The Reading Challenge Group discussion

A few of us are planning to read (or reread) the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Any are welcome to join us.

Yay! Shall we read at our own pace or do we want a schedule?

I'll probably do about one book per month because I want to read other things, too.

I am going to read one book a month as well.

Soundsperfect, I'll try to do the same.

I have started Little House in the Big Woods and it's so charming. I just love it so much. I have the illustrated edition, which I love.

Confession: The first time I read LHITBW was aloud to a classroom full of second graders. The language and cadence is just so beautiful that they hung in every word and couldn't wait for the next chapter. Also, hearing the details of life in those times was just so fascinating... And so weird... And so weird that it was true. It was a really great experience to enjoy the story both for the story itself and for the reaction of those 20th Century children.

That is why I enjoyed these books when I was a little girl. I remember getting the first book out of our little local library and loving it.

I forgot about all the side stories and lyrics. Yet they add so much to the overall tone of the novel and the sense of the closeness of the family.

Camille wrote: "I have started Little House in the Big Woods and it's so charming. I just love it so much. I have the illustrated edition, which I love."

Are they the Garth Williams illustrations? He is one of my all-time favorite illustrators. The pictures are just wonderful! So beautiful and they really help a modern reader to picture elements of that life.

Renee wrote: "Camille wrote: "I have started Little House in the Big Woods and it's so charming. I just love it so much. I have the illustrated edition, which I love."

Are they the Garth Williams il..."

Yes, the only acceptable illustrations in my opinion!!

I have to admit rereading the books makes me nostalgic for a simpler, more meaningful life. We spend so much time on electronic devices disconnected from everything. It's not fun when you think about it.

Just finished Farmer Boy. I really like Mr Wilder, he seems like a sound dad! Almanzo is just so cute.

I finished Little House in the Big Woods about a week ago. The illustrations are charming. I liked the chapter where the family went to town and Laura and Mary got sand in their shoes. That brings back memories.

I have finished two chapters of Little House on the Prairie, where they have to ford the creek. I am really surprised that Laura's mother didn't want their dog in the wagon.

I'm just a bit further. They just finished the roof and the rest of the interior. The illustrations make it look so cozy!

Building a house in the middle of the prairie must have been really hard work.

It's kind of amazing and one of he things I love about this series. Laura does such a great job of telling details about how things were done back then.

Rosemarie wrote: "I have finished two chapters of Little House on the Prairie, where they have to ford the creek. I am really surprised that Laura's mother didn't want their dog in the wagon."

I think at the time animals were used for work more than just pets, that's why.

That would make sense. It's still that way in most places around the world.

I've reached the chapter when Mrs Scott visits and talks about Indians. I really had to tell myself those were different times as it felt so wrong reading it!

I was wondering about that just from previewing the illustrations and knowing how things were portrayed in those times (and long after). I'm reading Prairie with an advanced student and thinking about how to handle that discussion when it comes up.

Laura herself doesn't seem so "racist", asking if the Indians won't be mad to be pushed out of Indian territory. You could explore the different viewpoints. Laura is curious, Mrs Scott hates them, Caroline seems scared (maybe because she doesn't know their culture) and Charles seems respectful enough. Then you can discuss who is right/wrong, shouldn't we learn about other cultures so they aren't scary, etc. Without wanting to start a political debate, it could be interesting with what is happening in the US at the moment.

Sorry for unleashing my inner teacher!!

I am a retired teacher, and the inner teacher never goes away. I have not gotten to the section with Mrs. Scott, but have finished the chapter with the Indians. It is a difficult topic to deal with(the displacement of people, wherever they are) but it certainly needs to be dealt with since the problem is still ongoing.
Often the true opinions of a teacher come through when they deal with a delicate subject- or fail to deal with it, which happens in some cases.

I've actually never read this series. I've owned the box set since I was a kid and, for whatever reason, never read them. I just finished Little House in the Big Woods. I agree that the illustrations are wonderful ("charming" is probably the best word). Even in this book, there were a few times I had to remind myself that these stories were written in a different time. I'm interested to see how I react to the next books.

I am reading the second book in the series, which deals with the issues of the Indian lands.
The books that I remember enjoying the most are the books in which Laura has to deal with the annoying Nellie Olsen, when Laura goes to school.
I am finding the second book annoying at times-moralizing-for example, the rules about children being seen and not heard, which of course was the standard of the time.
I also get the impression that Laura's parents were good parents and really just wanted the best for their children.
The best part of this book are the illustrations by Garth Williams. They are wonderful.

