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Original poster

Any Laura Ingalls Wilder fans?

233 replies

moondog · 16/09/2012 19:17

I visited the LIW house and museum in Missouri a few weeks ago and it was one of the most moving experiences ever. I made a detour of thousands of miles to see it.
If anyone loves her just as much as I do I wanted the chance to tell you about it so that you can savour every delicious detail.

OP posts:
skyebluesapphire · 16/09/2012 20:18

I am 40 and I have just reread all the books . DD just destroyed one if them though :-(

There are also a couple of books written by the daughter.

Would love to hear about the museum

TunipTheVegemal · 16/09/2012 20:19

Would love to hear about it!

Come on Moondog, spill.

mankyscotslass · 16/09/2012 20:20

I think it's sad that Charles Ingalls line died out with the death of Rose Wilder Lane - none of his other children had children of their own.

And I seem to remember reading somewhere that Laura never visited with Ma again after the death of Pa, due to a family argument, but I only saw it mentioned once, and never again.

BertieBotts · 16/09/2012 20:21

It's fascinating. I love how the tone changes as well, in the earlier books when Laura is ~4 and Mary is ~6 it's so innocent and everything is wondrous and new and amazing, and as she gets older she is more aware of other things going on until the last few where it's totally different.

I still haven't read all of them, I think I must start again from the beginning!

MadamGazelleIsMyMum · 16/09/2012 20:22

Adored the books growing up. Rose Wilder Lane is the daughter, she wrote On The Way Home, telling the story of the later years. Also a book which I think was called Let The Wind Blow, technically fiction but based on her own life. Would love to hear about the museum.

spudmasher · 16/09/2012 20:24

Big fan. Please share.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 16/09/2012 20:26

Really?! manky that seems really sad if she never visited her mother, I wonder what happened if it's true.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 16/09/2012 20:27

madam - Let the Hurricane Roar?

MissAnnersley · 16/09/2012 20:28

I've read that too manky. Really sad.

IslaValargeone · 16/09/2012 20:41

Gosh, didn't realise there were so many.Thanks LRD.

Woodlands · 16/09/2012 20:47

I'm a fan too, would love to hear!

ScatterChasse · 16/09/2012 20:51

I'd love to hear as well.

I must find the later books, I know I've read some but not all. I loved the idea of him playing the violin and singing as they went to sleep

issimma · 16/09/2012 20:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SeaShellsMyDogTrulySmells · 16/09/2012 20:52

Loved the books as a child - never read them though, no idea where my copies have gone :(

Spill, would love to hear what it was like!

MadamGazelleIsMyMum · 16/09/2012 20:57

That's it LRD!

sleeze · 16/09/2012 21:01

Oh my! I read all the books as a teenager and love, love, loved them. I would love to visit the museum. MUST re-read....!

libelulle · 16/09/2012 21:05

One of my fondest childhood memories is buying the first book in the series in a bookshop while on a camping holiday, aged about 7. Then when I'd finished that one, my dad got the next book out of the suitcase. And when I'd finished that one, he got out the next one... It took me about 3 books to work out that he'd bought the entire series for me! I spent the whole summer buried in them. Happy happy times :)

user12785 · 16/09/2012 21:06

Me! Recently reread all the books to dcs, and they were spellbound. I then bought all the books about Rose, the biography of Laura, book about all the Laura houses, and "The Wilder Life" by Wendy McClure, in which she visits all the Laura sites, even the dug-out at Plum Creek. (Wow, I do sound a bit obsessed. It's worn off again now though!)

Pleasenomorepeppa · 16/09/2012 21:07

This thread has made me want to re-read them!! I've always remembered the snow candy! Right, off to Amazon!!

redrubyshoes · 16/09/2012 21:12

I often wondered if there was a genetic defect in the mother's family line. Caroline and Charles had a son who died in infancy, Caroline had a brother who died in infancy and Laura had a son who died in infancy as did Rose - her daughter had a son who lived for a few months.

All the girls survived.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 16/09/2012 21:15

Right, I've tried google about the argument between Laura and Ma, and no joy ... come on, I am burning to know, does anyone else know?

I did always love the way she wrote about her relationship with her father, I thought that was lovely, especially the way she managed to put it across clearly that she wasn't very happy with her mother making her be 'ladylike' and her father would have loved a son - but still it doesn't come across as resentful or bitter on either side, just the reason why they had a strong bond.

HumphreyCobbler · 16/09/2012 21:18

I am rather upset at the thought that Laura fell out with her mother Sad

I agree LRD, there was a lovely relationship there between Laura and Pa.

showtunesgirl · 16/09/2012 21:22

I used to LOVE these books. Need to get some in for DD when she's older!

aJumpedUpPantryBoy · 16/09/2012 21:23

I've got a biography of LIW on the Kindle, I might reread it tonight to see if there is any mention of what happened between Laura and Ma

redrubyshoes · 16/09/2012 21:25

I will try to find the article I read about the feud between Laura and her mother.

The long and the short of it was her mother was a devoutly religious woman who was also deeply xenophobic and Laura and particurlary her daughter Rose were open minded and embraced all cultures.

Rose veered towards communism and was planning to live in Albania shortly before she died.

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