Reviews
The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure
juliana_aldous's review against another edition
4.0
When I was in third grade I borrowed a copy of Little House in the Big Woods at the school library. By some strange coincidence that same day my Mom had borrowed a copy of Little House on the Prairie for me at the county library. I was so surprised. I read both books quickly and became obsessed with the series and the idea of living the pioneer life. I wanted to grow my hair longer and wear long skirts and dresses just like Laura and her sisters. I would imagine riding a horse or driving a wagon on my way to school. My Barbies served as substitute Lauras, Marys and Nellys. While other girl's Barbies were trying out different fashions and driving their corvette, my Barbies were always striking out West in a covered wagon--which I was so excited to receive one year--a Jane West doll along with a plastic horse with actual covered wagon. My Barbies would set out across the backyard and make camp for the evening and live off land setting up to homestead when they reached a nice piece of level grass. The horror the day my father filled in the sprinkler run-off from our next door neighbors which was I was using as my Plum Creek.
Wendy McClure with her book the Wilder Life does a great job of capturing that little girl feelings for Laura and the Little House books as you follow along on her quest to discover more about Laura and the real-life she lived. She learns to churn butter, makes a hay stick and travels to different sites that the Ingalls and Wilders lived, visits museums, sees festivals, etc. You learn a little bit about Rose Wilder Lane--the controversy over whether she wrote the books or Laura did, and how the books are in the fiction section in the library. The editor in me would have liked some photos included in the book--her descriptions of photos aren't enough, but luckily they are all only an Internet click away. And it wouldn't have been all that bad if she would have included a recipe or two, surely permissions from some of the other books she mentioned could have been included. I did really enjoy the adventure with the extremist Christians on the Prairie. Her descriptions of Garth William's illustrations also makes me hope that someone will do a similar book on him. She also has some good comments on the difference between the book and TV fans. I was never a big fan of the television series--I just couldn't get over Little House in the rolling golden hills of California.
But overall, this is just the kind of memoir-project book I like. What do they call this genre? Maybe experiential memoir. Where the author sets out to relive, discover and learn, and you are along for the ride? There have always been books about a subject, but in the past decade or so it is as much about the author as it is about the subject. I think this genre could only come along in the post-blog Internet world--Goodreads has a good list for it called, "I Did Something For a Year and Wrote a Memoir about It." I blame it all on Under the Tuscan Sun--certainly not the first but one of the most successful that spawned more. Combine this type of book with a literary topic or books and you've sucked me right in. It allowed me a few moments to recollect on my own obsessions.
If you are a fan, you have your favorites--what are they? My favorite in the series were the two later books--Little Town in the Prairie and These Happy Golden Years. Little Town most likely because Nellie makes a grand reappearance. And Golden Years because who wouldn't want to be courted by sleigh or carriage drives at least once in her life? My least favorite was By the Shores of Silver Lake--I don't know why, that one I always had a hard time getting through.
Wendy McClure with her book the Wilder Life does a great job of capturing that little girl feelings for Laura and the Little House books as you follow along on her quest to discover more about Laura and the real-life she lived. She learns to churn butter, makes a hay stick and travels to different sites that the Ingalls and Wilders lived, visits museums, sees festivals, etc. You learn a little bit about Rose Wilder Lane--the controversy over whether she wrote the books or Laura did, and how the books are in the fiction section in the library. The editor in me would have liked some photos included in the book--her descriptions of photos aren't enough, but luckily they are all only an Internet click away. And it wouldn't have been all that bad if she would have included a recipe or two, surely permissions from some of the other books she mentioned could have been included. I did really enjoy the adventure with the extremist Christians on the Prairie. Her descriptions of Garth William's illustrations also makes me hope that someone will do a similar book on him. She also has some good comments on the difference between the book and TV fans. I was never a big fan of the television series--I just couldn't get over Little House in the rolling golden hills of California.
But overall, this is just the kind of memoir-project book I like. What do they call this genre? Maybe experiential memoir. Where the author sets out to relive, discover and learn, and you are along for the ride? There have always been books about a subject, but in the past decade or so it is as much about the author as it is about the subject. I think this genre could only come along in the post-blog Internet world--Goodreads has a good list for it called, "I Did Something For a Year and Wrote a Memoir about It." I blame it all on Under the Tuscan Sun--certainly not the first but one of the most successful that spawned more. Combine this type of book with a literary topic or books and you've sucked me right in. It allowed me a few moments to recollect on my own obsessions.
