Pioneer Days: The Works of Laura Ingalls Wilder

[SGleason]

I LOVE the P&P (got most of my Beany Malones there; loved the parrot) but this was down the street, on the corner, nearer the really good Italian restaurant DiMille's. We lived on 36th, 4 houses from Adams.

Reads the next post, whimpers in pain

[dwanollah]

I'm gonna break your heart then, honey... they closed down last year. I know. I cried, too. *kicks dirt*

[kanding]

Awww, thanks for starting this thread. The series was my go-to comfort books when I was in grade school. I loved them all but enjoyed them more as Laura grew up. I found The First Four Years very interesting as it was published with the explanation that it was unfinished and just an early draft. I like to think that it shows a little more undiluted Laura. Not that I'm against Rose having a heavy hand in the editing and proofreading; The First Four Years seemed a little more brisk and spare than the other books. But it pops up with some quirks that separate it from the others, too. I was really surprised when I read Laura's reaction to learning that she was pregnant. It went something like, "Well, there was nothing to be done about it. Those who dance must pay the fiddler." I was like, Jeez, Laura, don't work yourself up into a frenzy of happiness or anything... I think she warmed to motherhood when Rose arrived, but I wonder if she wasn't enjoying her time alone with Almanzo when she became pregnant and felt that the honeymoon was now over.

I can't wait to read your paper Dwanollah!

[emersende]

I love these books! And I sent a copy of Little House in the Big Woods to my cousin's five-year-old daughter last summer for her birthday, and by Christmas her mother was reading "On the Shores of Silver Lake" to her. These books are addictive. I picked up a bunch of patterns when a nearby sewing store went out of business, I should see if she'd like a little-girl prairie dress.

Anyway, I'm very curious about the first drafts of the books before they were edited. Are they published anywhere?

[linared]

Well, there was nothing to be done about it. Those who dance must pay the fiddler."

I remember reading that and being all freaked out because Laura was talking about teh sex. Horrors

I think my mom gave all my books to my cousins and now they are lost. I'm going to have to track down some copies. The book that has stayed with me the longest is the one where they are trapped with the snow. I remember how they went hunting and the buffalo were scared away and the richer people in town buying out the food. I always think of it whenever there is a snow storm forecasted and the news shows everyone freaking out and buying milk. They don't know how good they have it.

[SGleason]

Last December when all of Colorado was snowed in, I felt just like Almanzo and Royal, staying in and fryin' up whole wheat pancakes with real maple syrup. We ran out of milk, so I got to feel all deprived and hardshippy.

(Without having the fear of actual starvation or freezing to death or losing my mind.)

[missjennifer]

I always liked Farmer Boy, the one on Almanzo's childhood. I absolutely love the episode where Almanzo finds and returns the town miser's wallet, and his only reward for his good deed is "Well, this durn boy didn't steal any of it. Here's a nickel." And Almanzo makes the perfect comeback: "Here, Mr. Thompson, keep your nickel...I can't make any change for it." And then the big burly shopkeeper grabs the pencil-necked miser and ORDERS him to give Almanzo two hundred dollars!

[jennipoo]

I love Farmer Boy too. The contrast between Laura and Almanzo's childhoods is fascinating.

[Deleted]

My 2 favorites are Little Town on the Prairie and Farmer Boy.

I'm a Kansas girl so I have always felt a special "ownership" of Little House books. I just adore them. While I was pregnant and on bedrest last Nov. and December, I listened to the entire series unabridged on CD. I couldn't sleep well at night, so I would listen to them until the wee hours. When I was on Little House in the Big Woods and they were describing the pig butchering, my husband rolled over and said, "Kill the damn pig already!"

[ivy]

I remember thinking it was funny that Laura so blatantly hated her sister Mary and was horribly jealous of her. The way she talked about Mary was always like, "Mary was so perfect and had perfect blonde ringlets and everyone fussed over her, and Laura only had boring old brown hair so nobody cared about her."

My favorite was Little House in the Big Woods. I think it's the only one I still have.