appreciate having a little bit of a break in between as well. Life's a bit nuts and I can't get a handle on my reading at the moment 😭 5y

jewright @Graywacke I‘m in. A bit of a break is good. We‘re super busy this spring. 5y

Louise Sounds good. I love this book! Not sure how present I will be in April, as we are dealing with a move. Sorry to have missed this recent discussion. I may chime in late when I‘ve finished the book. So much going on at the moment. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @CarolynM @batsy @jewright @Louise 👍 @Suet624 now‘s the time? (well, April) @Tamra of course, wish you well in your class. Thanks all for another great discussion. 5y

Suet624 I think so! 5y

Graywacke Wasn‘t popping up with the tag (or I‘m blind) so 2nd try: #catherbuddyread 5y

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CarolynM

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

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If The Professor's House was a literary rendition of a painting on the wall of a painting, this novella is a literary miniature portrait. Myra is such a complex character, and her marriage such a puzzle, that a much longer novel could have been written, but it really didn't need to be. This is a small gem. Looking forward to discussing with you fellow #Catherbuddyread - ers

Graywacke

batsy Love this! Your first line is a beautiful way to put it. I finished it yesterday and agree it's a gem; strange and sharp and moody in a way I really like. 5y

Lcsmcat Great way to sum it up - and The Professor‘s House too. BTW, love your cover. 5y

CarolynM @nasty @Lcsmcat Thanks😊 5y

Centique I‘m having Cather FOMO from your beautiful description! Will need to get to this 😍 5y

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Lcsmcat

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

Finished this Cather this afternoon, but will hold off on my review until next Saturday. #catherbuddyread @Graywacke

Graywacke Goes quick. I would be finished too if I hadn‘t started Ducks. Hey, write down your thoughts now... I mean I hope you do...I‘m curious. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Not ignoring your request, but thinking. There‘s a great article about this novella (that‘s almost as long as it!) here: https://cather.unl.edu/scholarship/catherstudies/5/cs005.johanningsmeier It focuses on who Myra and Oswald are based on, but in doing so explores the themes of the novel. It resonates to me as very similar to The Professor‘s House in the theme of expecting one thing from life and ending up with something more ordinary 5y

Lcsmcat The great love, so great that she gave up money for it, should have gained Myra a glorious life, but she was, first, “just as happy as anyone else” after which bitterness sets in. Similar to Godfrey being ready to give up and let his death happen. 5y

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Graywacke I‘m going to rely on your condensed version of the essay. 🙂 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke It‘s really not that long, and well worth the read. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat i just finished and I‘m in that mood where I feel sure it‘s her best one yet. I‘ll try to get to this essay. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke 😀 Good authors do that, don‘t they? 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat hmmm. I‘m sticking to Cather‘s uniqueness for an evening. 🙂 The article is fascinating. (Editing because I forgot to say thanks - which is what I came here to do. Thanks for pointing me there.) (edited) 5y

61 likes1 stack add8 comments

Lcsmcat

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

“Her sarcasm was so quick, so fine at the point — it was like being touched by a metal so cold that one doesn‘t know whether one is burned or chilled.” #catherbuddyread @Graywacke

Graywacke ❤️ the prose! 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke She nails it again. 5y

batsy I haven't started yet, but oooh! 😍 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat I started yesterday. Added lots of quotes to my Bookly App... (a little bit of My Ántonia here, no? Young innocent narrator.) 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I had that same thought. 5y

44 likes5 comments

Graywacke

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

#catherbuddyread

People, man. Read this last night and I‘m still thinking about it, especially what it says about how we interact with those close to us.

Lcsmcat My edition has the same introduction. He makes some interesting points about Cather and her work. I loved everything how he points out her contemporaries and how they reacted differently to the same world events. 5y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat I really enjoyed his commentary too, and especially his comparisons. (Reading Nabokov‘s 1920‘s novels makes a curious comparison). I tried to look up Klein. He has a few books with nice titles, but not easy to find much info on him. 5y

45 likes2 comments

LitsyHappenings

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

Repost for @Graywacke :

#catherbuddyread

Just a reminder, especially in case you need to get a copy. 85 page novella, so just one discussion.

(We‘re a small group, but anyone is welcome to join)

33 likes

Graywacke

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

#catherbuddyread

Just a reminder, especially in case you need to get a copy. 85 page novella, so just one discussion.

(We‘re a small group, but anyone is welcome to join)

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @CarolynM @batsy @jewright @Tanisha_A @Louise @Sace @Tamra @crazeedi @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @mdm139 @cmastfalk 5y

Graywacke @Caterina @catebutler @bromeliad @squirrelbrain @Amiable @jmofo @saresmoore @LitsyHappenings @Suet624 @rubyslippersreads @SeaBreezeReader @crazeedi (of course, please let me know if you want off this list.) (edited) 5y

jewright My copy just came in the mail two days ago. 5y

See All 9 Comments

Louise Got my copy last week. Looking forward! 5y

Crazeedi Not sure I can join in right now😥 5y

batsy Yay! I have my copy and am excited, as always! 5y

Graywacke @jewright @Louise @batsy yay! Hoping it still works well, this one-day discussion. @Crazeedi maybe next one 🙂 5y

cmastfalk Got my copy! 5y

Crazeedi @Graywacke yes, so sorry, I'm just so behind on everything 5y

47 likes9 comments

Tamra

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

pick

I have loved Cather‘s novels and this novella is no exception. Myra is fated to despise herself and her life as she grows into the person her uncle raised. To rebel against wealth and security seems an adventure under the powerful influence of youth and love, but the consequences in old age can be devastating to self-worth and autonomy. ⬇️

Tamra Myra is not a likable character and I pitied her long suffering husband Oswald who loved her truly. (edited) 6y

TEArificbooks Cather is one of my all time favorite authors 6y

Tamra @mdm139 do you have a favorite? I think mine is this one, but it‘s long overdue for a reread.

Death Comes for the Archbishop

See All 6 Comments

TEArificbooks @tamra I love her writing and stories so I guess I would say her longer stories, because I hate for them to end. But her shorter works are just as amazing so I can't complain about those. 6y

Tamra @mdm139 I need to read her short stories. 6y

batsy Ooh, sounds like something right up my street! 6y

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SaraBeagle

My Mortal Enemy | Willa Cather

Knocked D, M, N, and W off my #listyatoz challenge this weekend. Too bad they're not all this short! @BookishMarginalia

SaintUrsula I don't know, at times it felt like Nightwood was going to last forever. 😂 8y

SaraBeagle 😆Definitely not a plot-driven novel! 8y

11 likes2 comments

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