If you are a fan, you have your favorites--what are they? My favorite in the series were the two later books--Little Town in the Prairie and These Happy Golden Years. Little Town most likely because Nellie makes a grand reappearance. And Golden Years because who wouldn't want to be courted by sleigh or carriage drives at least once in her life? My least favorite was By the Shores of Silver Lake--I don't know why, that one I always had a hard time getting through.
deservingporcupine's review against another edition
4.0
This book was the first narrative I've read in a long time that actually made me laugh out loud. It was also deeply charming. Of course, I was one of those little girls who ran around the yard wearing a prairie dress and trying to be Laura, so, at times I really wanted to stop the story and talk to the author about Little House. The fact that I haven't read the series since I was probably around 10 and still remembered every detail made me realize what a profound impact they had on my childhood -- and watching the author explore the Laura world as an adult was a lot of fun and just enough of sad. I would recommend this one to anyone who has read the series.
karinrg's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I read the Little House books as a child and have remained a fan all my life. I've collected books and dreamed of visiting all the different LIW places, do this book allowed me to live vicariously in a way.
But what really got me was near the end when the author talks about how Laura wrote about continuing to be Laura even without her family and how the author wondered how she could go on being herself without her mother. Having lost both of my parents - my father fairly recently - this paragraph really spoke to me and touched me. How do you go on being you without the family who was there as you grew up? How do I go on being me without my parents? The answer is you just do. And you don't. Because you'll never be that person again, but that person is still very much a part of you. And always will be.
Thank you, Wendy McClure, for so beautifully putting into words something I needed to understand and come to terms with.
But what really got me was near the end when the author talks about how Laura wrote about continuing to be Laura even without her family and how the author wondered how she could go on being herself without her mother. Having lost both of my parents - my father fairly recently - this paragraph really spoke to me and touched me. How do you go on being you without the family who was there as you grew up? How do I go on being me without my parents? The answer is you just do. And you don't. Because you'll never be that person again, but that person is still very much a part of you. And always will be.
Thank you, Wendy McClure, for so beautifully putting into words something I needed to understand and come to terms with.
bak8382's review against another edition
4.0
Like many people Wendy McClure loved the Laura Ingalls Wilder books as a child, as an adult she begins a journey of discovery as she reads, researches, and visits all things Laura.
I enjoyed McClure's writing style, and imagine she writes the way she speaks. She includes a lot of biographical information about Laura and her family that really rounds out Laura as a person for those of us who only know her from her books.
I enjoyed McClure's writing style, and imagine she writes the way she speaks. She includes a lot of biographical information about Laura and her family that really rounds out Laura as a person for those of us who only know her from her books.
akingston5's review against another edition
5.0
As a huge lifelong fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder and The Little House series, this book was so great for me to be reminded of the magic and excitement and feelings I associate with those books and my childhood, while also feeling a camaraderie with McClure as she interprets her experiences. I love that so many things came back to me reading this, and yet there were still things that I learned.
I think the best part though, is McClure is really true to her experiences, especially in what seems to be the climatic point which is the visit to DeSmet, the last of the Ingalls Homesteads. I love that she wasn't just filled with inspiration and that there was something missing, because I think secretly though all LHOP friends will talk about the excitements of visiting a LHOP stop, there is a longing and hollowness that remains, and does so for a variety of reasons.
McClure does a nice job of wrapping the story back around to her mother's death, which in a round about way started this journey, although I felt that I wanted something more from this-- but all in all I think the book is really well put together, flows smoothly, I truly did laugh out loud during some scenes, and was taken with emotion at others.
Definitely recommend this read if you too are a LHOP fan!
I think the best part though, is McClure is really true to her experiences, especially in what seems to be the climatic point which is the visit to DeSmet, the last of the Ingalls Homesteads. I love that she wasn't just filled with inspiration and that there was something missing, because I think secretly though all LHOP friends will talk about the excitements of visiting a LHOP stop, there is a longing and hollowness that remains, and does so for a variety of reasons.
McClure does a nice job of wrapping the story back around to her mother's death, which in a round about way started this journey, although I felt that I wanted something more from this-- but all in all I think the book is really well put together, flows smoothly, I truly did laugh out loud during some scenes, and was taken with emotion at others.
Definitely recommend this read if you too are a LHOP fan!
the_sassy_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
THis was a fun read. I found myself laughing out loud quite often. I was actually expecting the book to be about the author "living" the life of Laura Ingalls for a year, but it turned out to be her just going around and visiting different sites connected with the books. Still worth the read!
lornarei's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this! You know you've read the books (and other LIW materials) too many times when there was not one reference she made where I could say "I don't remember that" -- scary. My only quibble, like one other review I saw, I was puzzled that she said she could only find molasses at Whole Foods. Really? I am certain that your ordinary Chicagoland Jewel or Dominick's would have molasses. I wonder if she tried the pancake syrup aisle. That's where the corn syrup and molasses hang out around here. Loved her writing style and sense of humor. And what a great guy she's got! :)
hazelsnoot's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
feralreader's review against another edition
4.0
Wendy McClure had the same fantasy I did about Laura showing up in the present and showing her around, and specifically showing her the escalator at the mall!