A review by mudder17
Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated by Alison Arngrim

5.0

Not only should you read this book, but you should listen to it! This was probably one of the best memoirs I've read recently, not only because it is well-written (she's a great writer) and well-edited, but because it is the best combination of hilarity, jaw-dropping, and moving. There were so many things I didn't know, including her work with AIDS and abused children, her own experience with her brother, her crazy upbringing with her parents, her great friendship with Melissa Gilbert, and so many other revelations. Besides the success the show brought her, I'm willing to bet that getting to play such a screaming b*tch had to be cathartic and healing for what she was going through in her young years. While I probably got more out of this book than someone who's never seen or heard of the show, I think it is still worth reading even if you fall into that latter category. At the very least, you get a glimpse of how Hollywood work(ed/s), what it was like to live through the AIDS epidemic with loved ones, hilarious stories about some of the old greats, and how someone survived being a victim of incest/child abuse through the hard work of therapy and leaning on friends (there are no easy solutions).

Highly recommend this one.