What I've read lately
I haven't done any of my Quick Book Reviews in a while, and that's because I have hardly read any non-school books for the last few years.
But now that RN school is behind me, I have actually finished some non-textbooks!
Fair warning: I rarely read books that have anything to do with money or frugality. I spend so much time writing about money and thinking about money, when I read a book, I usually want something else.
The Next Conversation
This book is full of good advice for how to have better, more productive conversations, especially when it comes to hard convos.
The one thing that stuck with me from this book, though, is about criticism (and I think I mentioned this in passing before!).
Jefferson says, "People who can't be confident in their contributions will be confident in their criticisms."
I think this is helpful in reading other people; it helps to realize that when another person has a consistent pattern of criticism, it's usually because of insecurities on their part. Which means: IT'S NOT PERSONAL. It is not about the object of the criticism; it is about the criticizer's lack of confidence.
I also think it's helpful as a check on myself. If I observe an urge to criticize, I can question myself: Am I feeling a lack of confidence in my contribution?
And then I can ask myself, "What could I do to increase the value of my contribution or my confidence in it?"
Which would be way better than falling into a pattern of criticism.
Shadows of the Workhouse
This is another in the series of Call the Midwife books and ooof, this one is sobering. In it, the author tells the stories of several people she knew who survived the workhouses and lived into adulthood.
Two things stood out to me.
First, the descriptions of how mothers were separated from their children made me want to burst into tears. I thought about how I would have felt, thinking of my poor babies in a completely separate area, away from me, having no idea why I wasn't there.
It made my heart ache to even imagine it.
Second, I thought about how much our understanding of trauma has evolved since then; the workhouses caused such obvious psychological trauma for the people who survived them, and I can see it as I read these books.
Things like attachment injuries, PTSD, and more are present, though no one had names for these things back then, and no one really knew how to treat psychological trauma.
Lean Learning
I got this book handed out for free at Fincon, and I honestly skimmed through it pretty fast.
To me, the book felt like a lot of overthinking and that's probably because I am solidly not the target audience. I am not a person who gets stuck in the research phase of things; I tend to do the bare minimum of research and then just GO.
And I learn along the way.
That's honestly how my blogging journey has been. I had almost no idea what I was doing when I started out, but I hopped right in and just figured it out as I went.
I don't really need a whole framework to help me stop overanalyzing. 😉
So.
If you are someone who is stuck in analysis paralysis or can't get out of the research phase, this book might be worth a read. But if you are more like me, skip this book and read something else that will be more helpful/enjoyable.
better
(purposely not capitalized because that's how the book title is!)
This one is by Atul Gawande, who also wrote Being Mortal. I appreciate his thoughtful writing, and how he considers whether or not some medical interventions are actually moral and kind (Being Mortal touched on this more, but he brings it up in this book as well.)
I know many people dislike thinking about end-of-life issues, but simply prolonging life is not always the kindest thing to do to someone. And I think the general populace would be better off if they read some of Gawande's writing.
We'd then be better able to make sensible decisions about the kinds of interventions we want. For example, I personally am not going to be a 95-year-old patient with "full code" listed in my chart. 😉
Prairie Fires
This is a behind-the-scenes, real-life story of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family. Since I read the Little House books over and over and over, I found this book fascinating, especially the parts that tell about Laura's immediate family.
The last half of the book talks a whole lot more about Rose Wilder Lane, and that was less interesting to me. I will say, she was so much more of a rebel than I knew before, and I did cheer her on for divorcing her terrible husband Gilette ("I have got rid of him." she wrote. Hehe.)
Something that stuck out to me from this book is that poor Pa and Ma Ingalls never really found a happy ending. Their lives were honestly just hard from start to finish, and it is sort of depressing that none of Pa's ventures ever panned out like he hoped they would.
Something else that stuck out to me is that this idealized family where the dad goes off to work and the mom stays at home doing unpaid work is quite a modern invention.
Over the course of her life, Laura was consistently engaging in money-earning activities (sewing, teaching, taking in boarders, raising chickens, selling eggs, writing), and this seems to have been unremarkable to the people around her.
At one point, she was actually doing sort of an old version of homesteader blogging by writing articles about topics such as how to raise chickens for profit.
It was also interesting to see how much grittier real life vs. the book life was; there were dysfunctional families, abusive marriages, and mental illnesses (the isolated prairie life made people literally lose their minds).
This is not the picture you get from the Little House books, which is understandable, as they were written for children!)
My overall opinion: if you are a Little House books fan, I think you'd love this book.
This book list is great, Kristen, I want to read most of them now!
I read The Giver of Stars. Oh my gosh, it's my favorite book I've read in a long time. Historical Fiction, set in Kentucky, about the Packhorse Librarians. I love it that reading is so important. I also connected with the main character and how she felt in her marriage. I could go on but no spoilers here. 🙂
I'm currently reading When the World Fell Silent. Historical Fiction again, set in Halifax Canada during WWI.
I love reading historical fiction with strong female characters. It is interested to me to see how women handled the mores and expectations of their era.
@MommaJo, I also read The Giver of Stars this past year. Makes me appreciate the wonderful librarians of this world all the more!
@MommaJo, I loved The Giver of Stars.
@MommaJo, The Giver of Stars is on my tar shelf right now, also from our Little Free Library.
@MommaJo, it's going on my never-ending To-Be-read list!
@MommaJo, I really enjoyed that one too!
As one who loves to read, I am sad to report that the only book I am reading is fiction with Christian teachings while on night shift at work when everything is caught up and I don't even remember the title. I'm halfway through it and the general premise is dealing with forgiveness
That said, I can chime in on Prairie Fires and Better.
Few people realize how recent Laura Ingalls Wilder lived. Visiting her home in Mansfield, MO, helps one realize this. She was a columnist and editor for Missouri Ruralist Magazine from 1911 to 1920.
I would like Better and should read it. Modern medicine has increased life expectancy in many ways. And in so doing has taken away some of the "natural order of life" ends. We need to ask ourselves, Is this action prolonging life? or prolonging death? when it comes to aged family members. I am in no way for euthanasia, but I am for relieving pain and not forcing people to eat who are "failing to thrive."
@Chrissy,
Well said about end of life issues. You might be surprised - or not - at how many families "don't want [loved one] to die of starvation" when they're at the end of their life. I so admire the Palliative Care team at the hospital where I work, because (among many other things) they address the fact that feeding the loved one when their body is shutting down won't change, reverse or improve the loved one's illness/medical issues.
I too have read the Little House Books several times. I'd still like to make it to some of the sites in the Midwest. I think life was just hard back then.
I just finished The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl and I would rate it so-so. I just abandoned a couple of books: Ruth by Kate Riley and one I don't even remember the title or author. Life is too short to read fiction you don't enjoy. I read The Secret Book Society, a historical fiction set in upper crust 1895 London. The main points were how much reading fiction was disallowed for women, how much husbands and fathers controlled every aspect of the lives of women, and how easily a woman could be thrown into an insane asylum if her behavior was displeasing or embarrassing. I didn't love the book but the historical points were important.
