Josiah Matthews

I loved how Lena is like Willa Cathers in real life. Lena doesn't marry and is independent and then lives with another woman until she dies. Just like Willa Cathers. I also loved the imagery. “When the smoky clouds hung low in the west and the red sun went down behind them, leaving a pink flush on the snowy roofs and the blue drifts, then the wind sprang up afresh, with a kind of bitter song, as if it said: “This is reality, whether you like it or not. All those frivolities of summer, the light, and shadow, the living mask of green that trembled over everything, they were lies, and this is what was underneath. This is the truth.” It was as if we were being punished for loving the loveliness of summer.” Pg. 136 If you are looking for a feel-good story maybe not for you. Because at the beginning of the book, it is all fun and nice then Antonia’s father dies and after Jim moves to town Antonia goes off the deep end. And at the end of the book you are depressed because Jim is lamenting over all the happiness Antonia has because of her family and how Jim wished his life was like that.

I would recommend this book for a literature class if you can dive deep into it. But if you're just reading it for fun I would not recommend it because the storyline is sad, depressing, and creepy

This book was well written I loved the imagery. “The tall one, red-faced, swallowed another sandwich as if taking poison in despair.” Pg. 74 What I didn't like is how much Henry changes his emotions. “They exchanged a secret glance of joy and congratulation. They speedily forgot many things. The past held no pictures of error and disappointment. They were very happy, and their hearts swelled with grateful affection for the colonel and the youthful lieutenant.” Pg. 194 I would recommend this book to someone who likes war books or movies. I would also recommend that if they don't have to do summaries on it then it would be a much more enjoyable read. It gets very confusing between all the different little skirmishes and Henry switching around his emotions when you have to summarize it.

This book was well written I liked the writing style. “He saw Juana arise silently from beside him. He saw her move toward the fireplace. So carefully did she work that he heard only the slightest sound when she moved the fireplace stone. And then like a shadow, she glided toward the door.” Pg. 75 I liked how John Steinbeck drew you in with suspense and you didn't know what would happen next. “Kino edged like a slow lizard down the smooth rock shoulder. He had turned down his neck string so that the great knife hung down from his back and could not clash against the stone. His spread fingers gripped the mountain, and his bare toes found support through contact, and even his chest lay against the stone so that he would not slip. For any sound, a rolling pebble or a sigh, a little slip of flesh on rock, would rouse the watchers below.”

I loved this book! Even though it was sad there was some funny and uplifting stuff in it. It was hard sometimes to follow along with all the slang and accents but you got used to it. I would recommend this book because it teaches everyone about slavery and why it is evil.