Willa Cather's My Ántonia

Here's a book about ultimate friendship. A book that plays off of the belief that when you make a real friend, a friend you respect, a friend you love, you can make a connection with that friend forever. H.L. Mencken, an American critic commented that, "No romantic novel ever written in America . . . is one half so beautiful as My Ántonia.” I enjoyed this book because it is different in the way it is written and I liked the style. I haven't read a lot of modern books lately but I have read some, and it just seems that this kind of novel is not written anymore. The style of writing is unassuming and not straightforward, which requires the reader to insinuate some things. I like that. Does it discuss the open prairie, the expansive Midwest, the bitter but peaceful winters, and the vast, clear sky? Yes. And I understand that hearing this in combination with the word "romantic" may cause you to dismiss this book altogether . . . or draw you to it. Here's my suggestion: let all preconceptions fade away and give it a chance. It's worth the read.