Which book do people usually read second: Little House on the Prairie or Farmer Boy?

I know Farmer Boy was published first, but Little House on the Prairie is typically listed as the second book in the series, right? I know it continues the story from Big Woods. Any thoughts for the more experienced Little Housers out there?

Farmer Boy is about Almanzo Wilder, so it doesn't matter which you read next, since Little House on the Prairie is about the Ingalls family.

I read it before Prairie as that's how it is organised in my box set. But my French translation had it as #4. As Rosemarie said, it really doesn't matter when you read it.

I noticed this in the chapter called The Tall Indian. And we have to remember that "Pa" was fairly progressive thinking, much more than "Ma".

When white settlers come into a country, the Indians have to move on. The government is going to move these Indians farther west, any time now. That's why we're here, Laura. White people are going to settle all this country, ....

I have just finished the book. It must have been frustrating to have been told by the government that the land was available for settlement, and then have been told after a year's hard work that you had to move.
Laura's father sounds like a very special person-hard working, open minded and fun. Her mother was very brave. It must have been terrifying for her to be alone on the prairie when Charles was away.
All in all, I think that this book gives us a good idea of what life was like for the settlers on the prairies.

I have juat finished Plum Creek. Last time I read it I was a teenager so was on the children's side. Now, as a mother, I understand Caroline and Charles' hardships more, their struggle and sacrifices to make sure their children have what they need.
And some of the stuff Laura does makes me cringe, imagining my son doing the same dangerous things!!

Thanks for all your feedback! I decided to go with "Farmer Boy" second. Maybe it's because it was the second book in the series that I read and I was more used to the little house world, but I enjoyed this story more. It seemed like there was more conflict. I'm excited to see how I feel about the next book when Laura is a bit more grown up!

I also liked the part where Almanzo was talking about one rotten apple spoiling the whole bin. It led to a very confusing Google search for me on why the Osmond song "One Bad Apple" (definitely more city than country here)!

For those who don't know, Laura omitted a few years between Plum Creek and Silver Lake. Cynthia Rylant has written a book to cover the missing years. Old Town in the Green Groves: Laura Ingalls Wilder's Lost Little House Years.

I found it interesting. It's not the same as Laura's writing but it's sweet. Unoprtunately I read the French translation, which wasn't very good. I think the Englush version would be much better. It was fun to get a little bit more of Laura.

Cool. Thanks, Camille.

I would like to get in on this buddy read. How far into the series are you? I loved these books as a little girl and received a book about the author that I never read and hopefully still have. But would like to read that after the series.
Are you doing one book a month still?

Rosemarie wrote: "That is why I enjoyed these books when I was a little girl. I remember getting the first book out of our little local library and loving it."

Me too and might do the same now, since I am sure they are there. My friend and I had a competition on who could read them the fastest. Now I will enjoy every word :)

Christine,
Jump right in. Some of us are further ahead; some further behind.

Christine, welcome to our buddy read. We have a challenge called Cereal Numbers- where you can keep track of any series you are reading, just in case you feel like doing some challenges. (Or maybe you have already started that one?)

I am now reading On the Banks of Plum Creek. The Ingalls are now living in a sod house in Minnesota and a lot has been happening. Laura is now almost eight and this book is more interesting and more fun than Little House.

Laura and Mary have just started school and met Nellie Oleson!

I've just finished Silver Lake. Laura's concerns are much more grown up now, she is 13 I believe (or 14) and you can tell she isn't a little girl anymore.

So where is everyone at with the challenge?

I finished Silver Lake about a month ago. There have been many changes in the Ingalls family. As you said, Camille, Laura is growing up and realizing that she has responsibilities now. I like this and the last one better than the first two books.

I crashed and burned after Prairie. :(

Its my own fault. I was trying to read them with a student and it didn't work out as I'd hoped. Plus, I took on too many series in 2017. I really loved the first two books so maybe I'll get back into this one after Christmas.

Renee, I crashed and burned after Prairie, too. I wanted to vary my reading a bit and just never got back to the series. Now I'm trying to finish up so many other challenges that it looks like I'll be reading these into 2018 as well.

I'll definitely be reading these into 2018 too...

So will I.

I've always wanted to re-read these.... I'll play catch up!

Welcome to the buddy read, Glennis!
Sorry, I somehow missed your post.