CatherBuddyRead

Chasing Bright Medusas: A Life of Willa Cather | Benjamin Taylor

Just found out that there's a biography of Will Cather coming out in November! So exciting. Thought this would be of interest to the #catherbuddyread gang 🙂

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/672433/chasing-bright-medusas-by-benjam...

Lcsmcat Cool! Thanks for sharing! 7mo

sisilia Wow! I‘ve only read one of her books (The Professor‘s House). Which is your fav? 7mo

batsy @sisilia There were v few misses during the buddy read. I liked The Professor's House but I have a soft spot for O Pioneers, The Song of the Lark, and Death Comes for the Archbishop. 7mo

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batsy @Lcsmcat my pleasure! 7mo

batsy @Graywacke tagging in case you missed this 🙂 7mo

Graywacke Yes, i did miss. Thanks for the tag. This looks good! 7mo

Suet624 I‘ll be curious to read it. My mother contributed to a biography of Willa because her aunt lived with Cather for 40 years. It‘s pretty comprehensive.

The Only Wonderful Things: The Creative Partnership of Willa Cather and Edith Lewis

7mo

batsy @Suet624 I think I recall you mentioning it before! That's very cool. I have it on my list. 7mo

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Currey

Willa Cather - One of Ours | Willa Cather

pick

#catherbuddyread #whartonbuddyread After reading Wharton it is cleansing to read Cather again. Her descriptions, her faith in her flawed characters, and her eloquent prose add up to something purer than Wharton. This was not my favorite Cather but I still really appreciated it. One more Cather to go as I joined the buddyread late. And back to Wharton and her cruel, greedy, broken but oh so delightful to read about characters.

CarolynM I haven‘t known how to express my feelings about the comparison between Cather and Wharton, but I think you‘ve nailed it👏 2y

Graywacke Glad you enjoyed this. I still think about Claude all the time (and his curious wife). 1y

21 likes2 comments

Graywacke

Death Comes for the Archbishop | Willa Cather

#littenswanttoknow @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I don‘t reread much, but I do actually enjoy it the rare times i do. This stands out because it was my first by Cather, a book I randomly picked up, and which won me over. And then I read it again with the #catherbuddyread, after having read lots of her novels. This second time, with all this Cather behind me, I saw it as absolutely brilliant. Is there anything else out there like it?

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Graywacke

Death Comes for the Archbishop | Willa Cather

#Alphabetgame #LetterD @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This is a special book for me. It was my 1st by Cather, the one that led to the #catherbuddyread here on Litsy, and, upon rereading, is easily an all time favorite. Embracing the natural and spiritual without ever saying so. A novel outside the every day and one to meditate on.

I‘ll put some other D‘s in the comments.

@Currey @jewright : want to play?

catebutler

Graywacke Some more D‘s
The Dart League King-Keith Lee Morris
The David Story-1 & 2 Samuel translated by Robert Alter
Davita‘s Harp-Chaim Potok
The Decameron-Boccaccio
The Deer Pasture-Rick Bass
Desert-J-M G. Le Clézio 2y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing!! 2y

batsy Oh yes! This was going to be my pick, as well. Such a gorgeous novel. 2y

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Cathythoughts I must read this one. I read My Antonia years ago. I‘m going mad I missed the Cather buddy read. 2y

Cathythoughts Litsy continues to unfold ♥️ 2y

vivastory I really need to read Cather📚 2y

Graywacke @batsy agree, it is gorgeous. (I hope I didn‘t lead you to change your pick. 🙁) 2y

Graywacke @Cathythoughts @vivastory Cather is unique - Jamesian and New York aware, yet very interested in the natural world, and, on and off, the spiritual world. (She wasn‘t Catholicism, but was fascinates by Catholics). She played with different styles and mixed them and fought with them. Death is entirely her own style. It‘s unlike all her other books, and yet clearly in tune with them. So it‘s good on it‘s own, but better if you read her other stuff. 2y

Graywacke @Cathythoughts @vivastory (as i continue to go ridiculously overboard) obviously I recommend her. It‘s interesting, as I‘m reading Wharton now, also Jamesian. Wharton is a more sophisticated writer, but comparatively clueless about the natural world. Wharton is actually imitable. (I adore Wharton). Cather, sadly, isn‘t. A writer would have had to live her life, in her time, to write like her. 2y

vivastory What would you say is a good starting point for Cather? I'm going book shopping for my birthday in a few weeks and I'm starting to make a list. I appreciate the thoughtful, detailed response! 2y

Graywacke @vivastory hmm. You might want more than one opinion. ? I think My Ántonia is a good first book. Death Comes for the Archbishop was my first and it worked for me. But if you get into her, you might find it‘s a book to revisit. A Lost Lady and My Mortal Enemy are short gems. Can be ready anytime. My Mortal Enemy isn‘t a bad lead into Death Comes - because they both have Catholic themes. 2y

vivastory Thanks for the feedback! Adding both Death Comes & My Antonia to my list. I'm looking forward to reading her. I've been meaning to for awhile now. 2y

Graywacke @vivastory Thanks for asking. I hope you are able to take to one of those (and I hope my far too over-confident comments hold up for you. 🙂) 2y

