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nikilikes's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
belleoftheb00ks's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
thuguely's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
alima's review against another edition
Was listening to this with my kid and forgot about things like spanking and the “darky” song. She’s not old enough for me to explain things like that so I’m uncomfortable with her listening to it!
haren_k's review against another edition
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
nyquilsquirrel's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bargainsleuth's review
4.0
I was much more into the Little House TV show than the books, but one of the few books my parents bought me was By the Shores of Silver Lake. I thought I had read all the books, but about a decade ago I read the collection and realized I hadn't read this, the first book in the series.
As with my beloved Nancy Drew books, which were first published in the 1930s like Little House in the Big Woods, there are some issues with the books. Laura gets disciplined with Pa's belt after she slaps Mary, and Pa sings a song about a "darky". So, yeah, there are problems with the books with today's eyes. I consider any books written in another era a teaching lesson with my kids, and I remember having discussions about some of the other books that were read aloud in my children's class. (Ma's abject fear of the terrible "Indians" comes to mind).
On the other hand, this book, which has no real plot other than surviving in the woods during the 1870s in Wisconsin, spends a lot of time discussing the care in preparing foods, whether for a meal, or for "putting up" for the winter. It's like a basic guide for today's "preppers," It's all very interesting because many people have moved so far away from that way of life. What isn't said, and what one comes to realize when older and reading these books, is the abject poverty Laura Ingalls Wilder lived through, and how her concentration on food in the books is probably because she had food insecurity from her young life in the woods, and on the plains of the Midwest.
I wouldn't cancel this book like some people have tried to do, but as I mentioned above, talking to your kids about what they are reading goes a long way to advancing the conversation about harmful stereotypes and language.
As with my beloved Nancy Drew books, which were first published in the 1930s like Little House in the Big Woods, there are some issues with the books. Laura gets disciplined with Pa's belt after she slaps Mary, and Pa sings a song about a "darky". So, yeah, there are problems with the books with today's eyes. I consider any books written in another era a teaching lesson with my kids, and I remember having discussions about some of the other books that were read aloud in my children's class. (Ma's abject fear of the terrible "Indians" comes to mind).
On the other hand, this book, which has no real plot other than surviving in the woods during the 1870s in Wisconsin, spends a lot of time discussing the care in preparing foods, whether for a meal, or for "putting up" for the winter. It's like a basic guide for today's "preppers," It's all very interesting because many people have moved so far away from that way of life. What isn't said, and what one comes to realize when older and reading these books, is the abject poverty Laura Ingalls Wilder lived through, and how her concentration on food in the books is probably because she had food insecurity from her young life in the woods, and on the plains of the Midwest.
I wouldn't cancel this book like some people have tried to do, but as I mentioned above, talking to your kids about what they are reading goes a long way to advancing the conversation about harmful stereotypes and language.