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447 reviews for:
Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated
Alison Arngrim
4.13 AVERAGE
447 reviews for:
Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated
Alison Arngrim
4.13 AVERAGE
The actress who played the villain Nellie Oleson on the television show "Little House on the Prairie" shares her experiences on the show and discusses her life, from her bohemian childhood in West Hollywood to her recent charity work involving abused children and HIV awareness.
This book made me so happy. Alison Arngrim, not surprisingly, is the exact opposite of Nellie: a funny, caring, self-aware, absolutely delightful person to spend time with, especially as she guides the reader down a memory lane of "Little House," a show that meant a lot to me, as it did to many others who grew up in the '80s. But unlike many celebrity biographies that trade on unconnected anecdotes, this book actually had a story arc: the reader sees how playing Nellie shaped Alison's life for the better and how Alison has been able to use that experience to do good for others. It was a fast read and one I couldn't wait to get back to every time I had to put it down. So much fun!
This book made me so happy. Alison Arngrim, not surprisingly, is the exact opposite of Nellie: a funny, caring, self-aware, absolutely delightful person to spend time with, especially as she guides the reader down a memory lane of "Little House," a show that meant a lot to me, as it did to many others who grew up in the '80s. But unlike many celebrity biographies that trade on unconnected anecdotes, this book actually had a story arc: the reader sees how playing Nellie shaped Alison's life for the better and how Alison has been able to use that experience to do good for others. It was a fast read and one I couldn't wait to get back to every time I had to put it down. So much fun!
Let me put it this way:
I have never in my life seen a single episode of Little House on the Prairie. I know absolutely zip about Nellie Oleson. And yet I read this book in 2 days and gave it 4 stars. What does that say to you?
I have never in my life seen a single episode of Little House on the Prairie. I know absolutely zip about Nellie Oleson. And yet I read this book in 2 days and gave it 4 stars. What does that say to you?
A fun, fast, easy read for Little House fans. Alison Arngrim cracks me up. I want to go out and have a few drinks with this woman.
The character you love to hate, she played a great villain and had a lot of terrible experiences to reference.
The story of the girl behind one of the greatest bad girls in TV history - Nellie Oleson. Alison Arngrim tells what horrors she endured during her childhood, what life was like on the set of LHOTP and how she became a stronger woman through playing Nellie.
I didn't love and adore the Little House on the Prairie television show and I always found the character of Nellie Oleson annoying. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Alison's memoir. It was a quick, easy, entertaining read. Alison is refreshingly honest and forthright. Born into an eccentric family of actors, her upbringing was unconventional and tragic. Abused at the hand of her brother and often ignored by her parents, Alison managed to overcome it all, with her humor intact.
The book contains a fair amount of profanity and while I hate vulgarity and find it unnecessary, it wasn't gratuitous. Although it will keep me from giving the book the 5 stars I'd like to give it. The narration is smooth and you can almost imagine yourself sitting next to Alison as she talks about her experiences. Given her personality, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but this wasn't some salacious or haughty tell all book. While we get a lot of behind the scene experiences and quite a bit of dishing, we also get Alison's honest commentary and observations.
Where Melissa Gilbert wanted to shatter people's perceptions of herself in her memoir, Alison Arngrim simply brings us into her world to discover who she really is. Her life was touched by abuse and AIDS and I appreciate how she used her celebrity to help others and bring attention to these issues.
The book contains a fair amount of profanity and while I hate vulgarity and find it unnecessary, it wasn't gratuitous. Although it will keep me from giving the book the 5 stars I'd like to give it. The narration is smooth and you can almost imagine yourself sitting next to Alison as she talks about her experiences. Given her personality, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but this wasn't some salacious or haughty tell all book. While we get a lot of behind the scene experiences and quite a bit of dishing, we also get Alison's honest commentary and observations.
Where Melissa Gilbert wanted to shatter people's perceptions of herself in her memoir, Alison Arngrim simply brings us into her world to discover who she really is. Her life was touched by abuse and AIDS and I appreciate how she used her celebrity to help others and bring attention to these issues.
I did hate her! Truth be told, I really didn't like the Little House tv series at all, and only watched it when babysitters made me. But I will read this book! (Can it possibly live up to the title?)
"Any idiot can be liked. It takes talent to scare the crap out of people." (p.xiii)
A great and very quick read. Arngrim's personal voice comes right through with an amazing sense of comedy and audience. She managed to create a happy life for herself despite desperately awful events in her childhood, and came out the other end, not looking for pity, but ready to help others. She deserves a happy ending, and I hope she gets it!
Made me want to watch "Little House," even though it did not appeal to me when it was on the air.
"Any idiot can be liked. It takes talent to scare the crap out of people." (p.xiii)
A great and very quick read. Arngrim's personal voice comes right through with an amazing sense of comedy and audience. She managed to create a happy life for herself despite desperately awful events in her childhood, and came out the other end, not looking for pity, but ready to help others. She deserves a happy ending, and I hope she gets it!
Made me want to watch "Little House," even though it did not appeal to me when it was on the air.
I grew up watching Little House on the Prairie, and to this day have a soft spot for Melissa Gilbert. I had no idea that the actor responsible for Nellie Oleson had such a backstory.
I really enjoyed getting to know her better through her book and learning about the behind-the-scene scenes of LHOP. I admire Ms. Arngrim for using her celebrity status to bring attention to important humanitarian causes, and appreciate her sense of humor and willingness to share herself with the public.
I really enjoyed getting to know her better through her book and learning about the behind-the-scene scenes of LHOP. I admire Ms. Arngrim for using her celebrity status to bring attention to important humanitarian causes, and appreciate her sense of humor and willingness to share herself with the public.