I just started The Socrates Express by Eric Weiner. I am part way through Why We Swim and No New Things.
I read Prairie Fires, and what struck me was how Rose seemed to exploit her parents just a tad, to the point of kicking them out of the house she built for them, and appropriating her mother's material for one of her own books. (Let the Hurricane Roar was pretty much based on Laura's accounts of her parents' life.) That said, she and Laura had a strange relationship and I think Laura and Almanzo were so focused on surviving that Rose felt ignored. Anyway. I'll have to check out the books Being Mortal and Better that you mentioned!
Recently read: In the Midst of Life, by Jennifer Worth (the same Call the Midwife author Kristen mentioned above). All about her experiences with the dying, and lots of food for thought about our current obsession with resuscitation and fear of death. Very good writing.
The Language of Kindness: A Nurse's Story by Christie Watson. Very good, about the author's experience becoming a nurse in the UK (different process than in the States). Harrowing to read, but good.
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green. I like his nonfiction better than his fiction, and this was pretty good. Short little essays about things in the world and his reviews of them, running the gamut from Halley's Comet to Dr. Pepper.
I'm usually reading more than one thing at a time. Right now I'm reading The Monkey's Wedding and Other Stories by Joan Aiken (fantastic little stories, she's one of my favorite writers. I highly recommend her Arabel and Mortimer series for a fun read). Also reading Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green, which is so far very interesting.
I read The Language of Kindness too!
@Karen A.,
I listened to The Anthropocene Reviewed on audiobook and found it's short chapters a great companion when I was hiking.
@Karen A., and everyone interested in Call the Midwife,
Speaking of U.K. midwives and nurses, the former head nurse of Great Britain's entire National Health Service has been named the new Archbishop of Canterbury. It just happened last Friday. Sarah Mullally started her ministry in healthcare, switched to religion, most recently served as Bishop of London -- and now she is the head of the Church of England and all the Anglican and Episcopal churches worldwide. It's the first time in history a woman has held this post! Making the announcement in Sunday services, our rector quipped that "the church has indeed called the midwife," LOL!
@Fru-gal Lisa, I love your comment for many reasons. I especially love the play on words!
That criticism quote is so good!
LOVE Prairie Fires. I loved the Little House books as a kid and still enjoy rereading them, only now I feel horrible for Ma being dragged from pillar to post and away from her community, for Laura having such a heavy financial burden and most of all I feel terrible for the indigenous people whose land was stolen.
I am not Rose Wilder Lane's biggest fan, mainly because of how she was cruel to Laura but mostly because of her politics. When I read the books now I can see where she has most likely emphasized individual struggle on the prairie....as if Charles Ingalls didn't take money from the government for Mary's college and literally run out on a debt in the middle of the night! None if which was acknowledged in the books, of course!
@Sophie in Denmark, I forgot to say what I'm reading. I am alternating Vanity Fair by Thackeray and a romance book called This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune (I like reading easy books whilst reading classics!)
I have often thought that about Ma being dragged around; I don't think Pa was a bad man by any means, but I do think that he was not properly taking into consideration the effect all these moves had on his wife. It seems like he was prioritizing his wanderlust over what was good for her.
And yes, it is so sad what people did to the Native Americans. I can't think of a time when colonization treated indigenous people in a respectful and appropriate way.
@Kristen, @Sophie in Denmark, history is replete with conquerers and conquered people. I am so thankful for little pockets of beauty in the great big mess of humanity.
@Kristen, Pa definitely didn't think things through. I don't think he was necessarily 'bad' but he was definitely idealised by Laura. He knew about the grasshopper situation in Minnesota and still moved his family there!
As a kid, I thought living in a dugout sounded heavenly. As an adult, it sounds like hell! Poor Ma!
Oh, I think you'd love Pioneer Girl! It's the unedited versions of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books all in one volume, along with all her personal notes and footnotes. I enjoyed it immensely. There's a wealth of "behind the scenes" information, and it's one of precious few books I read and kept instead of reselling.
@Lauren B, ha. Just recommended the same!
@Lauren B, There is a fiction book with the same title by Bich Minh Nguyen. I was very confused by this! I read it and it was fine. I have the book you described checked out from the library. I’m looking forward to reading it.
To get another viewpoint about Rose Wilder Lane, read Travels with Zenobia, from Paris to Albania in a Model T Ford. It’s written by Lane and Helen Dore Boylston, who wrote the Sue Barton nursery books. I loved those books when I was a kid too. They were two very adventurous young women.
Nurse books. I was auto corrected.
I read the big annotated "Pioneer Girl" book when it came out, and was sort of sorry I had. It was interesting, but it also kind of killed the magic of the Little House books, which were absolutely my favorite books as a kid. Re-reading them with my kids now from a different perspective--that of a mother and wife--I can intuit the hard parts of that life, but "Pioneer Girl" laid them out. I like the romanticized version better. 🙂
I'm in the middle of "Paddle to the Amazon," by Don Starkell. This was one of my husband's books he thought I might like. It's the story of a father and son who paddled a canoe from Canada to South America in the 80s. It's good enough that I'm continuing to read it, though I wouldn't have bought it for myself.
@kristin @ going country, that story sounds like quite the adventure! I recently read another tale from the Amazon- a true story about a 17yr old gal who was the sole survivor of a plane crash over the Amazon, who then also had to face the perils of the jungle. The true story is amazing, but the writing itself was flat.
With work and taking a class each semester, I haven't had a lot of time for personal reading lately. On breaks between semesters I've been trying to enjoy some books.
Btw, the story you're reading reminds me of a couple that biked from Alaska (?) to South America- recently saw some of their adventures in video format. Not my thing, but good for them! 🙂
I understand the no-books-during-the-semester issue!
@kristin @ going country, I'm like you on the rest of the story. It really changed the way I looked at Rose. I decided I wanted to see what happened down the line with them. It turned out to be a very sad ending for me.
@kristin @ going country, precisely. I don’t remember which book I read about the reality of the Little House books, but “killed the magic” is just how I felt.
When I was first married, my dad visited us up at the cabin and watched me splitting wood with an ax. He asked, “Whatever prepared you for this life??” and I said, “Little House on the Prairie books!"
@kristin @ going country, A further thought, because I have thought a lot about the Ingalls family and westward expansion in general . . . As woman, my first impulse is to think how hard all that would have been for me as a wife and mother, and to vilify Pa. But then I have to check myself and my modern mindset, as I so often do when considering history. He was far from unique among men of that era. The comfort of their wives and children was not their first concern, and very frequently, they literally had to move west or starve. There just wasn't enough land in the east. Furthermore, without those daring--in modern times, we would say irresponsible--men, the United States as we know it would not exist. And neither would the Little House books, which, for better or worse, exemplify a very American mindset and character.
