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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
It's all about nostalgia. This was amazing back in the day. I'm afraid to re-read it.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautiful.
This book is a romance, it covers the courtship and eventual marriage of Laura and Almanzo.
This book is a romance, it covers the courtship and eventual marriage of Laura and Almanzo.
Paige & I read this together. She lost interest because of romance
This book is just exactly what I needed. As the world has kind of spiraled into chaos, I’ve found myself unable to concentrate on anything, though I knew that sinking into a story would give my mind a much-needed reprieve from the news and the fear it brings with it. Fantasy world building was too different to feel at all believable for my current mood, and contemporary fiction didn’t provide enough of an escape. I finally decided that what I needed was something historical, something firmly lodged in reality but far removed from the modern world in which we dwell. I needed bright and wholesome and something that would remind me that, no matter how the times change, people change with them and eventually learn to conquer any obstacles in their path. I can think of no series that more perfectly encapsulates all of those needs than The Little House on the Prairie. Though I’ve read most of the series in the past, I had never read this particular book. And it was such a breath of fresh air.
I know that this series has, in recent years, been reclassified as problematic, mostly for the racism portrayed by certain central characters. Yes, that racism is present. But as that was legitimately how pioneers felt during the westward expansion, isn’t it better to include those views so as to discuss and refute them that it is to banish them from history? We can’t learn from our mistakes if we whitewash our past and pretend that we’ve always been enlightened. Racism aside, and ignoring the fact that the author often waxes poetic about her own selflessness in the third person as well as the fact that her “authorship” is greatly exaggerated as her daughter did a majority of the writing, this series is just delightful.
Modern readers tend to view this prairie past as “simpler times,” but most of us would not handle the multitude of hardships these settlers faced with anywhere near their resilience and grace. The times they lived in were much harder. But the difference in daily life and setting is a joy to experience through the eyes of Laura Ingalls. In this particular book, we see her has a young woman for the first time instead of a child. We witness her first teaching experience in the beginning of the novel and her marriage in its final pages. While there were some instances that had me rolling my eyes, like the Ingalls’ family purchase of an organ when they really couldn’t afford it, I thoroughly enjoyed my escape to a different time in history. It was a balm in a difficult time.
I know that this series has, in recent years, been reclassified as problematic, mostly for the racism portrayed by certain central characters. Yes, that racism is present. But as that was legitimately how pioneers felt during the westward expansion, isn’t it better to include those views so as to discuss and refute them that it is to banish them from history? We can’t learn from our mistakes if we whitewash our past and pretend that we’ve always been enlightened. Racism aside, and ignoring the fact that the author often waxes poetic about her own selflessness in the third person as well as the fact that her “authorship” is greatly exaggerated as her daughter did a majority of the writing, this series is just delightful.
Modern readers tend to view this prairie past as “simpler times,” but most of us would not handle the multitude of hardships these settlers faced with anywhere near their resilience and grace. The times they lived in were much harder. But the difference in daily life and setting is a joy to experience through the eyes of Laura Ingalls. In this particular book, we see her has a young woman for the first time instead of a child. We witness her first teaching experience in the beginning of the novel and her marriage in its final pages. While there were some instances that had me rolling my eyes, like the Ingalls’ family purchase of an organ when they really couldn’t afford it, I thoroughly enjoyed my escape to a different time in history. It was a balm in a difficult time.
Lily would have had me read the whole book in one sitting. I made her take a break to sleep, but she was enthralled. Mostly because this is the book where Laura and Almanzo fall in love. :)
These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder -- The first time I read this series, this book was kinda dumb to my 8 year old self. My 12 year old self liked it more. My adult self thinks its the cutest thing ever. Its my second favorite book in the series! Happy Reading!
My first time reading this series and I’m not sure if it’s because I don’t have the nostalgic love for them like so many others do that I can kinda just realize these are repetitive and boring af??
Had some small hope for Laura in this one as she seemed like she was showing some feminist tendencies with not wanting the word “obey” in her marriage vows, but alas home girl let me down with her following it up with “I don’t want to vote”.
Also props to this book for only having ONE joke about Indians in it, unlike the others where it was every single chapter. Props to Pa for no more minstrel shows here either
Had some small hope for Laura in this one as she seemed like she was showing some feminist tendencies with not wanting the word “obey” in her marriage vows, but alas home girl let me down with her following it up with “I don’t want to vote”.
Also props to this book for only having ONE joke about Indians in it, unlike the others where it was every single chapter. Props to Pa for no more minstrel shows here either
This was another of my favorites in the Little House series as a girl. As an adult, I can definitely relate more to Laura at this stage in her life. I liked this story overall, the events, how much she grows up in this book. There was far fewer scenes or parts that showed some of the racism that I found more shocking in the last books (no minstrel shows, fewer references to how horrible the "Indians" are). I look forward to finishing the series and then finding some more books to learn more about this time period and the experiences of the settlers moving west.