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Graywacke

The Pelican Shakespeare: Sonnets | William Shakespeare

#shakespearereadalong #catherbuddyread - A Song of the Lark reference, Sonnet 29

Imagining Cather‘s opera singer, feeling outcast, dusting off the Colorado sand hills, yet in a state, while singing, richer than kings.

batsy

Readergrrl I love reading sonnets! As an English teacher, I suppose I probably enjoy them more than most, but I just love the wordplay and imagery so much! 2y

Graywacke @Readergrrl My first time trying to read them. They are difficult. But something is coming through. I‘m enjoying my slow trek through. They beg to be read in different ways. 2y

Readergrrl Very true. I‘ve been reading them for years and I still find new ways to interpret them. That‘s the beauty! As I age, I think my own life perspectives change and so do my understandings of these poems. Enjoy! 2y

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TheBookHippie I think sonnets are new everytime I read them! Some seem easier than others. 2y

batsy That's a lovely image. Feels so apt with regards to the book... 2y

Graywacke @Readergrrl I‘m definitely enjoying the time with them. @TheBookHippie of course, I‘ll have to revisit. @batsy Cather… special writer. 2y

37 likes6 comments

Graywacke

Five Years: Fire in the sky. 1 | Terry Moore

Well, five years it is then. Who knew I‘d get so involved in #shakespearereadalong … or that something like the #catherbuddyread would happen … and evolve into the #whartonbuddyread and other buddy reads? Who knew I would get so involved in, and so much enjoyment out of this world and all you wonderful readers? Thanks Littens! 💙

IuliaC Happy Litsyversary! 🥳 2y

PageShifter Happy Litsyversary!! And you have so much going on 🥰 I love it! 2y

TheKidUpstairs Happy Litsyversary! 2y

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Deblovestoread Happy Litsyversary 🎉 2y

Cathythoughts Happy Litsyversary ❤️🎂 and thank you too ! 2y

DisneyFan Happy Litversary! I just joined and hope I can have as many fun experiences too! 2y

batsy Thank you for your thoughtful posts 💜 Happy Litsyversary! 🎉📚📚📚 2y

xicanti Happy Litsyversary! 2y

CoffeeNBooks Happy Litsyversary! 2y

Ruthiella Happy Litsyversary! 🥳🥳🥳 2y

Ddzmini Happy Litsyversary 🎊🎉🥳📖 2y

Liz_M Thank you for making Litsy a better place. 😊 2y

eeclayton Happy Litsyversary! 🎉🎉🎉 2y

Mollyanna Happy Litsyversary 🎉🎉🎉 2y

BarbaraBB What a coincidence we joined Litsy two days apart! Thank you for being here and adding so much to this community 🤍 2y

JessClark78 Happy Litsyversary! 🎊📚🎉 2y

Graywacke @IuliaC @TheKidUpstairs @Kdgordon88 @xicanti @CoffeeNBooks @Ruthiella @Ddzmini @eeclayton @Mollyanna @JessClark78 thanks all! 🙂 2y

Graywacke @PageShifter thanks. Litsy does that - all that stuff that ends going on. 🙂 2y

Graywacke @Cathythoughts awe, you‘re welcome! ☺️ 2y

Graywacke @DisneyFan this is a great place of positive energy and maybe even book inspirations. Enjoy! 2y

Graywacke @batsy can‘t remember what the world was like before we started talking books here. Thanks. Cheers. 2y

Graywacke @Liz_M well, back at you! 2y

Graywacke @BarbaraBB well, see…😁 yes, but I joined and then didn‘t do anything…for like 9 months. Then I stumbled across advice on how this works and this little app opened up. But, originally it was someone‘s message in CR that June that led me to first check this out. I‘m curious if you responded to the same message. Also thanks B. 💙 2y

BarbaraBB That is very well possible! 2y

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Lcsmcat

A Lost Lady | Willa Cather

One I‘d never heard of until the #catherbuddyread that #beginswithLost. @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Soubhiville Cool cover. 2y

Lcsmcat @Soubhiville Thanks. It‘s from a 1970s set of Cather‘s novels published by Vintage. I have three or four in this version and the artwork is all by the same woman. 2y

Eggs Beautiful and dreamy!!! 2y

38 likes3 comments

Cathythoughts

The Age of Innocence | Edith Wharton

I‘ve been reading a good bit of Edith Wharton recently.. currently reading & loving ‘Glimpses of the Moon ‘.. so when I happened to see this film on our Saturday matinee on TV today , I had to stop & watch .. I received this beautiful copy from you , Suba @batsy ( about 4 years ago .. time flies) & I treasure it dearly 🙏

rockpools How lovely! 3y

Cathythoughts @Rockpools Yes ! The movie is very good ( the book I loved ) Michelle Pheiffer , Winona Ryder, Daniel Day Lewis .. directed by Martin Scorsese… … I rest my case 👍🏻❤️ (edited) 3y

batsy 💜 Where does the time go? And yes, a beautiful book and film... It's been a long time since I watched it & feel the need to watch it again now :) 3y

