Posted on September 14, 2014 in Books
As the title says, this book was just about one long winter. It is the most boring of the books so far. It’s just blizzard after blizzard and the belated Christmas scene at the end did save it for me.
Almanzo features again for the first time since Farmer Boy. I found the switching of narratives not seamless and a bit clunky. I did enjoy how every time the Wilder boys were mentioned, pancakes were featured!
Mary continues to be a sanctimonious wet blanket while Laura is still a relatable protagonist. I listened to half of this in audiobook from HarperCollins. I got use to the narrator after awhile. She made the singing more bearable too, but there is too much singing in these books.
All in all, the
Reread September 12-14 on audiobook and Kindle.
Posted on September 7, 2014 in Books
Two years pass between this book and the last one. Almost immediately we are told that Mary has become blind and Ma had has another baby so now there are four girls. They experience their first train ride, hotel experience, and moving to Dakota Territory to become homesteaders.
There was a lot of singing in this book. A bit too much for me. I really enjoyed Laura’s adventures in the wild and Laura is so relateable. Opposed to Mary. She was Ok in the beginning (“you create pictures with your words, Laura”) then got annoying: “I really don’t know, Laura, why you’d rather those rough men… I’ve finished another quilt patch while you’ve been idling.” Carrie seems to be afraid of everything.
I do feel sorry for Laura. She is growing up and has to be the eldest all of a sudden. Pa tells Laura that Ma wants one of the girls to teach and it has to be her. Sigh.
Caroline’s racism returns again in this book: “I always heard you can’t trust a half-breed,” Ma said. Ma did not like Indians; she did not like even half-Indians.
They talk about how they wouldn’t have been scalped back in Indian Territory except for one and Caroline argues back. It doesn’t make sense though; it’s just prejudice. I mean they were in Indian territory! What did they expect? Her issue was with them moving to Indian territory and that was Pa’s decision.
On a final note, I like the side characters as usual: Big Jerry and the Boasts: “Mr Boast’s laugh tickles,” Carrie said.
Laura’s writing continues to be lovely in parts. I had forgotten how excellent a writer she is (or Rose, it’s hard to tell). It gives me more mixed feelings about the books. Sigh.
Re-read Sept 5-6, 2014 on Kindle.
Posted on September 4, 2014 in Books
The more I re-read these books, the more uncomfortable I am with Charles Ingalls. While the books have some lovely moments especially with Laura exploring the wild and the glimpses of frontier life, I get annoyed with Pa.
He buys lumber for a house in the spring on credit of the wheat he will harvest later. It is a big lack of foresight because the last wheat harvest by the previous owner was poor. He does not research the area they move into very much at all. Unsurprising that they have locusts for two years. It’s horrifying to read though.
On a positive note, I continue to like Laura. She relatable to most girls. Aside from the moment where Ma gives Charlotte away, I have to hand it to Caroline. She does very well under the circumstances. I have also liked Christmas scene in the book so far. I like how it was a cherished time of family, love, and unselfish behaviour among people. There is a deep sense of gratitude and warmth in the gift scene. I also think Caroline and Charles do really love each other. Charles loves his family, and I feel sorry for him and his family.
I continue to have mixed feelings about the books, but some of my favourite moments will come as Laura grows up.
Reread August 30th-September 3rd, 2014 on Kindle.
Posted on September 1, 2014 in Books
This is not a book review. I started reading this book six months ago, and I have only made it page 68 out of 261. I am officially giving up this book.
This was a Classics Club spin book, and my reading has not been as good this year. I tried many times to pick up this book, but I just found it too boring. Giving up a book is not easy for me. It’s only happened five times in recent memory. I am a speed reader so I can usually skim to some degree, but even skimming this novel was difficult.
I bought the book at used charity book fair because I loved The Jungle Book. I read the reviews and recaps of the books to spur my desire, but I couldn’t do it. First, the novel was too slow paced for me. I did not get a sense of the protagonist. I did not like the dialogue style. There are a lot of “thee” and “thou”. Utter tedium for me and I’m not even sure why it even bored me that much. I’ve read War and Peace, but nope, I have wasted enough time on this book. I think I will donate it.
Life is too short to read books that you don’t enjoy.
Started reading March 2014, gave up Sept 1, 2014.