My Antonia

De: Willa Cather

Narrado por: Jeff Cummings, Ken Burns (introduction)

Widely recognized as Willa Cather's finest book and one of the outstanding novels of American literature, My Antonia details of the life of early American pioneers in Nebraska.

Through Jim Burden's endearing, smitten voice, we revisit the remarkable vicissitudes of immigrant life in the Nebraska heartland, with all its insistent bonds. Guiding the way are some of literature's most beguiling characters: the Russian brothers plagued by memories of a fateful sleigh ride, Antonia's desperately homesick father and self-indulgent mother, and the coy Lena Lingard. Holding the pastoral society's heart, of course, is the bewitching, free-spirited Antonia.

Infused with a gracious passion for the land, My Antonia is a deeply moving portrait of an entire community and its way of life.

Bonus: In partnership with Audible and Playtone, the television and film producer behind the award-winning series Band of Brothers, John Adams, and The Pacific, this audiobook includes an original introduction, written and read by acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns. For more from Audible and Playtone, click here.

©2012 Willa Cather

Reseñas de la Crítica

"No romantic novel ever written in America, by man or woman, is one half so beautiful as My Antonia." (H. L. Mencken)

Antonia.....what a beautiful name.....

Antonia.....what a beautiful name.....and what a lovely and wonderful character for this dear little book. I just adored Antonia and how lively and bright she was throughout the entire book. Although she suffered great and grand hardships along the way of life....she never let her stop from seeing the 'silver lining' in every piece of her life. She was a beautiful girl who grew into a battered old woman by the end of the book but because of her beautiful soul.....she still continued to shine and give so much to those around her. Antonia's own children were just darling and they loved and adored her so much. They were always by her side and often begged her to tell them stories of her life as a young girl and woman.

Jim was her best friend from the time they met as young children through adulthood and even though they had been separated by years of being in different places in their lives......they found that when they met again.....they had never stopped loving each other and would always be best friends.

This is a sweet little book that gives you a glimpse into the lives of immigrant pioneers and the difficult times they had in trying to live in a world that was so different from their homelands...and Antonia is the center of this world and she brings all the people around her together to enjoy her love of life and desire to succeed. I had the best time reading this book and am so glad I just happened to find it by accident.

Very Enjoyable Classic

A first rate product both in terms of the story line and the excellent narration.

Interesting

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It was a great short story listen, I found I felt for the characters as if I were there.

Which character – as performed by Jeff Cummings – was your favorite?

Antonia as I could relate to some of her life experiences

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes I drive long haul truck and this was listened to in one sitting

Any additional comments?

I will be looking for longer stories by the same author

Wonderfully vivid character

If you could sum up My Antonia in three words, what would they be?

Sweet, memorable story

What was one of the most memorable moments of My Antonia?

When Jim returns to visit Antonia and her family 20 years later.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Cummings’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Have not. Enjoyed Cummings narration very much, warm yet lively.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me smile, it made me sad. I too am an immigrant.

Good story but the narration was bland.

At first I didn't think I was going to like this because the story was going slowly and the narrator just seemed bland to me. However, I did get into the story even with the dull narration.

Amazing book, so-so narration

While I enjoyed the different voices and accents that Jeff Cummings gave to the characters, it was read without giving the significance and weight to certain thoughts and sentences that I know they would have had if I had read it myself. Those profound end-of-chapter punches just felt breezed by or artificially amplified - "They were so much alive in me that I scarcely stopped to wonder whether they were alive anywhere else, or how." read like a high school senior giving a speech.

That aside, this was a beautiful book and I'm so glad to have listened to it. As a native Nebraskan and daughter of immigrants, it was evocative and simple.

My Ántonia

Recommended to me by a professor who knows me really well. Such a wholesome read. It seemed to me such a long story at first; however, now I'm feeling the full effect of it's fleeting quality. I fell in love. I fell... in love. With Jim Burden, with Ántonia Shimerda, with Willa Cather, and with the so real, yet fictional town of Black Hawk Nebraska. I've been left with something very precious.

Loved this classic

My niece suggested that I read this one, so I grabbed the audio. I enjoyed this classic immensely. Great narration!

My Antonia is a book for the Ages!

Mesmorizing! It takes the listener to a rural Nebraska community at the turn of the 19th century. A love story, told through the eyes and heart of the orphan Jim Burton.

Masterpiece -written over 100 years ago

Incredible how must life has changed yet similarities exist strongly. Loved this. This book painted a picture of the past with exquisite depth. Thank you.