My Àntonia chosen for 2009 Susquehanna County Reads

2009 will be the third year for our community reading program, Susquehanna County Reads. We are once again partnering with the Susquehanna County Literacy Program. The program will be held in the Fall--dates will be announced by summer. One hundred thirty-two people voted, and the overwhelming choice was Willa Cather's 1918 novel.

My Àntonia takes place in rural Nebraska at the end of the 19th century. Jim Burden, going to live with his grandparents in Black Hawk, meets and narrates the story of Àntonia Shimerdas, an immigrant from Bohemia. This modernist novel depicts a strong sense of place and nostalgia. Themes include the emotional appeal of the past, the immigrant experience, and pioneer values.

Because My Àntonia is in the public domain, you can read it online:

• Scholarly edition at the Willa Cather Archive
• Illustrated version at Project Gutenberg
• Text-only version at Project Gutenberg

You can listen to or download an audiobook version at the Librivox page.

Many resources are available at the Big Read page for the novel.