laurarosereadathon

On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane

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I loved this book, Laura‘s diary about the family‘s move by covered wagon from DeSmet, South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri in 1894. Laura was a keen observer of land and crops, whether people kept their places neat and clean or if they were “shiftless,” & the prices of everything. It provides insight into her true writing style & what she cared about. Dry but enlightening view of middle America at the turn of the century. Fascinating! ⬇️

Texreader #october8in2 readathon #scarathlon #teamslaughter (6 points) @Clwojick #laurarosereadathon 4y

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Texreader

On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane

Mansfield, Missouri in 1894. #laurarosereadathon

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Texreader

On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane

Rose again! Surprise! #laurarosereadathon

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Texreader

On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane

I‘m finally finishing this one that I started during the #LauraRosereadathon. It sheds light on the relationship between mother and daughter. In Laura‘s diary about the family‘s move from DeSmet, South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, 75% into the diary, this is the first time (I believe) she‘s referred to Rose by name. Rose was 7 years old. I think they barely knew each other. Rose has been raised by the Ingalls because Laura and Manly had ⬇️

rubyslippersreads, Daisey, catebutler, Sace, GingerAntics

Texreader diphtheria and the family wasn‘t sure if they‘d survive. We learn more about their horse Prince and Fido, the dog they adopt along the way rather than Rose. Laura is very interested in the crops they see, and the cost of land and crops and coal. 4y

catebutler So interesting! I do think this had a big part of why they never truly came together as mother and daughter. There was no solid connection at a young age to cement their bond. 4y

rubyslippersreads It‘s very sad that Rose didn‘t have the close relationship with her parents that Laura had with hers. 4y

GingerAntics Well, that certainly explains a lot about Rose‘s driving need to get away from her parents, then. Crops, land, pets, and money were all more important to them than their own daughter. Laura and Almonzo really are not the lovely, kind, nice people the show made them out to be. 4y

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GingerAntics

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

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The choice to make this a pick is probably going to shock some people, but that‘s okay.

I‘ve heard people say “if you love the Little House books, don‘t read this book.” I don‘t think it matters. Either you‘re open to the possibility that those books are actually works of fiction, or you‘re not. Either you‘re open to the possibility that Laura doesn‘t always believe in doing the right thing, or you‘re not. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

GingerAntics If you‘re not, this won‘t change you‘re mind. It will just be a waste of your time. If you are, you‘re in for a wild ride. Neither Laura nor Rose are particularly likeable women. Be prepared for the “always do the right thing” family to commit tax fraud and recommend tax evasion. Quite frankly, the word that comes most readily to mind when thinking of these women is: vile. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 4y

GingerAntics The views expressed by Rose and Laura aren‘t even consistent within themselves. Everyone just needs to work hard in order to be successful is followed by some people are just too low born to have any hope of bettering themselves, no matter how hard they work. This is followed by, those who are not successful are getting what they deserve. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 (edited) 4y

GingerAntics So according to the Ingles Wilder/Wilder Lane logic, hard work makes everyone successful, unless you‘re too low born, then there is no helping you, but it‘s your fault you were low born. Their entire world view is based on a misunderstanding (that still exists today) of the Horatio Alger Myth. Rose has pointed out the flaw in her own thinking and hasn‘t even realised it. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 4y

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GingerAntics Not everyone can pull themselves up by their boot straps because not everyone is born with boots. Unlike Horatio Alger‘s characters, not everyone born without boots has someone come along and hand them boots. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 4y

GingerAntics I have only one complaint about the actual book itself (Woodside‘s writing). The book argues that Rose was a self made intellectual. She implies on at least a few occasions that Rose Wilder Lane was a classic autodidact. So why does Woodside reduce her to a number on the scale/the size of her waistline when she could have just said Rose had noticeably aged? 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 4y

GingerAntics Woodside has photos in the back. People could have figured it out for themselves. Instead, she called her “white-haired” and “overweight.” So even thought Woodside is arguing that this woman is brilliant and made herself that way with no outside help, she‘s still only as valuable as her weight. Why does her appearance make any difference? It makes no sense. #ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon (edited) 4y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick This isn't a book I would read but it's been fun reading the quotes you highlighted and your thoughts. 4y

GingerAntics @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick you and me both. If it hadn‘t been on sale ($2), another litten hadn‘t started a group read of it, and there wasn‘t a moment I was apparently feeling a bit crazy, I wouldn‘t have read it either. Not that you mention it, I have no idea how on Earth I ended up reading this book. How did I get here? What day is this? (Seriously thought it was Sunday when I woke up this morning.) 🤣😂🤣 4y

Bette 😳 wow. 😯 Having grown up with those books your review is eye opening. Thanks for sharing. 4y

GingerAntics @Bette luckily I never could get into the books, but I was obsessed with the show. At first, I was able to view the show as more of a Michael Landon creation and very separate from the books, because really it is, but I‘m starting to see the subtle messaging in the show, too. It‘s hard to realise something you loved as a child, something you idolised, would label you “low born” and that there was no use in someone like me trying. 4y

GingerAntics @Bette good thing I didn‘t listen to the RL people in my childhood who said those things, so knowing one of my favourite shows was also saying it probably would have just made me not like the show. Still, that madness shouldn‘t be in a children‘s show. Period. 4y

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GingerAntics

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Don‘t tell the guy writing the book on “The Faith of Laura Ingles Wilder.” He‘ll be heartbroken and so will his wife. (She reads to him while he‘s driving and he reads to her while she‘s doing chores.)
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

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GingerAntics

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

I would LOVE to talk to these folks, because I have never heard of them. I would love to hear their thoughts on this, especially since most “progressive, left-wing” readers and parents are moving to other, similar books due to the racism and prejudice in this series.
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

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GingerAntics

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

I can‘t speak for all of them, but the ones I know love them because they uphold tradition gender roles.
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

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GingerAntics

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

The answer is, she couldn‘t, unless there are some “lost” or “hidden” works of fiction by LIW that no one knows about, even now. Maybe Rose burned those when she died. #sarcasm
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

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GingerAntics

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside