La piccola casa nella prateria (1935)

Little House on the Prairie is the 3rd book of the Laura Ingalls Wilder collection. We follow Laura as Pa sells their log cabin and the travel from Wisconsin to the big skies of Kansas. They travel for many days in their wagon until the arrive and start building their home. Just when they seem to get settled and feel at home, they are faced with a dangerous conflict. ( )

How have I not rated this yet? I must have read it 20 times - it was a staple of my childhood. ( )

3.5 stars. It’s taking me a little bit to warm up to the Ingalls family. The writing is very simple, definitely gives the feeling of being aimed at children, but there are moments of beauty; I especially liked at the end when the family looks over the prairie, and the descriptions of harrowing moments were pretty effective.

I can definitely see why these books are beloved and used a LOT in schooling scenarios, Wilder can almost effortlessly move from telling the story to narrating how something works or the purpose of an object. It’s obvious when it happens, but it adds to the reader’s understanding and ability to picture the scene. I enjoy Cherry Jones’s narration and the addition of the fiddle music for the songs enriches the audiobook.

The things that bother me are more products of their time, and the difference between today’s culture and that of Wilder’s time. Laura’s obvious training in not speaking at table, not asking questions, etc, seem to only benefit the adults, tho there were still plenty of questions asked and answered. Obeying right away and without question are obviously important in a time and place where perils abounded, as shown obviously through the book. The designation of being “naughty” given to not wanting to share a pretty new thing or wanting to be a Native American child (just so she can run around naked and free) are troublesome to me, and the treatment of the Native Americans was disconcerting, tho realistic.

I can understand settlers being nervous or afraid of Native peoples, I’m sure they’ve heard innumerable stories of their behavior, most likely focused on the dramatic and negative. It would make sense that Ma would probably resent having people come into her house and take whatever they want, and her feeling that she has to allow it, but this doesn’t completely explain her outright fear and dislike of them. Pa obviously had had more dealings with them and understood them to be individuals, worth giving the benefit of the doubt. The assertion that “the only good Indian is a dead Indian” was thankfully (tho mildly) rebutted, but as the family watched the Osage people walk past their house, they were still described as “fierce savages.” Hopefully any parent letting their kids read these books takes the time to combat that notion in their family.

I never read the books growing up, they just couldn’t compete with Ramona Quimby, Nancy Drew, or the Sweet Valley Twins. I feel that this helps me tho. I can see them without the romanticized eyes of nostalgia, and look at them more objectively. They’re not bad books, I don’t necessarily dislike them, but man, if they weren’t in my house and already being read by my kids, I wouldn’t really feel the need to introduce them. ( )

Laura Ingalls and her family are heading to Kansas! Leaving behind their home in the Big Woods of Wisconsin, they travel by covered wagon until they find the perfect spot to build a little house on the prairie.

I love how terrifyingly brave this book is... and how it reduces humans to their most basic desires. ( )