@kristin @ going country, Another thing I forgot! (Kristen, you have quite clearly tapped into one of my great interests, ha.) There is a fiction book by Sarah Miller entitled "Caroline: Little House, Revisted" in which the author re-tells part of the story--I recall it being the move from the Big Woods to the prairie--from Ma's perspective. I read it a long time ago, but remember liking it.
@kristin @ going country, I love “Paddle to the Amazon,” by Don Starkell, a book I’ve dragged around the world with me since I was a canoe instructor in 1990, but that is definitely a parent dragging family into dangerous situations around the world.
@kristin @ going country,
I agree that we often look at our history from a 21st-century perspective. 175 years ago, many were excited by the America's new frontier. People were encouraged to move westward and settle the great wilderness of America (Manifest Destiny). Many saw this as an opportunity to own land, build a future for their families, and perhaps even become rich. Pa was such a man.
@Bee, Unfortunately, it was due to pioneers' farming efforts which resulted in the Great Dust Bowl! They believed the encouragement and propaganda about the prairies being 'fertile land' and then completely disrupted the soil system.
I read an interesting article recently about how (non-Indigenous) Americans see nature as something to conquer, and Europeans see nature as something more to be part of. This is probably more nuanced on an individual level but definitely seems true historically.
I think Pa definitely believed he could create a great life out west, but I think it was also part of his personality. He was constantly wanting to move the second more people showed up, and even when his efforts ended up in financial ruin (at one point they even moved back to Wisconsin) he never stopped until Ma put her foot down. In a way it's good to want to keep trying, but he knew about the grasshopper plague and also bought things on credit before he had a crop! He also knew they were illegally living on Native American land in Kansas!
@Sophie in Denmark,
There were more than 60 years between the Ingalls family heading west in 1870 and the Dust Bowl (1930-1940.) Although aggressive farming practices and government policy played a role in the Dust Bowl, these practices and policies did not become entrenched until after WWI when demand for wheat encouraged the cultivation of marginal lands by inexperienced, would-be farmers. It was this, when combined with a long period of drought and high winds, which caused soil degradation leading to the Dust Bowl. The expansion that drew Pa Ingalls westward 60 years earlier was much different and there is no correlation between this expansion and the Dust Bowl.
@Bee, The demand for growing wheat may have hastened the Dust Bowl but damage to prairie land in general was caused earlier by pioneers like the Ingallses.
https://www.hcn.org/issues/50-11/prairies-little-house-and-the-identity-of-the-prairie-struggle/
I love seeing what everybody else is reading. I have not read a lot this summer for some reason. I personally read more fiction than non-fiction. I have a tendency to listen to non-fiction while I'm doing other things.
I just finished reading my book club's selection, My Friends by Fredrik Backman. (Author of A Man Called Ove) I loved this book. At first, I wasn't certain that I liked the writing style that the author used in this book, however, I'm glad that I kept reading.
I am currently reading Broken Country by the British author Clare Leslie Hall. It drew me in immediately as it is set in British countryside in the 1950s and 60s. Next up is All that Life Can Afford by Emily Everett.
A little earlier this summer I read Trust which won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It was my book club's selection, and I was slightly disappointed.
Has anyone read James? It is on every list, but I haven't felt motivate to read it for some reason. If so, I would love to hear your thoughts.
@Bee, James was one of my book club's choices and we did enjoy it. One member even re-read Huckleberry Finn to get fully into it.
@Bee, I gave up on My Friends--and I like most Frederik Bachman books (A Man Called Ove, Britt-Marie Was Here, and My Grandmother Says to Tell You She's Sorry are my favorites). I just could not deal with the flip-flopping of time perspective, and while I sympathized with some of the characters, it was just too depressing in places.
@Bee,
I share your views on Trust; I skimmed the last half!
James is a must read. I spent a sunny summer afternoon on my deck, reading it from start to finish.
@Ruby, @Kathy L, I will put my name on the list at the library gor James. Thanks for the input!
@Bee, who wrote Trust? who wrote James? I don’t know of these books.
@Karen A., I agree that constantly changing time perspectives can be difficult. It seems to be a bit of a trend in writing recently. Stories are not being told in chronological order. The book that I'm reading now - Broken Country -- uses the similar technique.
I think Backman often deals with difficult subjects - suicide, depression, rape, abuse, loneliness, & despair. Sometimes it is quite heavy and not at all what I want to read about. So I completely understand why you put it down. Yet, somehow at the end of Backman's books, I am only left with hope, and the feeling that love/kindness can change things.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, James is a retelling (reimagine?) of Huck Finn from Jim's perspective. It's been a Very Big Deal in the lit world. Which is why it's going to be forever till I can read it - I'm waiting for it from the library.
@Bee,
I just finished "James" by Percival Everett a few weeks ago, having checked it out from the public library. The prizewinning 2024 novel is amazing, entertaining, but extremely sad in some places. "James" is the story of Jim, the fugitive slave who was Huck's friend and traveling companion in Mark Twain's novel "Huckleberry Finn." It is told from the former's point of view. Part of the book parallels the classic novel, but not all of it. We discover that James' antics and bad speech are a mask he hides behind, and that he has friends and a family that are absent from Twain's writing. In several places, Huck and James get separated; James has some wild adventures of his own. He has to survive by his wits, and he is always painfully aware that he could be killed if caught. Death, including lynching or being whipped to death, is no stranger to the enslaved people; everyday life is a constant struggle. Exploitation, cruelty, rape, and even forced breeding are the uglier parts of the enslaved peoples' experience, and this story does not gloss over these grim realities. Everett does a masterful job of making Jim/James into a complex personality whose intelligence is neither suspected nor detected by the whites with whom he interacts. I hope that all the English lit classes teaching "Huckleberry Finn" will also require students to read and study "James". The read is definitely worth your while.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Trust was written by Hernan Diaz. The book tells the same story from 3 perspectives - a husband, his wife, and an a journalist.
@Bee, I enjoyed Broken Country. I've read most of Fredrik Backman's books. His most recent, My Friends, was very good.
The same style of books are books by Elizabeth Strout. I enjoyed them.
@WilliamB, Thank you!! Fru-gal Lisa named the author, and I just put the paper/real book on hold at my library (Central Valley-wide system) and I am only #6!! I would send you the library copy when it comes . . . but the mailing time will hog up the reading time. 🙂
@Bee, thank you! I read the synopsis on GoodReads but it isn’t floating my boat just now.
I just finished The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, which was lovely. Learning how trees are social beings that form communities and networks among themselves in groups. Loved it.
Also a big fan of Atul Gawande's books, which I first came across in our Little Free Library. And, we loved Call the Midwife, the TV series, every episode was memorable, with awesome actors.
@ErikaJS,
I just finished Frozen River which is mystery involving a midwife set in 1779. It would be a nice complement to the series.
