It’s probably been a few decades since I read Willa Cather, and I probably read it for my undergraduate degree. So, I was surprised and delighted to get so much more out of the work now with more life experience and interest. O Pioneers! tracks the lives of immigrant farms in the heartland.

In recent years, I’ve been reading more U.S. history and have been especially interested in women’s stories and women’s journeys. This book was perfect: excellently written, lovely scenes to spend time in, and people whose stories I cared about. I could hear her influence in rural writers like Wendell Berry.

I also spent more time learning about Cather. And of course now I want to read more.