Book Review of #1 Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Name of book: Little House in the Big Woods

Author Name: Laura Ingalls Wilder

ISBN: 0-06-44001-8

Publisher: Harper Trophy

Part of Series: Little House series (9 original books)

Type of book:  woods,1872?-1873? semi-autobiographical, memoir

Year it was published: 1932 (version I have 1971?)


Summary:

 Deep in the woods of Wisconsin...Wolves and panthers and bears roamed the deep Wisconsin woods in the 1870s. In those same woods, Laura Ingalls lived with her Pa and Ma, and her sisters Mary and Baby Carrie, in a snug little house built of logs. Pa hunted and trapped. Ma made her own cheese and maple sugar. All night long, the wind howled lonesomely, but Pa played his fiddle and sang, keeping the family safe and cosy.

Characters:

Most of the characters are one dimensional or else there was not enough screen time to form opinions about them. Laura's Ma and Mary as well as Carrie do not exhibit a lot of personality. (Perhaps it might change in future series.) Laura and Pa on the other hand are dynamic characters, and it's clear that Laura adores her father a lot, because Laura writes a lot of stories of her father's adventures and things that are going on with the family.

Theme:

I don't think there is a theme. This is written as a memoir.

Plot:

The point of view is in third person and is from Laura's view. It is written a bit childish, such as her jealousy of her sister's hair and how her sister is completely perfect while she is not, which could cause some kids or adults to relate to that. (Of those who have siblings, who hasn't been jealous of them or of the way their lives are?) It is also a bit preachy though because for the most part kids didn't act like today's kids. (Laura and Mary are slowly nibbling cookies to half and their younger sister gets the whole cookie...it may be realistic but in this day and age, the kids tend to be a bit selfish.)

Author Information:

Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder (February 7, 1867 – February 10, 1957) was an American author who wrote the Little House series of books based on her childhood in a pioneer family.[1] Laura's daughter, Rose, inspired Laura to write her books. (from wikipedia)

Opinion:

When I was a teenager I was obsessed with everything related to Little House. Reading this book, although it tends to be written as sort of an ideal or fantasy world, it was honestly interesting because of the way that things are done, that is how maple sugar is made or that the family lived in isolation and only surrounded by extended family. Its nice to read how they helped one another and survived together. This book is good for anyone.

4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)