Oh, I loved the Little House books as a child and read them over and over; I even insisted that my husband and I detour to visit the Mansfield house once years ago when we were driving across Missouri. That being said, I more recently read Pioneer Girl; a biography of Rose Wilder Lane; the letters between Rose Wilder Lane and Dorothy Thompson; and I can’t remember what else. It seemed clear that not only were Pa and Ma’s lives terribly hard from birth to death, but also that the Little House books painted quite an idealized portrait of both parents, particularly Pa. That Laura had a difficult relationship with her mother and in turn, Rose had a difficult relationship with Laura. And also that not everyone found RWL likeable, and she had extremely problematic politics (in my opinion, others will differ).
I could go on and on about the LH books, which among other things reflect the casual racism of the time (descriptions of Indians and of Ma’s feelings about them, Pa in blackface at a town entertainment). As much as I loved them as a child, I am not sure I would encourage children these days to read the books until they were a little bit older.
@Meg in SoTx, I read somewhere that the minstrel show didn't even happen in real life. Laura made it up which is even worse, in a way! Of course that reflected the attitude of the time, but yikes. I also read that the Native American guy who warned Pa of the 'big snow' in the Long Winter was also made up. Doctor Tan who saved the family from malaria was real and also delivered Carrie!
I remember reading Little House on the Prairie as a kid and feeling uncomfortable with the racism. I was very young, so I don't think I could have specified particular passages and their issues, but I remember being disturbed by the way Native Americans were described. I think parents should use these books to teach children of how people had these racist viewpoints in the past (and unfortunately, many still do). I haven't read it, but The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich is written from the perspective of a Native American girl. That could be good to complement the Little House series.
I just finished reading "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Ciscernos and "My Next Breath" by Jeremy Renner, which details his recovery from being run over by a snowplow. He's a good writer and has great insight into what it takes to successfully recover from such devastating injuries.
@Ruby, I loved "The House on Mango Street."
Oh I loved Prairie Fires! The author is from Santa Fe, and I got to meet her a few years back when it came out. As a big Laura fan (my first novel is pretty much a love story to Laura), this was a great read. If you want more of this type of thing, I recommend Pioneer Girl, Laura's autobiography that was published in an annotated version maybe 12 years ago. SO good.
I do reading posts once a month, if anyone here is interested. Here's my latest:
https://carolinestarrrose.com/quick-lit-what-ive-been-reading-lately-47/
l liked the way "Prairie Fires" set the Wilder books in their historical context. And also found Rose to be an almost-bully to her parents.
I am too impatient to do adult coloring books, but if I did, I would get the one that is the Garth Williams illustrations from the Little House books. Really lovely.
@Heidi Louise, there is a Garth Williams coloring book??? I don’t enjoy coloring books but I enjoyed designing and publishing them. But I would LOVE to see the Garth Williams one! I remember one illustration of baby Carrie that captivated me as a child so much that I showed my mom the drawing, wondering if anyone else saw what I saw in the picture. The guy was a genius illustrator, at the same level as Norman Rockwell in my estimation.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, It is called "Little House Coloring Book: Coloring Book for Adults and Kids to Share", available in various online sources, with Wilder listed as the author and Williams as the illustrator.
I colored a few pages in my copies of the books, as I had the whole set. His grey pencil work was exquisite. (My pre-teen coloring not so much).
@Heidi Louise, I'm so glad you wrote about this! I just ordered a used copy off amazon.
I read two complementary books this year that the commentariat might be interested in, both were the story of Martha Ballard, a real 18th c American midwife. The first, A Midwife's Tale: the Life of Martha Ballard, is a history/biography. The author pulls out themes from Ballard's lengthy diary she left behind. I found fascinating everything Ballard did in a day, she was very productive. The second is a fictionalization of the biography and diary: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn. I'm picky with my historical fiction, it has to feel real, and this one hit the mark for me!
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea, Andrea G, I also read both books, most recently The Frozen River, and thoroughly enjoyed both! Fascinating to learn about the life of a midwife in the late 1700’s, and what an important place they held in their community.
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea, The Frozen River was wonderful - the story of an exceptional woman living in an exceptional time. I do want to read A Midwife's Tale.
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea, I just finished The Frozen River too. An interesting book that was easy to read.
The more I thought about it, the better I thought it was. Not just the plot, which was taken from real life, but how it was written. Almost nothing stuck out as being ahistorical (except maybe the husband's understanding of the midwife's background); the theory of Chekov's Gun was used appropriately; how the author gave us, modern readers, insight and knowledge needed to understand what was going on, and doing so without infodumps. I need to see if she wrote anything else.
My book group agreed that one should read the historical notes first, even though they're at the back of the book.
FWIW, even my literature-loving SIL couldn't finish the biography so I don't expect I'll try.
An interesting book list, as always! I'll read the Gawande book as soon as I get a chance, since I appreciated his Being Mortal.
And just to let you all know, this will be my last comment till mid-October. I'm leaving tomorrow for the JASNA Annual General Meeting in Baltimore--where, of course, we will talk about books. Books by Jane Austen, books about JA, books by people who inspired JA...
@A. Marie, bon voyage!
@A. Marie, Have a great trip!
@A. Marie, we will miss your daily insights, and hope you have a wonderful time at the conference.
Oh I love this list! Esp. recommendation of better.
I also thoroughly enjoyed Prairie Fires!
I recently finished a bio of Clementine Churchill by Sonia Purnell, and just started Spitfires By Becky Aikman -- women fliers in WWII.
Also reading/listening The Book of Charlie: Wisdom from the Remarkable American Life of a 109-Year-Old Man Hardcover – by David Von Drehle and rereading Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History -- by John Dickson--
Lean Learning is now on my want to read list. I’m that person who gets bogged down first by over-planning and then by procrastination.
I’m reading Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen because of course……Book Club! I’m enjoying the rich dialogue and astute social commentary. The world has changed so much since this was written, but human nature has not.
I’ll be checking the comments again at the end of the day to get more book suggestions.
@Book Club Elaine, I just cannot dial down my irritation at how slow Austen’s stories are (and all writing of that era—get to the point, already!) or my disgust at all the women sitting around gossiping as if it is their job. I know, they weren’t allowed to do anything else, so depressing. I admire you and all the Austen fans (Hi, A. Marie) at the same time I am scratching my head in puzzlement over the fascination with her and her writing.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, that's why I tend to prefer the shoes to the books. Excellent human interest stories but, as you say, so slow.
@WilliamB, They are a little slow, but I love how men never appear in scenes unless they are in the presence of women. That's unusual even today (depressingly so). In a highly patriarchal world Austen created a universe of women talking.
Caroline Fraser, author of Prairie Fires, has a new book out this year. Murderland examines the explosion of serial killers in the Pacific Northwest in the 70s and 80s. Fraser explores the theory that smeltering operations in the area caused toxic fumes that affected brain development. This book will be in my nonfiction top 10 for this year.
