rdhuff's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
dawn_sedor's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
pancaake's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
georgina_bawden's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this female perspective on the pioneer tale. It's surprisingly (to me anyway) feminist, focusing on the capable daughter of a Swedish immigrant to Nebraska. At the start of the book her father dies and she takes on the family farm with the help (or hindrance) of her brothers. The book jumps forward in time to show how the family's fortunes play out. There is a lot made of the natural wealth of the landscape and the characters' connection or disconnection with it. It was a rather beautiful little book. Very Manifest Destiny but interesting nonetheless.
readingmegan_'s review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
hvv's review
3.0
I read this for uni, and it was really enjoyable - follows Swedish immigrants in America, i feel like we sometimes forget that these people also had real lives and real worries and dramas, which this story explores which i found really interesting
blakehalsey's review
5.0
Probably my favorite Cather novel yet--haunting, beautiful, shocking, sad, and hopeful.
resaspieces's review
4.0
I really liked leaning into the heart of the pioneers in this region as it is close to where some of my ancestors settled. Alexandra, the main character, is so different from me in most aspects, yet she is a confidant and strong woman from her youth. All the characters were painted with clarity and you can almost feel the essence of the time.