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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
These Happy Golden Years is the last "real" book in the Little House series. There is another, much shorter, book afterward (The First Four Years) that was published from Laura Ingalls Wilder's notes and outlines, but this is the last she wrote. It ranks a very close second in my most favorite books ever.
It's interesting that my favorite two books are the first and the last in the series. In the first, Laura is a child. 6 or 7 years old. In the last, she's a "grown up," around 18 years old. There is quite a difference in the girl Laura and the woman Laura, and part of what I like about the book is looking back on how she used to be and comparing what she is in this book. I suppose that's what parents probably feel, but, whatever.
This is also the book where Laura falls in love, and probably why I love it so much. Almanzo is such a gentleman to her, and I love that this plain, brunette, stocky girl isn't destined to be a spinster (again,identification!) She may not be rich, or know how to flirt, or really even acknowledge their courtship, but Almanzo (who comes across to me as handsome and COOL) is still in love with her, and still asks her to marry him. Gah. As a 9 year old girl, this was the height of romance. The sleigh rides, and buggy rides, and Almanzo slipping her ring on her finger (not a diamond, since this is pre- Victorian engagement) during a buggy ride, and then the combs at christmas and showing up Christmas Eve! Gah! Old fashioned romance, I'm telling you.
I prefer to pretend their story ends at the end of These Happy Golden Years. I've since learned about the hardships Laura and Almanzo faced in their life together, and it really depresses me. They did not have an easy life. But if I pretend that this is the end, it's such a hopeful story. The wedding is over, they go back to their very own Little House that Almanzo built by himself, with a sheepdog, and the horses that started the whole courtship pulling the buggy. They have left over wedding food, and wedding cake, and sit on the front porch watching the twilight. Magic. Anything could happen.
It's interesting that my favorite two books are the first and the last in the series. In the first, Laura is a child. 6 or 7 years old. In the last, she's a "grown up," around 18 years old. There is quite a difference in the girl Laura and the woman Laura, and part of what I like about the book is looking back on how she used to be and comparing what she is in this book. I suppose that's what parents probably feel, but, whatever.
This is also the book where Laura falls in love, and probably why I love it so much. Almanzo is such a gentleman to her, and I love that this plain, brunette, stocky girl isn't destined to be a spinster (again,identification!) She may not be rich, or know how to flirt, or really even acknowledge their courtship, but Almanzo (who comes across to me as handsome and COOL) is still in love with her, and still asks her to marry him. Gah. As a 9 year old girl, this was the height of romance. The sleigh rides, and buggy rides, and Almanzo slipping her ring on her finger (not a diamond, since this is pre- Victorian engagement) during a buggy ride, and then the combs at christmas and showing up Christmas Eve! Gah! Old fashioned romance, I'm telling you.
I prefer to pretend their story ends at the end of These Happy Golden Years. I've since learned about the hardships Laura and Almanzo faced in their life together, and it really depresses me. They did not have an easy life. But if I pretend that this is the end, it's such a hopeful story. The wedding is over, they go back to their very own Little House that Almanzo built by himself, with a sheepdog, and the horses that started the whole courtship pulling the buggy. They have left over wedding food, and wedding cake, and sit on the front porch watching the twilight. Magic. Anything could happen.
Another lovely book in the series. I found it bittersweet but the children didn't understand why I thought it was sad that Laura got married and moved away. We enjoyed the story of Almanzo and Laura very much and are looking forward to the next book.
Actually one of my favorites. The thought of Laura now being an adult at such a young age and needing to face the same dangerous world as her Ma and Pa intrigued me. It also intrigued me that the girl of the wild wild west grew up to witness the roaring 20's the Great Depression, and World War II.
My favorite part was Almanzo excitedly describing the great potential of being a farmer. Found it oddly inspiring and relatable. When you're a farmer in America, you can be as successful as your ambition allows.
My favorite part was Almanzo excitedly describing the great potential of being a farmer. Found it oddly inspiring and relatable. When you're a farmer in America, you can be as successful as your ambition allows.
This was always my favorite of the Little House books. Laura and Almanzo have just such a cute love story and I'm not going to lie, I teared up as Laura packed up her things to get married. This reread brought to you because I knitted a Little House inspired dishcloth.
