Gotta re-read me some Laura Ingalls Wilder.

As previously mentioned, last week I found myself reading books by authors I'd read before (and enjoyed). Author Wendy McClure won me over a few years back with her weight-loss memoir titled I'm Not the New Me, so I thought I'd try her new book, a memoir/travelogue titled The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie. After explaining her childhood fascination with the Little House books and all things Laura Ingalls, McClure further describes her multiple trips to visit historic sites and tourist traps centering on the Ingalls mythos.

McClure is a children's book editor, and perhaps the most fun thing about this book is her obvious love for her source material.* Periodically she references parts of the Little House series that she particularly enjoyed (or is a bit dismayed by, in retrospect, particularly when it comes to the portrayals of American Indians), and how those parts really fired her imagination. Anyone who has ever remembered a beloved book (or series) from childhood will identify with her nostalgia, particularly those who read and loved the Little House books.

But also fun are her descriptions of many of the Ingalls historical sites, including the little house in the big woods at Pepin (Wisconsin), her Minnesota home "on the banks of Plum Creek," and the house in Missouri where she eventually settled with her husband Almanzo and their daughter Rose. Much of McClure's writing is also augmented with biographical tidbits from a wealth of biographies and scholarly works on Laura and her family--she clearly did her homework, which gives the story some nice heft.

But perhaps my favorite part of this memoir is how she shared her reading and travels with her partner, Chris. She did a nice job of working in his commentary, like when they discussed Farmer Boy, which, as it focused on Almanzo, was never one of McClure's favorite books in the series. But Chris liked it and told her why:

"'This book rules. This kid has the best life ever. There's a doughnut jar in the kitchen.' 'The doughnut jar really is cool,' I admitted. 'In his right hand he held a doughnut, and in his left hand two cookies,' Chris said. I knew he was reading from the book. 'He took a bite of doughnut AND THEN a bite of cookie.' He was quoting the birthday scene, where Almanzo gets to stay home from school and go sledding and wander through the kitchen double-fisting baked goods. 'That is some bad-ass action right there,' Chris said." (p. 304.)

This one was a fun read for summer. (Nonfiction beach reading, anyone?) Thoughtful but not too heavy. And it's definitely left me with the desire to read the Little House series. (I loved the part where Almanzo got to stay home for his birthday too.)

*"It's just how reading the Little House books was for me as a kid. They gave me the uncanny sense that I'd experienced everything she had, that I had nearly drowned in the same flooded creek, endured the grasshopper plague of 1875, and lived through the Hard Winter. It's a classic childhood delusion, I know, and in my typically dippy way I tended to believe that the fantasy was mine alone..." (p. 2.)

Comments

[Sarah]

OMG, FARMER BOY was full of FOOD. The Wilders were successful farmers (though they later moved) and Mother was always cooking massive amounts of good food. They had a much more interesting than the Ingallses (sp?) did with their interminable fried potatoes, salt pork, and whatever else they could find.

[Ruthiella]

Farmer Boy was also my favorite book in the series back then. Almanzo's childhood was so luxurious compared to Laura's. He had so much and she had to pretend a corn cob was her doll and play with a pig's bladder.

[Citizen Reader]

Sarah,
Actually, I really enjoyed "Farmer Boy." I always got a charge out of Almanzo, to tell you the truth, being annoyed by his bossy older sister. Time to re-read it, maybe, although then it will make me hungry. I actually once made the fried apples and onions recipe out of that book, and it was very good. I should make that again.

Ruthiella,
Interesting. I don't know that it was my favorite (I think Plum Creek and These Happy Golden Years were my favorites--for whatever reason I used to just love reading about those little name/calling cards they all had made, with the different scripts, so exciting!).
Wendy McClure actually talks at length about the differences between Almanzo's childhood and Laura's, and discusses their daughter Rose Wilder Lane's editing of the Little House books. Evidently they had lots of hardships after their marriage too, and Rose grew up closer to poverty than her dad did (or that's the impression I got). This was a really neat book for some insight into the Ingalls/Wilder clan, actually.

[rick]

I did not read the books until I was an adult with a daughter, but I became a devoted fan. Bonnie already had the books. We have now gone to the sights, which can be done in one nice tour of the central states. I'd recommend it.

[Citizen Reader]

Good to know, Rick. Add it to the list of 463 (at least!) other places I want to go someday. Sigh. But good to know the sights are fun, and glad you enjoyed the books. I'm really wanting to re-read them now but don't own them--I'll have to go check out the whole set from the library!

[bybee]

I loved this book. Now I want to read McClure's weight loss memoir.

[Citizen Reader]

Bybee,
I really enjoyed McClure's weight loss memoir. I think she's a really fun writer, while still having some writing skill (unlike someone like, say, Jen Lancaster). Apologies if you like Jen Lancaster; I just think McClure's a cut above, and deserves more publicity. (Although this Wilder book has been well received, which makes me happy.)

[mary]

Just finished this one. The details from the books got a bit tedious in my opinion, I freely admit that it has been many decades since I read the Wilder books, but I loved them at the time and would have enjoyed this book just as much without quite so many references to minute details from the books. I thought the strength of the book was the description of the historical sites, and of the many fans she has. I had no idea that there were reinactments, that you could buy sun bonnets, and that grown women would dress up in costumes. I also like that McClure admits that her obsession was not really totally Laura based. And I agree Chris sounds like a wonderful and supportive partner. My husband would have needed heavy sedation before some of those excursions.

[Citizen Reader]

Mary,
For the most part I never mind copious details about books in other books (I'm a total nerd), so I can't say that bothered me. I think perhaps she was trying to cover the bases if one of her readers hadn't read the Wilder books, but would anyone who hadn't choose her memoir anyway? I don't know.
I too liked the larger story arc about McClure's own family and childhood, but Chris was still my favorite. Like you, I'm pretty sure Mr. CR would be dragged to a covered wagon sleep-out only under extreme duress.

[Jillian]

I so want to read this!! I LOVE the Laura books. :-)