Back to Classics
Posted on April 18, 2008
Filed Under Favorite Authors
Often times, it’s easy to forget about the oldies - but the goodies - of books. There are so many authors that are on the playing field right now, that some of the classics are getting pushed to the wayside.
Of course, from my memory of books course 101, I have to mention Willa Cather. For anyone who wants to read something good and solid, and that will be remembered for centuries, she’s the one. A few years ago, I went on a Cather binge, reading everything from her first book of short stories to “Oh Pioneers” to “My Antonia” and “The Song of the Lark.” Every one of her stories is perfect in it’s own right.
Her writing career can’t be overlooked for the 20th century of writers - especially women writers. She received a ton of honors for her writing and was widely recognized as an author…something not common for a woman from the late 1800s and early 1900s from Nebraska.
What I love about her writing style is it isn’t difficult, complicated or intellectual. It just is. She’s the “sarah plain and tall” of books. One of the interesting things that has made me realize a lot about writing is, even though she had “it” (the writing bug) in the beginning, you can see a continuous new triumph with each book. If you want to see an author who works her entire life, go through the chronology of all of her stories. You’ll see each one improve until she lets them become a classic. (A huge motivation to us writers out there).
Despite all of the writing stuff, Cather is just a plain, good writer. She knows how to tell a story and she knows how to tell it well. I think she is often times overlooked and undervalued - maybe because of the time she was writing in (and the place), and maybe because she is sincere and genuine about the stories that she tells, which makes them easy to relate to.
So, if you haven’t taken the time out to read Willa Cather, it’s time to pioneer into her world.
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