@Dusty, that would give me nightmares for sure!
@Dusty, I read Murderland, which is how I got to Prairie Fires. It was fascinating. Of course, it's correlation v casusation but persuasive nonetheless. It is just as much about environmental pollution as it is about widespread violence. It also makes me wonder about the toll of the chemicals and microplastics we're exposed to now.
I have read each of Atul’s books; I’m a big fan of his work and the important topics he covers. Also a die hard Little House and LI Wilder fan. I still have all my books! You are correct- the Garth illustrations are THE BEST!!
Thank you for these books recs, Kristen! I recently attended a conference, and the keynote speaker, Leah Marone, handed out some advanced copies of her book, “Serial Fixer”. She dedicates the book, “To all of the fixers. The selflessly intended leaders and caretakers. Those who give deeply, sometimes losing touch with themselves along the way.” As a recovering “people pleaser”, I am looking forward to reading more on this subject.
I'm reading Jen Hatmaker's new "Awake" and absolutely hearing it in her voice. It's really powerful. And I have Brené Brown's "Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit" teed up next after I finish "Awake." I also have Ruth Reichl's "The Paris Novel" on my pile.
@Susie, I just read Awake! It was so good. Love Brené Brown as well.
I recently finished the novel I See You’ve Called In Dead and I loved it! The title is a little odd but the book itself was wonderful. I highly recommend! A wonderful story of friendship and being present in one’s life. Love love love!!!
I just put Prairie Fires on my list, and I agree - Garth Williams illustrations or nothing!
I've been reading a series by Alan Bradley. The first is The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. They are set in the 1950s, and the main character is Flavia DeLuce, a young girl obsessed with chemistry. Quirky characters, twisty mysteries, great writing. I can hardly put them down!
Another fantastic series is The Number One Ladies Detective Agency. It's set in Botswana and again has excellent writing, warm and uplifting, with interesting characters (one of them swears her shoes talk to her!).
Some other recommendations:
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek - Kim Michele Richardson
What In the World? - Leanne Morgan
We'll Prescribe You a Cat - Syou Ishida
Christy - Catherine Marshall (I read this on average about every 5 years, and I always get something out of it)
Anything by P.G. Wodehouse - I laugh until I'm sick!
@Ruth, Christy was the first adult fiction book I read. Found it on my Mom’s shelves when I was about 13, and it blew wide open a whole new genre of books for me. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve read it.
@Ruth, I loved Alexander McCall Smith's Series! The No. 1 Detective Agency cracked me up!
As for book series, I enjoyed Anne of Greene Gables much more than LEW.
@Ruth, If you like Alexander McCall Smith (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency), he has a small book of very short stories called Tiny Tales and it was a delightful read.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I found Christy on a shelf in my Mom's classroom and I was riveted. Maybe time for a re-read!
@Karen A.,
My favorite Andrew McCall Smith series is 44 Scotland Street. Such fun!
@Ruth, whenever I help start a book group I always recommend The Number One Ladies Detective Agency. Everyone loves this book and there is much to discuss. And everyone is always amazed at how the male author seems to really understand women.
@Bee, I love the 44 Scotland Street too!
@Bee, I recently found the 44 Scotland Street series. I was unsure at first, and then something kicked in and I can’t get enough. Also loved the first Paul Stuart book and just finished the second (last?) one. His stand-alones are my favorite.
@Ruth, The Book Woman is WONDERFUL! Also, Book Womans Daughter.
Being Mortal is such a good book, to me. I will try this one as well, thanks for mentioning it! I read Being Mortal because we were looking most likely at end of life for DH (as it turned out, that is exactly what it was), and it was so eye-opening. I found it very helpful.
I recently read Bill Bryson's At Home, which I found fascinating. I am currently reading Hard Times, by Studs Terkel. I read some of it years ago, but I didn't get to finish it. I said I would read it through, and never did, so I'm rectifying that. My parents' stories of the Depression - they married in 1939 - combined with DH's parents' stories -his parents married in 1932- have always intrigued and saddened me.
I'm with Kristen on this: It's either Garth Williams' illustrations for the Little House series, or none at all, for me. I'm also a fan of Michael Hague's illustrations in The Wind in the Willows.
@JD, I couldn’t get through At Home. My TBR list is so massive that sometimes I am unable to slow down enough to enjoy and absorb books that take a bit more thought. However, I respect your opinion enough that I might re-add At Home to my TBR. I have a bit of a burn against Bryson because he misrepresented my cabin community in A Walk in the Woods. It was about the Appalachian Trail, but he delved briefly into the Sierra and had his facts all wrong about our place. Sigh. It caused me to distrust him. Bigger sigh, as I wonder how many people I’ve listened to/followed/believed who massaged the facts for their purposes.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Bill Bryson is one of those authors that I really enjoyed when I was younger and now find very annoying. Too glib? Too self-satisfied? Too something.
@kristin @ going country, I managed to get through A Walk in the Woods (I got interested in the Appalachian Trail after reading about that poor hiker who wandered off and died a few years back), and yes, he's very self-satisfied. I tried reading The Road to Little Dribbling, because I thought reading about his experiences in England would be interesting to this Anglophile, but it was a DNF for me.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
I did not really care for A Walk in the Woods. Perhaps, it was because Bryson didn't finish the Trail, but wrote as if he did. He seemed to totally missed the point. My middle son hiked and completed the AT in 2017 and the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019. It totally changed the direction of his life as it has done from many others who embarked on this transformative journey.
@Bee, the PCT is a HUGE accomplishment. It doesn’t go through towns so resupplies take a great deal of coordinating. It also is at very high elevations, which means dealing with snow, ice, and sometimes long stretches without water. I’ve done a couple of very short sections and have friends who have walked the entire thing. It is a Big Deal.
@kristin @ going country, yes, that describes my feeling about him. The first time I heard of him was listening to In a Sunburned Country, and I almost had to pull over because I was laughing so hard. After that, nope. Too full of himself.
I loved Prairie Fires so, so much. But I'm not sure that all people who love Little House will love Prairie Fires. LIW scrubbed the bad from her life when she gave it to her readers (even in her columns for farm papers) because, for better or worse, her entire outlook was optimism and can-do. For a reader who's emotionally attached to the characters and events as they are drawn in the fiction books, it may be a horrible disillusionment to learn that her real life was emphatically not that pleasant.
Another fantastic piece is Caroline, by Sarah Miller. It's fiction, from Laura's mother's POV. Exquisite prose.
@Karen.,
Oh yes, I came here to recommend Caroline by Sarah Miller. I think it really speaks to the loneliness of moving around on the prairie from a woman's point of view.
