Beautiful writing, beautifully read

I’ve read the pics author’s pioneer stories, and enjoyed them, but I think this story demonstrates lyrical, poetic writing. The characters come to life, and although not a great deal happens, the blend of characters and the wonderfully expressive reading made it very special.

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Slow burner

Unlike Thea Kronberg, the heroine, a passionate and talented young girl, this semi-autobiographical novel burns slowly, and the 15 hours have taken me months to listen to, the story being not as gripping as my usual fare. I loved My Antonia, and liked O Pioneers! by the same author, but this tale was less engrossing.



The main character here is Thea, a girl from Colorado who eventually succeeds against the odds in becoming an opera singer. Not being an opera fan and not having a word of German, I found the theme less than riveting. There is also a lot about what I'd call "the struggle of the artist, and for integrity" and while I do not dispute that every artist of any sort endures this type of agony, it doesn't make great listening if you've been there before.



The narration was ok, but I found the voice a little harsh.



What I loved was the descriptions of life in a small Colorado town; the landscape; the story of the tramp; the description of remains of the caves of the Pueblo indians. No one does the landscape of the West or MidWest like Willa Cather!

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