Caroline: Little House, Revisited

I will admit that when I read the original series, with all its warmth and nostalgia softening the edges of the hardship this family endured, I often chuckle a little at Wilder’s characterization of Caroline Ingalls - this prim, unruffled woman dutifully following her never-satisfied, possibly slightly crazy husband ever westward, always with some dusty platitude on her lips and an apparent will to quell any spirit in her daughters. Laura’s affection and respect for her mother are obvious, but you do wonder what is going on in Caroline’s mind beyond the next proverb.This book fills that question generously and beautifully, and frankly I will never read Caroline in the originals so uncharitably again.Taking a sort of halfway point between the historical family and Wilder’s adjusted fictional time frame, this book doesn’t pretend to be an “accurate” portrayal of the actual Caroline - I assume she left no journals, so there probably isn’t much to work with besides Wilder’s books and whatever details of actual pioneer life the author has researched - and she’s done her homework. What we get is a window into an imagined Caroline’s inner world, and what a vivid and wonderful window it is - one that feels authentic to the original character and yet far more complex, human, and empathetic, as one would expect from an adult book.And it is an adult book. There is frank acknowledgment of things Wilder, writing in a more innocent age and for children, never addressed. But I found it all handled gracefully and beautifully - yes, there is sensuality and even sex in this book, somehow to the horror of one-star reviewers who seem to believe women of the past did not experience sexual desire or enjoy this aspect of married life or that even if they did we shouldn’t talk about something so scandalous. For all those who can appreciate tasteful and meaningful renderings of this vital and normal aspect of loving relationships, you will find nothing to offend you here.The writing is lyrical, poetic, and dense, which may be a turn-off for those expecting something akin to Wilder’s minimalistic style, or indeed for those who prefer straightforward modern prose to period literature. I personally found it sumptuous - a feast of language, from a master of words. Caroline’s inner world is depicted with deep emotion and raw vulnerability. We see how she can both deeply love her husband and yet be sometimes, very realistically, resentful of how his wandering foot affects the stability and safety of their family. We see how her deep piety and sense of duty grounds her, grants her the strength and patience and endurance for a road that would have made lesser women turn back. We see the motivations for her words and actions in the original books - much of the dialogue being lifted directly from them, now enriched with the thoughts behind it. There is still something of the flavor of Laura’s writing in much of this book, and not just in passages that pull directly from her books - it really does feel like a grown-up version of Little House.This is honestly the most enjoyable book I’ve read in several years, and will hold a permanent spot in my collection. Kudos to the author for such a brilliant piece of work.

I loved and was addicted to the LH stories as a little girl and watched the show religiously but hadn't thought much of it since entering adulthood. When I found out this book existed, I immediately picked it up to see if it lived up to what I remember from the book series. I was surprised by how much I liked it and how much I enjoyed reading from Ma's POV. Ma always seemed so prim and proper in the books, so willing to give in to Charles's insane whims (and often seemed to despair that Laura was so similar to him). But this book really delves into the fact that this was how women were expected to be in the 1800s. Of course you gave in to your husband's whims and didn't share your own thoughts. Of course you did all you could for your family, because what else could you do? Caroline was raised in a religious home, suffered the loss of a parent as well as poverty. Her love for her husband, often hinted at in the books, was absolutely beautiful to read. They had five children and Pa so often teased Ma, who always responded with a blush...no one can tell me those two didn't take that intimacy to their bedroom. So it was refreshing to read this from an adult's POV.I went back and reread the LH books after I read this and realized how simplistic they were. And I saw that Laura viewed her mother as a mother, not a woman, even years later after having her own children and suffering her own difficulties. I never got the sense that Laura realized her mother was a woman who probably suffered with the choices her husband made that consistently put her family in danger of poverty and starvation. Caroline Ingalls wasn't perfect, and for the people complaining about this in their reviews, I think it's absolutely absurd. This is not Laura's story, it is Caroline's. And I truly hope Sarah Miller continues to tell the rest of the stories in more details. How did Ma handle the death of her son? Mary's blindness? She went through so much and displayed so much strength...but how did she and Pa get through it? Those are the questions I want answered now as an adult. Laura Ingalls Wilder brushed over all of that (including her baby brother) in the books...but if Sarah Miller would continue writing, I would cherish those books as an adult as much as I cherished LH books as a child.I only give four stars because the writing was sometimes overly descriptive...a lot of similes and metaphors. But otherwise, this was a lovely book and I really hope this continues.

If you ran with Laura and Mary across the prairies. If you held the rope, with Laura, to travel back and forth to the barn in the blizzard. If you waited with her on a Friday afternoon to hear Almanzo coming to take her home for the weekend. Then you should read Caroline. The author has revisited the book Little House on the Prairie, from Caroline's point of view. There are some differences from the original as Sarah Miller has tried to stay closer to history in some places, but the story doesn't suffer for it. My only one complaint - and it is minor - is that the author included a bit of Caroline and Charles' sex life, which could have been avoided, in my opinion. It's no steamy, beach novel and still PG rated but I would have liked to stay out of the bedroom. All in all, I loved the book. And I fell even more in love with Ma and more aware of all that the pioneer women had to endure.

While I truly loved Caroline’s perspective, I think the book lacks a lot of the energy and positivity that can be felt in Laura’s versions. Sarah Miller’s style is pretty slow, not to say dull, mainly due to the many lenghty descriptions of fairly unimportant things -which would be totally fine if it added to the book’s overall background and atmosphere, but it clearly didn’t for me.

An adult version of Little house on the prairie that will totally immerse you in that historical period and show you how it was living back then, you'll get a view of pioneer life through the eyes of an adult this time living with the Ingalls family the struggle of adapting to a new place while trying to make it feel like home.

I had read 'The Little House on the Prairie' as a child, as a teacher to my class and to my own two children. I loved it. I will read it to my grandchildren soon. I was slightly wary of buying this book as I thought it could not possibly be as good as the germinal novel. It is. It enhances, explains and thoroughly rounds out Ma's character as a woman, a lover, a wife and mother. The hardships these pioneers suffered are brought vividly to life. The writing style in keeping with the time and environment. Heartily recommend it.

Love to read her books