I loved Prairie Fires because I've always loved Little House and been intrigued by pioneers, what it would take to be able to homestead like that by yourself. It seems like Pa, though a good person, was a better carpenter than farmer, which made the farming life very difficult for his family. I also think Rose had some undiagnosed mental health conditions that really strained her relationship with her parents, especially Laura. I can't remember if Prairie Fires touched on that or it was something else I read.
I will also plug the Birchbark series as a wonderful pairing with Little House, to see the time and the land from a Native American girls's POV.
@Mary, I'll look for Birchbark!
This summer I have read lots of books, but two historical novels that were well written and really make you think about how difficult life was back in the day really stand out. The Nightingale, details how a war wife left behind in France with her young daughter manages to survive, and her sister chooses a different way to survive, during WWII. Very thought provoking and hard to imagine. Four Winds, also by Kristen Hannah, a tale set in Oklahoma during the great droughts, forcing people to move to California to escape the dismal conditions and to find work, hoping for a better life. No spoilers, but this makes me realize just how hard life was back then. I sure appreciate the life we have now, not perfect but, wow, so good! I also read a few duds, and I am off to the library today, as my current read, The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian, just doesn’t appeal to me. I love a good book review! Thank you Kristin for this kick start.
@Brenda Duguay,
Have you read Kristin Hannah's The Women and The Great Alone?
Both are wonderful - although challenging.
"simply prolonging life is not always the kindest thing to do to someone". So true. As a health care worker for the last 17 years, working with people with multiple serious health issues (think Parkinson, ALS, MS, massive stokes, dementia, etc), I am totally opposed to prolonging someone's life just for the sake of it (it's different if they themselves want that, of course). I would also not want be a if something major happens to me. If i am to have no quality of life, I prefer you let me go.
On that happy note....! My last good reads were:
- Into the Forest (Jean Hegland)
- Long time gone (Charlie Donlea)
- One true loves (Taylor J. Reid)
- Huge (Brent Butt)
- Spilled milk (K. L. Randis)
- From Below (Darcy Coates)
- The surgeon (Tess Gerritsen)
- Mother's instinct (Barbara Abel)
- Secret daughter (Shilpi Somaya Gowda)
- I can fix this (Kristina Kuzmic)
- Baby proof (Emily Griffin)
... and many more!
"I would also not want be a FULL CODE if something major happens to me"
@Isa, I love Into the Forest (at least, I love the first half)! I usually read it once every couple of years.
@Isa, I know what you mean about years vs life. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised that my mother chose the right time to let go rather than keep fighting. She was a lifelong fighter and force of nature in her determination, so I was worried.
Thank you for this post!
1. Great insight into the criticism/confidence connection. This is useful info.
2. The photo on the Workhouse book is priceless.
3. No need to read the Pat Flynn; I used to read his blog but nothing seemed applicable to my life.
4. Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal was very helpful to me. I will probably read “better” if it appears at my library.
5. Garth Williams' illustrations most likely influenced my desire to be an artist, particularly with pencil. I’ve not read Prairie Fires, but I’ve read other books about the Ingalls family, and it was a disappointing discovery to understand how grim their life was. Laura did a wonderful job of finding silver linings and turning it into such an influential series with lasting impact (or maybe it was Rose who got them published.)
I am reading:
1. Vitamania by Catherine Price (skimming is a better word here rather than reading)
2. Seeing the Supernatural by Lee Strobel - fascinating and surprising and reassuring
3. Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand- total fluff escapism, because I always want to be at the ocean.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I skimmed Vitamania too after reading the first chapter as background. So much information! I really enjoy Lee Strobel's writing.
Adding Prairie Fires to my list - I am a huge Little House fan and will die on the Garth Williams illustrations hill with you! LOL I still watch the series occasionally, as it is free on Pluto!
When I read about Rose Wilder and the real story behind the Little House books, it ruined them for me forever.
Atule Gawande is a great read.
Besides travel books for the last 6 months, planning for the trip I just returned from, I mostly read contemporary or women's fiction -Danielle Steel, Elin Hildenbrand. Susan Mallery, Viola Shipman and so on. I typically have the newest books from my favorite authors on hold at the library, usually when on order.
Reading is my escape, so I rarely read "heavy" books, or suspense. I also don't like sci-fi, fantasty etc.
My turn for Jefferson Fisher's book came while I was out of the country though, so sadly, I'm way down the line to get it again. I don't know how I missed putting a pause on it!
I also like to read cookbooks, self help/improvement books (ADHD - Dr. Amen, decluttering - Nobody Wants Your S#$%).
I set a goal every year to read 125 books, which would be super easy if I didn't limit myself to reading for just a couple hours in the evening before bed. I'd get nothing else done if I read during the day. 🙂
I forgot to say in my initial post that in De Smet Laura would frequently skip school to go to the rollerskating rink! Quite rebellious and not exactly fitting in with the rural ideal!
I have Prairie Fires out from the library right now and it's next on my list!
I remember that LIW bio, very interesting. There's so much she didn't share in her kids books. Pa doesn't come off quite so well, does he? I skimmed the more Rose-focused parts of the book as well. One question I had that it didn't answer is why the Wilders left their established, prosperous farm. Anyone know?
I've been trying to finish Eric Cline's After 1177BC, which is about what happened to local civilizations after the Bronze Age Collapse. The problem is that everytime he mentions an archeologist or historian or king or kingdom I haven't heard of, off I go researching that. Turns out there are many I haven't heard of! Good book, though, even though I'm reading it before 1177BC, which normal people read first.
Also reading McNeill's Plagues and Peoples (50 years after the groundbreaking work was published, oops); Hernando de Soto's even more groundbreaking The Mystery of Capital: WhyCapitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else (25 years after it came out but, as with P&P, at leasr I've read other works about the thesis), and Mur Lafferty's SF space mystery series.
@WilliamB, Do you mean Almanzo's family or Almanzo and Laura? I don't know about Almanzo's parents, but Almanzo and Laura left the farm because of Almanzo's health issues after diphtheria. They went to Florida, moved back and then moved to Missouri because they were told that the soil and climate was better.
@Sophie in Denmark, Almazo’s parents.
This summer, I greatly enjoyed "Up Country" by Nelson DeMille. This is an older book, published in the early 2000s, and it is about Vietnam. (Cheapskate that I am, I picked it up in a Little Free Library.) Its intended target is probably men, because it is a very gritty book with a lot of sex scenes. A guy quits Army intelligence, I think it was, and somehow gets pulled into going back to Vietnam, where he once served. His mission is to pose as a tourist, go "up country" to North Viet Nam and find someone who'd been secretly passing info to the U.S. military. He gets involved with a mysterious lady who acts as his tour guide. They get into a tangle with both the CIA and Communist authorities, and they have to venture far off the beaten track to find the man who is missing. Woven into the story of their romance and adventures are real-life facts about modern Vietnam and the 1960s war, which make the story a fascinating read. DeMille actually revisited Nam in 1999 and did extensive research on the place, so his descriptions of the various mountain tribes, tourist spots, jungles, and cities were accurate as of that year. It's one of those long books that are sooooo good that by the time you get to the last page, you wish it were even longer.
