kris10s

This novel is simple, but the descriptions are lush and realistic, the characters interesting, the setting unique for a classic. The balance between the male narrator and female subject worked well for Cather. I tend to read more Southern and British literature, and very few things set on the prairie, it’s not a place I am naturally drawn to. But My Antonia made the prairie come alive to me, full of beauty and very hard work. I enjoyed it a great deal and wondered why I hadn’t read it before, the content is very appropriate for a young adult reader and it seems like it would be a good fit for a high school literature class. (9/10)

About 3 or 4 of the books I read every year are actually unabridged audio books we listen to on road trips. The night before we left for North Carolina, I made a whirlwind trip to the library with the girls to grab a few possibilities Michael and I might enjoy. I remembered that Michael appreciated Allende’s House of Spirits, so I grabbed this one. There was no time to even read the back that day, so as we started listening, I was really confused. After a while, I realized this was a Young Adult novel, part of a trilogy that Allende wrote in the genre. Once that came to light, I tried to appreciate this for what it was. The plot had a great deal of potential but I was disappointed that it seemed like the protagonists, unlike their adult counterparts, didn’t find their way through the mystery and adventure by wit or strength but rather depended on their magical “totemic powers.” Overall, not a bad story, but Allende seemed slightly condescending in her writing for a YA audience. I’d still like to read her adult novels, though! (6/10)

As my business grows, with two small kids, this will be a challenge!