Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder

2017 • 641 pages

Ratings18

Average rating4.1

15

I LOVED the first 2/3rds and the very end of this book. The “Little House” books were incredibly important to my childhood. Each time I visited my grandmother I was able to go purchase a new Little House book, and I must have read them through at least 3 times. I then had the privilege of reading them three more times when I had children, sharing Laura and Mary and Ma and Pa's world with my children. Thus, reading this biography of the author was of course interesting to me, and it was very well-written. The last third did drag for me, though, with a lot of emphasis on Laura's daughter, Rose, who comes off as someone who really needed some therapy, but never received it. As much as I disliked her, though, I have to admit that without Rose becoming a writer, and encouraging her mother, it's unlikely Laura would have ended up writing her family's story so, for that, I'm grateful. In any event, if you enjoyed the books or just want to read a well-done biography of a kick-ass woman, I recommend Prairie Fires!

February 13, 2018