Little House in the Ozarks: The Rediscovered Writings

This is a collection of newspaper articles Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about life in the Ozarks. Many of the articles are full insights into life that still apply today. She wrote about farmer's wives being equal in importance to their husbands, the frustration of dealing with "new technology" (in her case a new washing machine), and many other day to day activities on the farm.

Laura Ingalls' writing for adults, through a newspaper column she did weekly from 1911-1925, is highly amusing, and very thought-provoking for those of us living now in Psychobabble, Let It All Hang Out, Complain and Whine and Blame and Brood California.Her advice is to simply refrain from even commenting on one's troubles, and avoid thinking about the negative things, the things one can't do anything about.Try to be positive, try to see that work is necessary, and don't avoid one's job and chores, or you make yourself more miserable.ARe these the commonsense things that today's adults or children ever hear, outside of a church sermon or Reader's Digest?It reminds me of my early days in Germany, when slowly the meaning of the old folksongs began to penetrate as I learned the German vocabulary. I'd heard them, hummed with them, and played the kazoo and danced to them; but when I finally understood the lyrics, I realized what a completely different time and place they came from. They encourage people to stand up and enjoy their lives, the chance to walk in the flowers of springtime, to make friends, to have a drink with colleagues or family, to see one's beloved again, and to rejoice that God made you at all.When I met older Germans, they seemed often to still embody such positive efforts and mentality, in contrast to the American-like cynicism of the young.This will strike you - assuming you are an adult reading this - when you read Laura Ingalls' columns. I don't know what children would think, but I think they'd like them. They're straight and honest and true, just as she advises us to be.

The rediscovered writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder are ones you will remember forever. Her writings put pictures in your mind and make you reallize how things really are. Laura's writings and thoughts are ones you will remember forever. This is a great book. Anyone will like it.

This is NOT a children's book and should not be listed at the reading level "ages 9 - 12". Years before Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the Little House series about her childhood last century, she was a pioneer journalist, writing regular newspaper columns that provided commentary on everyday life in America. The columns, which ran from 1911-1925, discuss a variety of topics - from women & politics to the role of the mother in a home, from having a family motto to the effect of the end of WW1 on ordinary people, and through them all she exhibits a special insight and wisdom. This is a delightful collection that affords us the opportunity to see another side of Laura, in a career which she enjoyed for many years before she penned those famous novels of her childhood.

Since I am currently reading the Little House book series with my children, I was delighted to come across this book in the library. Now I want a copy for myself! Laura speaks with gentleness and insight about human nature and the universal concerns that are timeless. It's an extremely satisfying read because this is the voice of the "grown-up Laura".