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The First Four Years (Little House) Review

Even though it's different from the other books, which is both good and bad at once, i like this book.
I think it's sad to read about all the troubles they had, with diphtheria, the house that burnt down, the loss of Laura's son, etc. It reminds me of the other period she left out -- the year the Ingalls spent in South Troy, Minnesota and Burr Oak, Iowa.
As some of you say, "These Happy Golden Years" was intended to be the last "Little House" book, but according to "Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Biography" by William Anderson, the readers wanted to know what happened next, so Laura finally said "well, there MIGHT just be another book underway" and then wrote this draft which was released post mortem. I do think the decision to release the book was correct, otherwise I fear that someone else would do it, just like they did to the lost Laura years.

But, back to the book. Laura first refuses to become a farmer's wife because of all the shores and the fact that they might not be very rich. Almanzo manages to make a deal with her to try it for three years, and then a fourth year - "The Year of Grace". Unless I misunderstand it, Laura didn't like living in town, either. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Those years were really troubled years. Almanzo buys things on credit and plan to pay for them when the harvest were done. But when harvest time came, there was a hailstorm that destroyed the crops; if Almanzo didn't wait the last days they would be hundreds of dollars richer. In addition, Laura first gave birth to a baby girl, Rose Wilder Lane, and years later, a baby boy which died 3 weeks later. After that Laura's and Almanzo's home burnt down in a fire. Those and other events described in the book are really sad events which I can understand why she didn't put in a children's book.

I like the book, but I must warn that the storytelling is different from the other 8 Laura books, and that the storytelling that is expressed in this book might be a bit "disappointing".

The First Four Years (Little House) Feature

ISBN13: 9780060581886
Condition: New
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The First Four Years (Little House) Overview

For the first time in the history of the Little House books, this new edition features Garth Williams’ interior art in vibrant, full color, as well as a beautifully redesigned cover.

Laura Ingalls Wilder is beginning life with her new husband, Almanzo, in their own little house. Laura is a young pioneer wife now, and must work hard with Almanzo, farming the land around their home on the South Dakota prairie. Soon their baby daughter, Rose, is born, and the young family must face the hardships and triumphs encountered by so many American pioneers.

And so Laura Ingalls Wilder's adventure as a little pioneer girl ends, and her new life as a pioneer wife and mother begins. The nine Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America's frontier past and a heartwarming, unforgettable story.

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Customer Reviews

depressing - LibKat - Cape Cod, MA
I love Laura Ingalls Wilder as an author. I think her books are interesting and well written. Her descriptions of events, places, people, and time periods cannot be beat and it draws you right in. However, this book is just awful and depressing.

the struggles of a young pioneer couple - Sheena Carver -
I love this book because it tells about Laura and Manly's first few years of marriage. The manuscript was not prepared for publication by Laura, because it was not found until after her death. Therefore, the book is not as well-written or detailed as the previous Little House books. However, if you enjoy Laura's other books, this book will be of interest. I found out things about Laura's life that I never knew until I read this book.

Biittersweet end - M - I wait behind the wall, gnawing away at your reality
This book really is only for die-hard Little House fans. It wasn't published till after Laura and Rose had died, for 'Golden years' was meant to be the end of the Little House series. It's definitely not for little kids, and if your little one is a fan of the series, I wouldn't recommend telling them of this book till they get older, since this has a different feel to the story. I didn't enjoy it as much as the other LH books, but that should be expected with Ms. Wilder's intentions and the fact that this book was a posthumous publication. It's not a bad read on it's own, though, it's just different because it's sadder. Definitely a book for older readers.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 29, 2010 10:22:05

Children's Books

Sunday, August 29, 2010