Song of the Lark by Willa Cather Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Song of the Lark
Book Review: Yawn!
Summary: 2 Stars
.Thankfully Cather discovered you can do more with less (The Professor's House and Death Comes for the Archbishop) but the novel was sleep-inducing. It's too long. Cather is one of those writers where the longer the work the worst she gets. And it would be different if Thea was totally likeable like Alexandra or Antonia but she comes across as condescending throughout most of the novel. That's a minor flaw to me compared with the fact the climax of the novel is so subtle, you'll completely miss it if you don't pay attention (hint: Ancient People). I mean I read all through tedium for that! This novel would have made a good short story but it has no business being boring like it is.
Plot summary so you don't miss anything (and believe me you won't): Thea grows up in a judgmental small town. She leaves. She struggles. She finds herself. She becomes famous. Her supporters bask in her glory. The end.
If you are new to Cather, stay away and start with many a favorite "O Pioneers!" or "My Antonia". I only lightly recommend it for hardcore Cather fans.
Book Review: art for arts sake
Summary: 4 Stars
The Song Of The Lark is Cathers third novel and is her longest novel.The length is the biggest a very good n of the book it feels padded at times but overall the novel is very good. Thea Kronborg the protagonist is a small town music teacher who throught the death of her lover gets an inheritance that enables her to leave her small Colorado town and move to Chicago to develope her signing voice. She succeeds in doing so but her singleminded devotion to her music leads to frustration and other negative consequences in her personal life. This potrait of the aridness of small town life and the obsessiveness of an artist totally dedicated to excellence in her art is a very good novel only some padded scenes that go too long or are needlessly repetitive keep it from 5 stars