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2.43 AVERAGE
2.43 AVERAGE
I read this RIGHT after reading Alison Argrim's book and boy was I confused. Alison describes "Missy" as withdrawn, snooty, and going through so many childhood problems of her own that no one really knew her at all. So I was interested to see that MSA saw herself as a pretty outgoing, happy and adjusted young woman. Not saying she isn't but the books couldn't have been more opposite. Perhaps I would have liked this book more if I had read it first, but I went in expecting to find out why MSA was so withdrawn from the rest of the cast and was shocked to find out she really didnt view it that way at all
There are a lot of things Melissa Sue Anderson is good at, like being a mother, an Emmy Award winning actress... However, writing is not one of them. The writing is OK at best. There is little sense of the writer's personality. It has limited range. I would even say it was written for teens, if any of them know even who she is.
I picked up the book because I have always been a fan of Little House on the Prairie. I had read Prairie Tale by Melissa Gilbert. I had a copy of Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Arngrim on order at the bookstore. This book isn't eve in the same league. As a fan, I did not need constant plot summaries of various episodes. I remember them. If I want plot summaries I'll check the booklet w/ my DVD boxed sets.
I picked up the book because I have always been a fan of Little House on the Prairie. I had read Prairie Tale by Melissa Gilbert. I had a copy of Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Arngrim on order at the bookstore. This book isn't eve in the same league. As a fan, I did not need constant plot summaries of various episodes. I remember them. If I want plot summaries I'll check the booklet w/ my DVD boxed sets.
The reviews for this book really run the gamut from 1 to 5 stars. Having read Prairie Tale by Melissa Gilbert and Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Arngrim, I was curious to learn Melissa Sue Anderson's perspective.
Melissa's story is certainly interesting. Perhaps not as salacious as the other two, but still interesting. Both Melissa Gilbert and Alison Arngrim talk about Melissa Sue Anderson in fairly negative terms and, from their stories, it is clear that the three were not real friends. By them, she is portrayed as haughty and snotty and stuck up. But, from Melissa Anderson's perspective, she simply states that the girls weren't encouraged to be good friends. I inferred that because she was older, she had her own life and interests and they didn't include strong associations with all of her fellow cast members. She had nothing overly negative to say about Melissa or Alison.
It's apparent that Melissa values her privacy and there aren't any tabloidesque stories here, probably because that is not how she seemed to live her life. She left show business several years after Little House, when she got married and wanted to raise her family. I have a great deal of respect for people who make that decision and stick with it.
Melissa talks about some of the Mary-centric episodes that she did on Little House and provides commentary about her experiences filming those episodes, especially the blind ones. I found that commentary enlightening.
Overall, Melissa's story is a bit more sterile than other, recent Little House memoirs, but it is also an interesting look at life on one of America's favorite television shows.
Melissa's story is certainly interesting. Perhaps not as salacious as the other two, but still interesting. Both Melissa Gilbert and Alison Arngrim talk about Melissa Sue Anderson in fairly negative terms and, from their stories, it is clear that the three were not real friends. By them, she is portrayed as haughty and snotty and stuck up. But, from Melissa Anderson's perspective, she simply states that the girls weren't encouraged to be good friends. I inferred that because she was older, she had her own life and interests and they didn't include strong associations with all of her fellow cast members. She had nothing overly negative to say about Melissa or Alison.
It's apparent that Melissa values her privacy and there aren't any tabloidesque stories here, probably because that is not how she seemed to live her life. She left show business several years after Little House, when she got married and wanted to raise her family. I have a great deal of respect for people who make that decision and stick with it.
Melissa talks about some of the Mary-centric episodes that she did on Little House and provides commentary about her experiences filming those episodes, especially the blind ones. I found that commentary enlightening.
Overall, Melissa's story is a bit more sterile than other, recent Little House memoirs, but it is also an interesting look at life on one of America's favorite television shows.
I was excited to get this book on a "Lucky Day" at the library, and was very disappointed. It was basically a summary of every episode of LHOP that she was in, and frankly, I've seen the episodes. The book was very detached, and there was very little insight, positive or negative.
