The Rippey Library Book Club is resuming for the fall and winter, and will begin with “My Antonia” by Willa Cather. 20 books are on loan to the Rippey Library from the Boone Municipal Library and will be available for checking out beginning Friday October 26th.
“My Antonia” is about 300 pages and was written in 1918. This fiction is written about Black Hawk, Nebraska, and focuses on the story of new immigrants, and their lives. The author, Willa Cather spent her childhood in Red Cloud, Nebraska. This work is often cited as a tribute to the spirit of the pioneers and the settling of the wild prairies lands.
An orphaned ten-year-old Jim Burden is sent to live with his grandparents on their farm in the country, just outside the town of Black Hawk, Nebraska. He is not the only one to discover and explore the country; early on, he meets the immigrant Bohemian family, the Shimerdas, who have come to Nebraska at the same time as Jim's arrival. They are the Burdens' nearest neighbors. Antonia Shimerda, the elder daughter, becomes his good friend and pupil. Antonia's father, Mr. Shimerda, who Jim finds to be intelligent and genteel, asks Jim to teach Antonia English. The Shimerdas have a hard life on the farm; they are very poor and live in a shabby dugout, but Antonia remains dedicated and determined to improve the conditions of her life and her family's.
The book discussion will be Tuesday November 13th at 7:00 PM at the Rippey Library Meeting Room. The discussion will be led by Mr. Lawrence Geisler of Churdan.
Lawrence has visited Red Cloud, Nebraska, the girl hood home of Willa Cather and has numerous experiences to tell about the visit he made to this area.
You may check out the book, or purchase your own, but please notify Librarian Toni Roberts of your interest in attending the book discussion group, as it will be limited to the first 15 persons.
This event will be hosted by the Rippey Library Board, snacks will be provided. There is no registration charge for attending the discussion