Prairie Son

by Dennis M. Clausen

Winner of the Mid-list Press First Series Award for Creative Non-Fiction, this memoir, set during the 1920s, 30s, and 40s in rural Minnesota, gives an unblinking account of poverty, natural disasters, and human frailty.

243 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1999

Reviews

[Colin]

This book started out really quick. I like how it is first person. I can't believe how abusive his parents are. Its good that he has the dogs to hang around instead of his parents. I also liked that he made a bond with the mailman. Its probaly good that his mom almost died because then his parents weren't so abusive. I wonder how he felt when his mom almost died. I think it is good that doctor took notice to they weren't super rich and just charged then a couple jars of jelly. I wouldn't lose all hope if my parents beat me and my nieghbor that would take care of me if i got beat moved away. I wonder how long it took the son to get over Mr. Jensons death.

[Lorlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written story of an adopted boy who is adopted not to be part of the family but a hired hand. Told from his perspective and set in rural Minnesota near Alberta. It reaches out and grabs your heart. He manages to triumph but the experience colors his entire life and he is never able to fully bond -- always looking for something he can't quite find. There is a sequel "Goodbye to Main Street" which I will be reading.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reviewer writing for the book’s back cover called this the Midwestern Angela’s Ashes, and that explains this book perfectly.

Lloyd A Clausen was never going to be what he was meant to be. I admire the grace with which he responds to the lemons life hands him.

This could have been the story of one of my uncles; Lloyd is a touch too old to have been either of my parents.

[Paula Perdoni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting accounting of what life was like depression era in rural west central MN. Very basic descriptions, gathered after the fact.

[Steve Deal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. You will cry. You will laugh. Along the way you will learn.

[Jean Schram · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author states that poor, white Americans are in crisis, focusing on his own people, the Scots-Irish families who moved from Kentucky to settle in Ohio but remained “hillbillies”. He oversimplifies the situation, lumping all of the hillbillies in his mom’s generation together, only mentioning intact, industrious hillbilly families for about a sentence. This bothered me because it’s the same thing that happens when people lump together everybody who lives in the inner city, especially African Americans. There is complexity within groups and within each individual! Still, it was good that he was able to experience success in life and tell the story of his childhood. It was heart-breaking to read about his mom not being able to hold a nursing job due to drug addiction and to read about the series of “dad candidates” (his phrase) that entered and left his life, including one who adopted him and then left (after finding out that J.D.’s mom was cheating on him) and never spoke to J.D. again, even when J.D. called him on his eleventh birthday. One thing that really stood out to me was his discussion of what to buy kids in need for Christmas presents. As a wealthy adult (he became a lawyer) he stands at the store with the list provided for him by the charity organization, and thinks to himself that poor kids don’t use any of these things. Regarding pajamas, he says that poor kids don’t wear pajamas; they fall asleep in their jeans or underwear. He referred to pajamas as “an unnecessary elite indulgence”. That statement brought back memories for me of my own childhood in Milwaukee. Some kids on my block didn’t have “indulgences” like hot water, toilet paper, or sober parents. Meanwhile, my parents dressed us in our “elite” pajamas and took us downtown for “Pillow Pops” concerts, during which the Milwaukee Pops Orchestra played a free family concert at night before bed. What a contrast! Although I disliked his broad generalizations, these kinds of books are great reminders that each of my students has unique life experiences.

[Rusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a man who is adopted by a couple who are searching for a hired man. Never does he encounter love or affection. The people he knows as Ma and Pa are married as a matter of convenience - Pa's convenience. He needs Ma to clean, cook and keep his house and Claus the work the farm so he can play cards and fish. Claus remembers his birth mother holding him and loving him so and cherishes this memory his entire life. Why did she give him up? The child finds friends in a cousin who like him is adopted, two dogs, the mailman, neighbors and teachers. While he misses more school than he attends he, nevertheless, graduates from high school. His one passion, as he grows up, is to find his birth mother. The book uncovers many mores of the time. For example: Bearing a child out of wedlock is tabu for any young woman. Attending church is customary. Taking a child out of school to work on the farm is common.

[M 6Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir is a great representation of what happens in impoverished settings and households. Ultimately shows what hardships the people of poverty face on a daily basis. Dennis lives in a very low social class “Everyone in the country came from a higher social class than we did.” Showing that she realizes that she is in poverty and doesn’t know how to get out yet. The author and character of the book Dennis grows up in an abusive and poor family. Her dad enforces ways of punishment such as “Pa took the razor strap to me.” If something is done wrong. Dennis parents later get called out for abusing and punishing her. She eventually finds friends that help her through her troubles and makes it. The neighbors that help them out are the Jensen’s “There was a dramatic change after Mr. Jensen lecture.” From there on Denise’s parents didn’t abuse her and she somehow had a great turnout in her life. This story of Dennis shows that no matter what circumstances you can make it in life.

[McKenna Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for the first time in high school and loved it.
I chose to teach it at my previous school about 10 years ago, and it got reluctant readers to read.
Now I'm teaching it at my current school and the students have visceral reactions and insightful discussions.
This is a magic book.

It's creative non-fiction; Dennis is writing his father's story.
A story filled with abuse, neglect, and hardship for Lloyd Clausen, a boy adopted to be a hired hand.
A story that is also dotted with kindness, determination, and a boy who can see the silver lining through the clouds.
It remains one of the best books I've ever read.

[Marjuangalloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly wonderful book!!! My boss is an adjunct Social Work Prof. & this book is part of his syllabus!

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story stays with you. Wonderful.