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The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure
laila4343's review against another edition
4.0
Really well-written and interesting even if you're not a huge fan of the Little House books.
therealkathryn's review against another edition
5.0
When I was a little girl, my mother gave me a copy of Little House in the Big Woods. I read it and fell in love with it, with Laura and the Ingalls family and their pioneer life. Mom then showed me a treasure - she had bought all of the books in the series (through These Happy Golden Years) for me and I could read them all right then. I tore through the rest of the books. I still have them - the covers have fallen off of most of them yet they have survived every time I have culled my book collection. Later on I read The First Four Years and Donald Zochert's biography. Later still I read some of the pamphlet-style booklets that tell what happened to others in De Smet and to Laura's sisters (mostly rather sad). I found out more about Laura in later life and about Rose and her influence on the books (also sad). I stopped wanting to find out more; I decided to leave the Little House books and my happy memories of reading about them as they were.
Then a friend told me about The Wilder Life. I lucked into getting an advance copy and from the first pages it was clear that if Wendy McClure and I ever met, we would jump up and down, squealing in our shared Laura and Little House fangirl love. Wendy (I'm going to call her Wendy, clearly we would be BFFs) continued past where I left off, reading the books and taking the trips that I would have loved as a girl.
In The Wilder Life she takes me (and all of us Laura lovers) back to Laura world (her term, and just where I felt I went when I read the books). She churns butter and makes the bread that sustained the Ingalls family through the Long Winter. She explores the good (the attraction of self-sufficiency, the old timey doodads, Laura's spirit) and bad (Ma's anti-Indian racism, the hints of Libertarianism) of the books. She discusses the many biographies of Laura and her family. She visits every one of Laura's homes - no mean feat as the Ingalls family moved often. And she does all of this because of and with a clear love for Laura and the books.
While I wouldn't want to do most of those things, I was very happy to go along with Wendy and see them through her eyes. Reading about Wendy's experiences and experiments felt like a modern-day trip to Laura world. If you grew up a huge fan of the Little House books, you'll love this book too.
Then a friend told me about The Wilder Life. I lucked into getting an advance copy and from the first pages it was clear that if Wendy McClure and I ever met, we would jump up and down, squealing in our shared Laura and Little House fangirl love. Wendy (I'm going to call her Wendy, clearly we would be BFFs) continued past where I left off, reading the books and taking the trips that I would have loved as a girl.
In The Wilder Life she takes me (and all of us Laura lovers) back to Laura world (her term, and just where I felt I went when I read the books). She churns butter and makes the bread that sustained the Ingalls family through the Long Winter. She explores the good (the attraction of self-sufficiency, the old timey doodads, Laura's spirit) and bad (Ma's anti-Indian racism, the hints of Libertarianism) of the books. She discusses the many biographies of Laura and her family. She visits every one of Laura's homes - no mean feat as the Ingalls family moved often. And she does all of this because of and with a clear love for Laura and the books.
While I wouldn't want to do most of those things, I was very happy to go along with Wendy and see them through her eyes. Reading about Wendy's experiences and experiments felt like a modern-day trip to Laura world. If you grew up a huge fan of the Little House books, you'll love this book too.
rchluther's review against another edition
3.0
Well I'm glad I bought this book at the Borders closing sale and got such a good deal on it. I just really didn't care for it. Oh there were bits and pieces that I loved, especially reading about sites I haven't been to in awhile to see what she saw. But overall I just didn't feel like it was for me. I will say that I would imagine there are a lot of people it would appeal to, but I am not one of them.
deedoo's review
1.0
This is a rambling story on how the author went about looking up info about LEW. It was like listening to an annoyingly verbose friend talk. It just couldn't hold my attention.
lizziebb's review
4.0
Loved this! It was a very quick read, but felt substantial all the same. Funny and charming, with just the right level of meandering/diversions/tangents. I now wish to make a similar Anne of Green Gables pilgrimage and write a similar book.
24marsha's review
3.0
A fairly cute journey for the author into the locations, people, lore, challenges, books, and shows about Laura Ingles Wilder. I definitely learned a few new things and got some insight.
justicepirate's review
3.0
As a minimalist, simple-life seeker, I have been fascinated with all things Little House on the Prairie (the books and the show, unlike the author who is a book fan, not a fan of the show at all - though I completely get why). I have been wanting to read this book for a few years and decided it was time to pick it up at the library to read it.
The first half of this book is not that interesting other than the author explaining how her love began for "Laura World" as she puts it throughout her story. She tends to go into a little history lesson of the later books and talking bout Laura and Almanzo's daughter Rose. I think my only issue with the first half of the book is that there are a few times she goes into this discussion about Laura wanting and sobbing over wanting a baby Native American Indian. I got the idea, I read the books, I don't need to hear it all hashed out three times in various parts of your book too.
The second half of the book explains the task Wendy took in seeking out "Laura World" for herself. She visits all the places Laura ever lived and various homes and places in regards to the books. It was really interesting and funny! I chuckled here and there while reading it! I loved this part of the book!
It was well done and I believe in hearing the accounts given, I want to visit a couple of the places, but not all, since I received a good enough picture in my head as to what those places are like now, without needing to see it in person. Thanks for doing the visiting for me Wendy McClure!
The first half of this book is not that interesting other than the author explaining how her love began for "Laura World" as she puts it throughout her story. She tends to go into a little history lesson of the later books and talking bout Laura and Almanzo's daughter Rose. I think my only issue with the first half of the book is that there are a few times she goes into this discussion about Laura wanting and sobbing over wanting a baby Native American Indian. I got the idea, I read the books, I don't need to hear it all hashed out three times in various parts of your book too.
The second half of the book explains the task Wendy took in seeking out "Laura World" for herself. She visits all the places Laura ever lived and various homes and places in regards to the books. It was really interesting and funny! I chuckled here and there while reading it! I loved this part of the book!
It was well done and I believe in hearing the accounts given, I want to visit a couple of the places, but not all, since I received a good enough picture in my head as to what those places are like now, without needing to see it in person. Thanks for doing the visiting for me Wendy McClure!
90sinmyheart's review
5.0
This book is packed full of references to the book series, from the types of dresses to food to obscure characters, that jolted me each time because I recognized all of them. I also fantasized about leading Laura around in the modern world, showing her modern conveniences.
Wendy's sense of humour reigns supreme. There is nothing I love more than some solid cursing and straight talk in relation to one of my favourite childhood things.
This book is not intended to be an inclusive biography of Laura's life whatsoever, but I did learn a ton of information about the established facts and controversies about what really happened. I'm anxious to delve into the bibliography, and that is NOT something that happens frequently with me.
Wendy's sense of humour reigns supreme. There is nothing I love more than some solid cursing and straight talk in relation to one of my favourite childhood things.
This book is not intended to be an inclusive biography of Laura's life whatsoever, but I did learn a ton of information about the established facts and controversies about what really happened. I'm anxious to delve into the bibliography, and that is NOT something that happens frequently with me.