A review by carolereads
Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated by Alison Arngrim

4.0

What a fun book! If you grew up watching Little House on the Prairie, you'll love learning what happened behind the scenes, told through the eyes of the hilarious Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson). Alison Arngrim didn't hold anything back in her autobiography and includes many details about her difficult childhood (she was sexually abused by her brother), her relationship with the cast of Little House (particularly her close friendship with Melissa Gilbert and the shocking coldness of Melissa Sue Anderson who apparently had no use for anyone on set), her publicity-hungry father and some of the stunts he pulled to further her career, her two marriages, and the death of her dear friend and TV husband, Steve Tracy of AIDS. Arngrim has a unique way of examining her experiences and is able to find the irony and humor in many situations. The book was very funny, but also touching as she shared her experiences as an AIDS activist and her work to change sexual abuse laws in our country.

Watching Little House growing up, I loved to hate Nellie Oleson! I now have an even greater appreciation for how she developed this nasty character and became a target for Nellie-haters everywhere!