Litsy

Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Biography | William Anderson

I have been listening to this podcast series during the summer. I will warn you that your notion of Laura and The #littlehouse series will be changed. Highly recommended.

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-wilder-112847598/

23 likes

BarbaraJean

The First Four Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder

so-so

Catching up on July reviews!

The final book in the #LittleHouse series was published from Wilder‘s unedited manuscript, and has a much different feel than the rest of the books in the series. I‘m glad it was published and I did enjoy reading about the first few years of Laura and Almanzo‘s married life, but it felt very thin in comparison to the other books. There was so much that I wish had been fleshed out more. And holy cow, the ending! ⤵️

BarbaraJean I‘m so glad @megnews hosted this buddy read—it was my first time reading the series and it was such a great experience reading along with the group. I understand now why these books are so beloved, why they‘re so problematic, and also why they‘re still such a valuable historical resource. And this marks a series finished for #SeriesLove2023! @TheSpineView @Andrew65 (edited) 1y

TheSpineView Excellent! 1y

AnnR Lovely review. I also wish the book had been completed and edited. This one was difficult for me to get through. 1y

jewright I always find the part about the baby boy so heart breaking. 1y

37 likes4 comments

Vansa

Little House on the Prairie (Little House, #2) | Laura Ingalls Wilder

This is a deeply heartfelt thank you post to @megnews for hosting the #LittleHouse buddy read.I cannot begin to tell you just how much I've loved this-so much more I noticed reading as an adult.The books are a valuable female-centric account of how the west was won.Of course there's racism,and the wilful elision of how much they were helped by government policy.

Vansa Having said that,I found this account of a life extraordinary enough to also read Prairie Fires,and Prairie Girl. 1y

AnnR @Vansa I'll be interested in your thoughts on both books. I was considering a reread of (edited) Pioneer Girl but am still thinking on it. Currently using the book under a computer monitor to make it stand higher on my desk. It is such a big book! (edited) 1y

Vansa @Ann_Reads still reading both! Will post once I'm done 😀 1y

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Vansa @Ann_Reads since you've read Prairie Girl, what did you think of it? Would you recommend it as a companion piece to the Little House books? 1y

AnnR @Vansa It has been quite a few years since I read 'Pioneer Girl' but I would recommend it as a companion piece to the fictionalized Little House series. It is a more measured nonfiction account of Laura's life during the Little House years and beyond. There are also a lot of photos from the first edition of the Little House series. (I edited the incorrect title in my prior comment. Ooops. Typo! Sorry. 😬) 1y

AnnR Another nonfiction account I was considering reading:

The Selected Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder

16 likes1 stack add6 comments

megnews

The First Four Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder

so-so

I didn‘t care for this final installment of the #LittleHouse series as much as the others. Perhaps it‘s the writing. Perhaps because mischievous Laura is all grown up. While I wish it had been done differently, its inclusion is still an important part of the series.
Thank you to everyone who joined in on this journey. It‘s been a delight.

melissajayne, BarbaraJean, BethM, Vansa, mrp27, Bookwormjillk, staci.reads, keys_on_fire, sblbooks, TheAromaofBooks, Roary47, julieclair, AnnR

Bookwormjillk I agree with you about this book, but am really grateful that you hosted. 1y

TheAromaofBooks Thank you so much for leading this series readalong!! I have been meaning to revisit these books for years, and being able to do so with such a delightful group of readers increased my enjoyment so much. Now that I'm an adult, I wish Laura had written more about her own adult life, because I would have loved more details. She an Almanzo were married over 60 years!! 1y

julieclair I am so thankful for the opportunity to finally read these books, and to discuss them with bookish friends. It has been a joy. Thank you SO much for hosting! 💐💖 1y

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mrp27 This is my least favorite book in the series. I agree with it not being fleshed out enough and the tone felt very different from her previous book. Still, an integral part to Laura‘s story. 1y

AnnR Thank you @megnews for all the time and effort you put into leading this fun discussion. I agree with many of the comments above. This was my least favorite book in the series, although it was considered to be an unfinished manuscript when published so maybe that isn't a fair comparison. 1y

sblbooks This was my least favorite as well. Likely because it was not actually finished by Wilder, herself. I'm so glad you decided to do this read along! Thanks so much! 1y

BarbaraJean I agree, this was lacking in comparison to the earlier books. I wish she'd been able to flesh it out to the same level. And holy crap, the ending! I couldn't believe that's where the series ends! I understand publishing the manuscript as is, but maybe Rose could have added an epilogue? Something?!? But I have LOVED this readalong—thank you so much for hosting!! It was my first time reading these & it was a delight to discuss them with everyone. 1y

Vansa I have to say that I found this book fascinating -its quite clearly written for adults,and I loved the details about leading an agricultural life,and the debt traps farmers get into.Its the same still in many countries,where farmers are not able to make profits off something that's so dependent on the vagaries of nature.I found it deeply sad that by the end,she's convincing herself that this is what she wants,when she's not being given a choice. 1y

BethM Not my favorite either but I‘ve loved this read along! 1y

45 likes1 stack add9 comments

mrp27

The First Four Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder

pick

#LittleHouse #SeriesLove2023

Once I started I couldn‘t stop and I finished the final installment of the Little House Series. I loved reading about Laura‘s life as a wife and mother. Thanks for hosting this buddy read @megnews I‘ve enjoyed every minute of it!

Andrew65, TheSpineView

TheSpineView Awesome!📖📚 1y

megnews So glad you joined in. Always a pleasure reading with you! 1y

22 likes2 comments

mrp27

Little House Set | Laura Ingalls Wilder

pick

#LittleHouse

It‘s been a wonderful journey rereading the Little House Series from beginning to end. Reading with adult eyes there were some problematic moments but those should be used to teach and do better. Overall I still adore Laura and her simple stories of pioneer life with her family. There is still much to learn from her books and I hope they continue to be read by generations to come.

megnews

25 likes

BarbaraJean

These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams

pick

This was another delightful book in the #LittleHouse series. I loved seeing Laura grow up through her experiences as a teacher, and her growing romance with Almanzo. The highlight of the book for me may have been her conversation with Almanzo about not using the word “obey” in their wedding vows! 🙌🏼

(Although I still can‘t get over the cover, where it looks like Almanzo had a bad experience with a tanning bed. 🤷🏻‍♀️)

megnews

LeslieO I loved these so much when I was 10 that I‘m afraid to reread them! 1y

BarbaraJean @LeslieO This is the first time I‘ve read them! I do think I would have loved them as a kid, but I‘m also loving them now! 1y

Cathythoughts Sweet cover 💕 1y

44 likes3 comments

megnews

These Happy Golden Years | Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams

What are everyone‘s final thoughts on this installment of the #LittleHouse series?

melissajayne, BarbaraJean, BethM, Vansa, mrp27, Bookwormjillk, staci.reads, sblbooks, TheAromaofBooks, Roary47, julieclair, AnnR

Bookwormjillk This book has always been bittersweet to me. It‘s great the girls found their way, but kind of sad the family isn‘t together any more. 1y

BethM I agree with @Bookwormjillk very bittersweet 1y

BarbaraJean There is definitely a bittersweetness to the ending! But I did love seeing Laura‘s growth here, through her experiences as a teacher and through her relationship with Almanzo. 1y

mrp27 Agreed, bittersweet but I did miss Mary. 1y

julieclair Bittersweet. And I was struck by the differences between Laura‘s wedding (her family didn‘t even attend the ceremony!) and weddings today. And I‘m not convinced she was totally in love with Alamanzo. 1y

36 likes5 comments

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