An enjoyable capstone to the series though a little sad in the end when she moves into her new home after marrying. Their courtship was so strange to me; I know it is because of my historical perspective but there courtship was so stiff, stifled, awkward. I couldn't figure out why they liked each other. Both of them being strong-willed and willing to take risks came out in the storyline of the breaking of the horses, but other than that I found their courting painful. Still, it was good seeing the story through to the end.
Somewhere between 4 and 5 stars!
Spoiler: LAURA AND ALMANZO GET MARRIED!! We totally didn't see that one coming! ;)
This picks up right where Little Town on the Prairie left off - Pa is taking Laura to her first teaching job. She lives with the Brewsters and Almanzo saves her each Friday by driving out the 12 miles it is from town to take her to her family for the weekend. We don't really get to 'see' too much into Laura's mind - she wrote this after being married for DECADES to him, but we still don't get to see too many instances of her showing that she loves him. (Which is fine for me when I'm reading with two young girls!) She shies away from his touch after months of courting, she rudely tells him she doesn't need him to drive her anymore... Heck, even when he's proposing marriage, she says it depends on the ring!!! What the heck, Laura?! Don't be that girl.
The girls and I were thoroughly horrified at the behavior of Mrs. Brewster... and the night of the butcher knife incident... pretty chilling stuff for Little House books! Half a star docked or something for the discussion Laura had with her friends about getting married and being housewives... Someone (Mary Power?) asked, "You're not for women's rights, are you Laura?!" and Laura said no, she doesn't think women should have the right to vote...! Umm, awkward read-aloud moment. Of course the girls understand that so much has changed since over one hundred years ago. Makes me smile to think of the strong feminist daughter Laura raised! But really, I think Laura would've been for women's rights if she'd have known better... and who knows, maybe later on in life she changed her views, like most of us do from our 18 year old past selves. She did tell Almanzo that she could not abide having the word "obey" in her wedding vows, and Almanzo completely understood. "You're independent, aren't you?" he asked while courting her and I'm sure impressed at how strong and capable she was at anything she tried.
I am ending with this one for read-alouds for the girls (although they keep asking for more). I am going to read The First Four Years on my own, as I've read that it not only deals with more adult issues/hardships, but it's not part of the original 'canon', but taken straight from her notes after Rose died in 1968... no revisions, no editing by Rose... I'm super intrigued!
Spoiler: LAURA AND ALMANZO GET MARRIED!! We totally didn't see that one coming! ;)
This picks up right where Little Town on the Prairie left off - Pa is taking Laura to her first teaching job. She lives with the Brewsters and Almanzo saves her each Friday by driving out the 12 miles it is from town to take her to her family for the weekend. We don't really get to 'see' too much into Laura's mind - she wrote this after being married for DECADES to him, but we still don't get to see too many instances of her showing that she loves him. (Which is fine for me when I'm reading with two young girls!) She shies away from his touch after months of courting, she rudely tells him she doesn't need him to drive her anymore... Heck, even when he's proposing marriage, she says it depends on the ring!!! What the heck, Laura?! Don't be that girl.
The girls and I were thoroughly horrified at the behavior of Mrs. Brewster... and the night of the butcher knife incident... pretty chilling stuff for Little House books! Half a star docked or something for the discussion Laura had with her friends about getting married and being housewives... Someone (Mary Power?) asked, "You're not for women's rights, are you Laura?!" and Laura said no, she doesn't think women should have the right to vote...! Umm, awkward read-aloud moment. Of course the girls understand that so much has changed since over one hundred years ago. Makes me smile to think of the strong feminist daughter Laura raised! But really, I think Laura would've been for women's rights if she'd have known better... and who knows, maybe later on in life she changed her views, like most of us do from our 18 year old past selves. She did tell Almanzo that she could not abide having the word "obey" in her wedding vows, and Almanzo completely understood. "You're independent, aren't you?" he asked while courting her and I'm sure impressed at how strong and capable she was at anything she tried.
I am ending with this one for read-alouds for the girls (although they keep asking for more). I am going to read The First Four Years on my own, as I've read that it not only deals with more adult issues/hardships, but it's not part of the original 'canon', but taken straight from her notes after Rose died in 1968... no revisions, no editing by Rose... I'm super intrigued!
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No