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Leftcoastzen What a wonderful post ! Litsy friends , a great book and a film I need to watch again , it‘s been far too long. 3y

TrishB Beautiful book ❤️ 3y

Tamra Such a beautiful edition! 3y

Nute Love this post and the continued friendship between two readers ( @batsy ) from the initial sharing of a book. Just beautiful!💕 3y

Cathythoughts @batsy It‘s so well done 👌🏻 I couldn‘t fault it ! 3y

Cathythoughts @Leftcoastzen Yes ! All that 😁 & well worth another watch 😍 3y

Cathythoughts @TrishB @Tamra it really is & I could show off the end papers too .. beautiful 😍 3y

Cathythoughts @Nute I know ❤️ 3y

LeahBergen I loved that film. I should watch it again soon. 😍 3y

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen It‘s so good ❤️💫 3y

nathandrake1997 Books are the best kind of gifts ❤️ Recently my cousin gifted me two books and I'm over the moon 😄❤️ 3y

Cathythoughts @nathandrake1997 They are the best ❤️lovely to get books from your cousin 😍 3y

CarolynM Do you know about the #whartonbuddyread group? It's a follow on from the #catherbuddyread. We're only up to her third book, Sanctuary. 3y

Cathythoughts @CarolynM Thanks! I did see some posts & was getting curious … I‘ll investigate that 👍🏻❤️ 3y

Cathythoughts @CarolynM I havnt read Sanctuary… I‘ll get a copy 👍🏻 3y

CarolynM 👍 3y

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Lcsmcat

Edith Wharton: Complete Works | Edith Wharton

Survey monkey says, Edith Wharton is up next. I‘m going to tag all the #catherbuddyread folks, but please let @Graywacke and me know if you want off the list, or if you‘re not tagged and want on. The Mount, Wharton‘s home, has a website with a list of her published works here: https://www.edithwharton.org/discover/published-works/ The earlier are in the public domain (in the US at least) and can be found at Project Gutenberg.

Lcsmcat Is July a good time to start, to let everyone get the book? 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke @CarolynM @batsy @jewright @Louise @Sace @Tamra @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @Currey @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @crazeedi @mdm139 @Tanisha_A @emilyhaldi @rubyslippersreads @KathyWheeler 3y

jewright I love Edith Wharton! I‘ve been out of the loop. Which book are we starting? 3y

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Lcsmcat @jewright The Touchstone is first on the list at The Mount, so unless someone has another plan, let‘s start with that. 3y

Lcsmcat And we need a new hashtag! Ideas? 3y

CarolynM July is good for me. Looking forward to reading my first Wharton🙂 Thanks Linda 3y

Tamra I wish I could because I sooo love Wharton! 3y

Lcsmcat @Tamra We tend to spread things out (we spent 2 years on Cather‘s novels) so feel free to join us when you can. Do you want to stay on the list? 3y

batsy Thank you for this! I'm fine with July too as The Touchstone is available on Gutenberg and that's great :) 3y

Currey I‘m in for July but wonder if we should start with Fast and Loose which the Mount mentions as her first book even if they did put it at the bottom of the list. Perhaps it is not available. I did not look. 3y

Tamra @Lcsmcat yes, please! 3y

Lcsmcat @Currey Fast and Loose was written first, but published last. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/17/books/finishing-off-edith-wharton.html so I think it‘s still under copyright. But it is available in paperback if the group wishes to start with it. 3y

Currey @Lcsmcat Oh, got it. Happy to start with The touchstone then 3y

Graywacke Thanks @Lcsmcat ! July is great for me. Either novel is ok, but if we do F&L we may want to save extra time for book deliveries (curious title). I‘m getting excited. Hashtags - hmm 🤔 3y

Graywacke From Wikipedia: “in 1877, at the age of 15, she secretly wrote a 30,000 word novella Fast and Loose.” Based off that line, and considering she didn‘t publish another novella until she was ~38… I‘m thinking i would rather read F&L after i have read other novels. 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke @currey I think it might be better to save F&L for when we can appreciate its potential, after we‘ve got a feel for Wharton‘s style. 3y

rubyslippersreads July and The Touchstone are fine with me. 3y

arubabookwoman Thanks for setting this up! I love Edith Wharton, and thought I had read most of her novels, but I see there are a lot I've missed, and most of the ones I've read I want to reread. See you all in July. 3y

Louise Thank you for organizing this. I‘m looking forward to exploring Wharton‘s work with all of you. 3y

TEArificbooks July and Touchstone are fine with me too, thanks for organizing 3y

Graywacke I splurged $1 plus tax for my Kindle copy. What day in July did you have in mind? 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke The last of the big spenders 😀! I just emailed you some organizational questions. 3y

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Graywacke

Alexander's Bridge | Willa Cather

so-so

Cather‘s first, and for the #catherbuddyread our last novel. I like how she mixes the tension of the bridge and that within Alexander‘s mind with the tension in the prose. WC wrote an essay very critical of this book, which is partially an outlier, but also has elements of her later work. I enjoyed it, but don‘t feel any special relationship towards it. Not like with Death Comes for the Archbishop or Tom Outland‘s Story or…

Lcsmcat

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