Oh, I forgot to add: Reading "Up Country," I learned a lot about the Vietnam of today and what both the U.S. and Vietnamese soldiers (on both sides) went through. I also gained insight about the geopolitical climate of both the 1960s and new millenium.
Have you read "Little Housein the Ozarks" by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It's a collection of columns she did for her local newspaper in Missouri.
Yay-book talk!
I read all of the Little House series as a child, and the tv series was one of the very few I was allowed to watch. I read ‘Little House in the Big Woods’ aloud to my youngest about 10 years ago and found myself having to edit quite a bit, especially in the passages regarding First Nations people. Also-there is an entire chapter about how to build a door. I had not remembered that and was pretty surprised that it holds the attention of so many children!
I am currently reading ‘The Woman in Cabin Ten’ by Ruth Ware. I’m late to the Ruth Ware party (I have a lot of JOMO) but figured I’d give it a try. It’s well written but I’m struggling a little bit because of the main character-I think it’s just me.
Thanks for the quote about criticism- I think there is a lot of truth in that and I’m going to think about it.
I just started Call the Midwife (another party I am late to!!) and it’s a lovely show that seems to sensitively handle difficult topics. As a former labor and delivery nurse, I don’t usually love medically focused media, so I’ve put it off, but so far I really like it. I need to find the books.
Have a great day everyone!
@Rachel, Reading the books to my boys and my girl, I find that the parts I found incredibly boring--like the door thing--are fascinating to my boys. The long descriptions of clothing and so on in the later books are boring to them, but my daughter likes them. Maybe that was intentional for that reason?
@kristin @ going country,
You know, after I posted, I was thinking about books I read when I was younger and how I loved the long descriptions of clothing and home making and decorating. I still enjoy those scenes and I think you may be on to something. Also, I’m pretty sure someone could read that chapter and possibly build
a door, and that is not something one finds as much anymore. Looking up instructions and how to’s on YouTube is helpful, but nothing beats a written record.
@Rachel, I vividly remember my older brother, who was generally very scornful of my great interest in the Little House books, using "Little House in the Big Woods" when he was doing a school report on old rifles or something. This was pre-Internet, so it was harder to find information about things, and the detailed descriptions of Pa cleaning and loading his gun, making bullets, etc., plus the very detailed illustrations of the equipment, were what he needed. I must admit to some smugness about that. 🙂
@kristin @ going country,
He knew that you knew. So gratifying 🙂
I am about to finish the Canterbury Tales and I love the stories. The variety in tales, the interaction of the pilgrims while traveling, makes this a very lifelike and enjoyable read.
Next on my list is a book on the Spanish Civil War and the Franco regime, which will not be fun. But with relatives by marriage from Spain, I feel I should understand better the trauma that was caused by this period.
@JNL, In terms of fiction, I really enjoyed the film Pan's Labyrinth (if 'enjoyed' is the right word!).
Sorry for the multiple comments, but I wanted to recommend this excellent podcast by Glynnis MacNicol on the Little House books and Laura Ingalls Wilder as a person. There's an interview with Caroline Fraser as well:
https://www.glynnismacnicol.com/wilder.html
Love this! "Something else that stuck out to me is that this idealized family where the dad goes off to work and the mom stays at home doing unpaid work is quite a modern invention." Historian here. Absolutely! The idea of the stay at home mom is completely an invention of the 1950s, and even then it was simply an ideal. Most women in the 1950s, even middle class women, worked "outside of the home" in some form in addition to bearing most of the child-rearing duties.
Speaking of women working, the most recent book I read (not for work) is Bridget Read's Little Bosses Everywhere. It is a history of the MLM industry, and Read, through extensive and thorough research, draws a clear line between MLM's today and the grifters and scams in which they have their origin. Even Mary Kay, which has the reputation of being a not-so-bad MLM is show to be extremely predatory, leaning into women's ideals that they need and want to do meaningful work but aren't "supposed" to be working, and leaves them indebted and disillusioned. Highly recommend!
@Amanda in VA, That 1950s ideal was also mostly placed on white women - black women and other non-white women often had to work outside of the home throughout history.
The Dream podcast also has an excellent discussion on MLMs!
Oooh, I bet that's a good book!
And the whole stay-at-home, do no work for pay issue stuck out to me because in conservative Christian circles, it is considered to be the biblical way to do things, even though it is a historical anomaly. Evangelicals have sometimes wrongly equated various aspects of the 1950s to "biblical".
Hi Kristen,
May I recommend the novel The Women, by Kristin Hannah? It’s a fiction about being a nurse in Vietnam, during the Vietnam war. I haven’t seen it in your book reviews here but thought you might enjoy reading it!
I read Prairie Fires several years ago - maybe around the time it first came out? I don't remember a lot of the details, but I do remember having the same impression that you did, that Ma and Pa Ingalls, like so many people, never really got to have a life free of pretty grinding hardship.
Right now I'm reading The Magician of Tiger Castle, the new adult novel by childhood favorite Louis Sachar. I remember reading his Wayside School books as a child. This one is very different from his children's books, of course, but I feel like maybe some of the magic is the same.
A few more medical memoir type books . . . any by Dr Robert D Lesslie and Ask Me Why I Hurt by Randy Christensen. The last can be hard to read as it is mostly stories of children. Also there is The Midwife's sister which is written by Jennifer Worth's sister.
nice to know you are enjoying books again. i am a regular at my local library. i really enjoy romances. silly me. they have an exercise class with a lot of dance moves that i really love and it will be going on for six months. yay.
@Anita Isaac, I've never heard of exercise classes at a library -- very cool!
@Book Club Elaine, it is so much fun. the library has mah jongg and alll sorts of programs.
Myhusband actually went to High School with Atul Gwande (his parents were local doctors) and I loved both (being mortal and better). The way we deal with many aged people is a great talking point for families!
Also, liked Giver of the Stars (did you read The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek?)
Oh wow! That's so cool that your husband knew him.
I read the PRAIRIE FIRES book, and was unimpressed. It sounded an awful lot like "let's make over this 19th century family to modern tastes." Which you can't. They lived in a totally different situation than many of us do! But I do agree that women and men homesteaders had to know how to do a number of different things besides just living. And they often did them in difficult conditions. That alone makes them admirable.
(Rose Wilder Lane is a fascinating person...and most probably 'wrote' -- i.e., edited -- her mom's books into their current condition. You need to read Rose's FREE LAND, and the commentary on the two, THE GHOST IN THE LITTLE HOUSE. Then visit the museum in Missouri! It explains a lot, too.)
