lornarei's review
5.0
I remember not being overly impressed with her first book. Looking back in Goodreads, I see I gave it only two stars. It was over ten years ago, so I don't remember why. But I LOVED this book! I could hear her and Tim's voices so clearly (am I the last person on earth who only found out recently that she was married to Timothy Busfield? Thought so.) and it was SO much fun going along for the ride as they built their country life. I may listen to the audio version simply to actually hear her read the story.
Loved. It.
badaniel's review
2.0
DNF. I loved Melissa's previous memoir, I love her writing style. This memoir fell flat for me, I don't understand the point of it being written in the first place. As I continued to read it, I started to feel a political agenda taking place and I am not interested in politics whatsoever which seems to be a huge part of Melissa's life. I'm not the target audience for this book, but I still love her!
arthur_pendrgn's review
2.0
Hmmm....most negative reviews are centered on her politics--or the fact that her politics aren't the same as the reviewers'.
On one hand she has the right to present her life of the past 10 years. She can share stories of how she and her family adjusted to COVID and welcomed grandchildren and built chicken coops. On the other hand, she does this without a sense that her life circumstances made her struggles easier. I do agree with the critics that her claims of being poor are a slap in the face to those who can't afford a 14 acre country home, an RV, AND an apartment in NYC. It's as if Marie Antoinette is talking about her hard life as a farmer on the grounds of Versailles. (That's an extreme comparison, I know.)
In the end, what is the point? It reads as a long email from a friend you hear from every couple of months or an extended yearly Christmas update letter. It is rambling, circular, repetitive, and , most damning, insubstantial.
Also, to her editors, why is the death of Josephine the last thing we read? What an odd ending.
On one hand she has the right to present her life of the past 10 years. She can share stories of how she and her family adjusted to COVID and welcomed grandchildren and built chicken coops. On the other hand, she does this without a sense that her life circumstances made her struggles easier. I do agree with the critics that her claims of being poor are a slap in the face to those who can't afford a 14 acre country home, an RV, AND an apartment in NYC. It's as if Marie Antoinette is talking about her hard life as a farmer on the grounds of Versailles. (That's an extreme comparison, I know.)
In the end, what is the point? It reads as a long email from a friend you hear from every couple of months or an extended yearly Christmas update letter. It is rambling, circular, repetitive, and , most damning, insubstantial.
Also, to her editors, why is the death of Josephine the last thing we read? What an odd ending.
crystalmbookshelf83's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
2.25
mpreston14's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
2.0
debbiep's review
3.0
It was okay. One thing you can say for sure about Melissa Gilbert; she is a very positive person. Lots of great amazing energy.