THE WILDER LIFE by Wendy McClure
For those of you who’ve followed here a while (and even for those who are rather new), you might have caught that I’m a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan. My book, MAY B., was partially inspired by my desire to create my own strong pioneer girl who would feel, in the spirit of Laura Ingalls, both familiar and brave.
If you, too, are a Laura fan, you have to get a hold of Wendy McClure‘s THE WILDER LIFE: MY ADVENTURES IN THE LOST WORLD OF LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE. As an adult, Wendy rekindles her Laura love and determines she’ll learn as much as she can about the Ingalls and their world. Wendy embarks on a butter-churning, midwestern-prairie trekking adventure, where she visits all of Laura’s homesites (excluding the Wilders brief stay in Florida), experiments with homesteading techniques (sourdough starter, anyone?), and digs deep into what is real, what is fiction, and what is memory.
Those of us who grew up loving Laura Ingalls have memories of our own. For me, I remember Laura being the first author I “knew.” Sure, I’d been exposed to plenty of books before the Little House series, but it was while listening to my father read that I came to understand Laura the girl and Laura the writer were the same person. I was convinced that Laura had actually typed each page in my book, stuck everything together, and sent it to the bookstore.
Wendy’s book covers a lot — the television series fans vs. the book fans (some of us are both, but lean more one way or the other), the way Laura’s books are more fictitious than many realize (For example, LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS actually covers the time before and after LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE; the Ingalls, like many pioneers, had to backtrack before being able to move west again), and the expectation — and disappointment — a fan might experience while visiting, as Wendy calls it, Laura World. How much of the books comes from true events? How much of our memories of the Ingalls were partially formed by our own childhood impressions? Where is a fan left in the midst of it all? And why did TV Pa solve so many problems by throwing punches?For this Laura fan, this book was incredibly satisfying. Wendy, like it or not, you’ve made a new friend.
Has anyone else read THE WILDER LIFE? What were your impressions? If your name happens to be Stephanie and you babysat me as a girl, don’t buy your own copy; you’ll find one in your mailbox soon!
That sounds amazing. I loved Laura, but I was never quite the die-hard fan that my little sister was… I think I know what she’ll get for her birthday. :)
And, really, I just want to know the answer to this question: “And why did TV Pa solve so many problems by throwing punches?” :)
Yes, Faith, I do, too!! When I read Wendy’s observation about TV Pa, I laughed out loud! The show was meant to be wholesome, but there was a whole lot of fightin’ going on.
I still have my calico Laura Ingalls Wilder dress, apron and bonnet. My girls have been her for Halloween and for school days where they have to dress as their favorite literary character.
Um, changing gears here–but one child actually came as Hannah Montana (?).
sf
Hannah Montana as a literary figure??
I read this book and wished I hadn’t. I felt like my (rosy) view of the Ingalls had been tainted. Too much information! But I can see its appeal for others and appreciated the author’s intentions.
I understand what you mean, Irene. Maybe because I’d read some of the Ingalls experiences elsewhere, this didn’t happen for me. Have you read Cynthia Rylant’s Burr Oak Laura book?
Awesome! I loved Little House on the Prairie as a child. And your book fits right with that!
I’m a Wilder fan too! I will check out this book with trepidation!
It really is wonderful. I promise.