You really should also read Helen Forrester's memoirs. She grew up in Liverpool during the Depression, desperately poor. (Her parents were huge spendthrifts who wasted their money on themselves. If Helen and her siblings wanted something, they generally had to work or scrounge for it.) TWOPENCE TO CROSS THE MERSEY is first -- but the real heart-acher is LIVERPOOL MISS, in my opinion, where she realizes that if she's going to succeed, she has to do it -- not rely on her family.
I'm a huge fan of Helen's LIVERPOOL DAISY, as well -- but that's a novel.
And everytime I make blueberry pancakes...I think of you now!
It is true that it was a different time. But one of the things I was saying is that even in those times, people were cracking mentally from the living that way. While we have modern terms for these mental breakdowns, I'm sure the actual breakdown was similar to the way we experience mental health challenges now.
Prairie life was so hard, even some of those tough pioneers couldn't handle it mentally.
@Kristen, Mrs Brewster and the knife, for example! That seriously disturbed me as a kid.
@Cindy Brick, I read Helen Forrester's memoirs as a young adult, and her parent's lack of money sense was an influence on my own frugal efforts in my life. Thanks for the reminder. I hadn't thought of those books in years!
You might enjoy Prairie Faith by John Fry. It is a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder with special attention to her faith.
I just finished a beautifully written book, Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. I highly recommend it.
Thanks for the reviews! I love to read, and I’m going to read Shadows of the Workhouse and Prairie Fires. I read the Little House books many times growing up. My sisters and I used to play dolls and act out our favorite scenes. A few years ago when I had horrible insomnia, I started rereading the series. I was shocked by some things Ma said about the Native Americans and by a song Dad sang when he was playing his guitar. I didn’t remember being shocked by it when I was a kid, but I know some school libraries have banned her books. I liked The Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Big Prairie the most. As a kid, I couldn’t understand why Jack had to swim across the creek!
@Susan_SFl, The previously named "Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal" was renamed a few years ago to the "Children's Literature Legacy Award", because of the concerns you noted.
I'm still waiting for Amazon to deliver this month's book club choice: The Haunting of Hill House". But in the meantime, I'm reading the snappy little titled "Don't Let Death Ruin Your Life". Its actually a good book, so I will likely finish it before I start the other one.
The 2 that have stuck with me recently are:
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. I wanted to read this before I watched the show. It was excellent!
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Another great read.
All That Moves Is by Jay Wellons is a very touching book written by a pediatric neurosurgeon about some of his experiences caring for patients. It was so good!
*Us, not is!
Carol Poulot’s “Murder in the Moulin Rouge.” I’ve read her other mysteries and loved them!
I am reading childrens books that i missed growing up or came out after i grew up. I am currently in the middle of the penderwicks series ages 8-12. Funny and so cute.
@Cynthia, I have enjoyed these books in the last few years too. I still love children's literature!
I tend to read mostly fiction as a way to relax and de-stress, but I haven't had a great deal of time to read lately, so this list isn't completely current.
1. The Vanderbeekers series-- children's lit, highly recommend!
2. A Trial in Venice by Roberta Rich--part of a series about a Jewish midwife set in the late 1500s in Venice and Constantinople. Interesting and gives a look into a very different time and culture
3. An obscure series (lent to me by a relative about a distant ancestor apparently?) about a family of pacifist Amish who were captured by several First Nations tribes during the conflict in the colonies during the 7 Years War between the British and the French in battling for control of North America. It was fascinating to see how the different family members adapted to their new lives in the different tribes they were in. Several of the characters actually came to prefer the First People's way of life, and adapting back to their original cultures when treaty settlements demanded the return of all captives, was very difficult for them. I probably wouldn't have read these books without the possible family connection, but I found my perspectives and viewpoints being challenged in various areas, so I feel they were a worthwhile read.
I fell down a huge Laura rabbit hole after reading The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure. It's about a woman who'd been obsessed as a child and rediscovered the books as an adult. A good one to read a chapter a day.
@Lee, That's the title I have been trying to remember!
I liked that book, though was disappointed by how many places she went to that had strong Little House television series overtones. I do not find the books and the TV series to have much in common beyond the names of the characters.
@Lee, That's the title I have been trying to remember!
I liked that book, though was disappointed by how many places she went to that had strong Little House television series overtones. I do not find the books and the TV series to have much in common beyond the names of the characters.
@Lee, That's the title I have been trying to remember!
I liked that book, though was disappointed by how many places she went to that had strong Little House television series overtones. I do not find the books and the TV series to have much in common beyond the names of the characters.
Hi Kristen,
I have a podcast related to the Laura Ingalls Wilder book to recommend - it's called Wilder, and it is super-interesting. The podcaster unpacks the odd and fascinating relationship between Laura and Rose, amongst other things.
I also love Atul Gawande's writing. The Checklist Manifesto is one of my favorite reads. And yes, we all need to think about end-of-life and quality-of-life while it's still not immediate and emotionally charged.
I loved the Call the Midwife series! And yes, the workhouse one is very hard and so sad! If you haven’t read the third one, Farewell to the East End, I recommend it.
Books with a similar vibe: the Call the Nurse series by Mary J. MacLeod. Set on a small Scottish island; I really enjoyed these.
Random book recommendation:
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson. I just reread this for the third time.
Thanks for the reviews!
I started a list of the books I read when I was 13. I sure wish I had kept it up all these years to look back on. I remember some such as the Little House series but have forgotten many.
OMG. Frugal fail because I bought the Prairie Fires book rather than wait for my library.
I'm not sure how much the books got changed in different editions, but I'm surprised when people say the dark side was hidden, as I remember many many instances that were very clear.
The family she boarded with as a teacher had a wife with severe mental illness who threatened them with a knife, and she also had that horrific situation where a family friend wanted her to give them Rose.
In the First Four Years, her son died. And earlier, when the boys went on the long ride to get grain, there was discussion that people might get violent and how they had to handle that possibility because of the starvation and isolation of that long winter.
But Nellie was a grouping of a bunch of rather nasty schoolmates, and it's not my understanding that her teacher Mr. Boast ever apologized for not graduating her when she was ready.
Sigh. Sorry. I grew up on a farm completely and totally isolated with parents working long long hours. Some winters we were snowed in for more than a month. I read these books to keep my head mentally above water and I remember the dark parts as they spoke to me; there is a lot of darkness in an isolated rural life. It's definitely not all fresh corn, baby cows and sleigh rides.
@ms.b214, I always wanted to know how Laura's family handled the outhouse situation during The Long Winter! I'm assuming they used chamberpots...
Also periods, altho perhaps they were so malnourished, that was a non issue.
@ms.b214, wow. i grew up in the suburbs but both parents worked and i had no siblings or cousins or very many friends. life is very different for me now though. thank goodness.
@Kristen, Ha, I literally wrote in my diary re The Long Winter when I was fourteen 'what does Laura do about her period?'. I later came to the same conclusion; they were malnourished so their periods probably stopped. And perhaps Laura's hadn't started yet.