I was excited when I saw this book as Mary was always my favorite character on Little House on the Prairie, but it was a little disappointing. The majority of the book was rehashing some on the episodes of each season of the show. I wasn't looking for dirt or gossip, but it was so detached and emotionless that it felt like someone was watching the shows and commenting, not being retold by someone who was on the show from the beginning.
She talked very little about the other people on the show and it appears as though she was not friends with anyone on the show, nor has she kept in touch with them. Micheal Landon was spoken about more than the others, but when she commented on his death it was one short sentence, no comment on how she felt about it or how it impacted her.
There were parts of this book that I found very interesting, but I wish it had been more personal so that I could have at least known how she herself felt about that part of her life.
She talked very little about the other people on the show and it appears as though she was not friends with anyone on the show, nor has she kept in touch with them. Micheal Landon was spoken about more than the others, but when she commented on his death it was one short sentence, no comment on how she felt about it or how it impacted her.
There were parts of this book that I found very interesting, but I wish it had been more personal so that I could have at least known how she herself felt about that part of her life.
informative
medium-paced
reflective
slow-paced
emotional
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
My brother got me hooked on Little House on the Prairie: The Tv Show a few months ago. As with many things I was unable to like it a normal amount and fell down the rabbit hole of seeking out any and all information about the series. This inevitably led me to the Little House girls’ memoirs. I’m currently in the middle of Melissa Gilbert’s, but I read this one and Allison Arngrim’s a while back.
The Way I See It has absolutely nothing to make it special or interesting. Melissa Gilbert and Allison Arngrim are quite candid about their experiences in Hollywood, their faults, the way their parents failed them, dirty deeds, etc. Allison Arngrim in particular managed to bring a lot of charm and wit to a very heavy, sad circumstance in her life.
Melissa Anderson is very clearly protective of her public persona. There is absolutely no shame in that. I’m also aware we aren’t owed anything about her life. It’s her right to maintain her privacy.
That being said, the entire point of a memoir is to get a special look into a persons’ life. Her general disinterest in revealing absolutely anything that could reflect negatively on her or her upbringing made for a boring memoir. Most of it ended up being rote, dry summations of episodes of Little House that majorly featured Mary. She offered very little new information nor a unique perspective on shooting these episodes. What she did share was carefully curated anecdotes designed to not give too much away.
It’s easily the least entertaining of the three memoirs. I don’t need secrets or gossip or disorderly conduct. Memoirs about average people who have faced extraordinary circumstances can be just as amazing if not more so than those about famous people. The most important part is that the person involved wholeheartedly throws themself into the venture. I can’t say for certain Melissa Anderson didn’t try her darndest, but the lackluster outcome is the same in the end so it’s not like it makes a difference either way if she did or not.
The Way I See It has absolutely nothing to make it special or interesting. Melissa Gilbert and Allison Arngrim are quite candid about their experiences in Hollywood, their faults, the way their parents failed them, dirty deeds, etc. Allison Arngrim in particular managed to bring a lot of charm and wit to a very heavy, sad circumstance in her life.
Melissa Anderson is very clearly protective of her public persona. There is absolutely no shame in that. I’m also aware we aren’t owed anything about her life. It’s her right to maintain her privacy.
That being said, the entire point of a memoir is to get a special look into a persons’ life. Her general disinterest in revealing absolutely anything that could reflect negatively on her or her upbringing made for a boring memoir. Most of it ended up being rote, dry summations of episodes of Little House that majorly featured Mary. She offered very little new information nor a unique perspective on shooting these episodes. What she did share was carefully curated anecdotes designed to not give too much away.
It’s easily the least entertaining of the three memoirs. I don’t need secrets or gossip or disorderly conduct. Memoirs about average people who have faced extraordinary circumstances can be just as amazing if not more so than those about famous people. The most important part is that the person involved wholeheartedly throws themself into the venture. I can’t say for certain Melissa Anderson didn’t try her darndest, but the lackluster outcome is the same in the end so it’s not like it makes a difference either way if she did or not.