Revisited, Caroline: Little House

...but in someone else’s shoes. The story is familiar, but the telling is much more nuanced, bringing an adult perspective to a childhood favorite. I have been a fan of the Little House books for too many years to count. This retelling surpassed expectations.

I enjoyed this book. As I identified with Laura as a child, so I identified with Caroline as a wife and mother.

I would have liked fewer details of Caroline and Charles in bed together, however. There is certainly no historical record of those moments, and as a reasonably imaginative adult I didn't need to have them described for me. The subjects themselves likely would have been mortified to have their intimacy imagined, much less described in such physical and emotional detail. The author thoroughly explores Caroline's feelings and responses in many situations as she imagines them, but the level of sexual conjecture seems invasive when considering that these were real people who in their lifetimes would never have dreamed of sharing private marriage bed moments.

All in all, a good read. Just prepare for a little over sharing and maybe more bedroom detail than you need about beloved parental figures.

A strangely written piece with far too many surging feelings and tingling fingertips and very little of the charming detailed descriptions of the original wilder series. It was good enough to finish reading but that was about all. This is more like an extended piece of romantic poetry than a narrative

I have enjoyed reading about the Ingalls family stories and, so, was pleased to discover this book. Why was it disappointing? The author`s OVERUSE OF SIMILES AND METAPHORS was very annoying. She seemed to think more was better. And then...her description of sexual activity between the spouses was too descriptive and unnecessary. Why add them? Long scenes inside Caroline`s head we're tedious, I skipped many of them. I appreciate the authors research but was disappointed overall.

The whole book was ruined by the last two chapters which included very unnecessarily graphic descriptions of sexual encounters between Charles and Caroline. WHY??? In keeping with the beautiful sweet innocent style of these books this was HIGHLY inappropriate. The whole rest of the book was wonderful - a delight!

What was in Caroline Engalls' mind during all those adventures on the prairie, including childbirth and malaria? How did she feel, leaving family and friends and a snug cabin in the Big Woods to follow her husband into the unknown? This book gives you a clue and also an idea of how Caroline's puritan upbringing prepares her for the hardships ahead. To my 21st Century mind she was crazy to leave everything behind to follow her idiot husband. To her 19th Century mind, it was what a wife did, and without complaint or anger and certain that God would protect her family. Very informative and vividly depicts another world and culture.

The story told from the perspective of Ma versus Laura Ingalls made the tone of this book more different then I anticipated. I found it hard to get past some of the stark differences between the 2 stories, although the author explains at the end that her version is more historically accurate. It was still an enjoyable read that leaves you feeling hopeful at the end while wondering where life will take the Ingalls Family next.

I was a little disappointed in this book. The author followed the historically correct sequence of events, but expecting something more on the lines of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books, the sequence threw things out of whack for me. It didn't seem that Caroline was true to the character that Laura remembered her to be and some of the emotionally sexual portions could have been left out. I think readers feel as if they knew the Ingall's and reading this private part is somehow embarrassing. It wasn't necessary for the story; the closeness of the couple could have been presented differently. Other than that, I have to say that the story held my attention.

The magic left this version of Little House. Now I feel a mixture of dirty and creepy. I am a Little House fan from the books to the TV series, and this version left me feeling as if I walked into someone's bedroom and not in a good way. This Caroline is a far cry from the strong figure of MA we have grown to love, this Caroline is unsure of herself, obsessed with weird things and in keeping up appearances. This story sucked the magic that is Little House away leaving nothing but a empty husk of a story with characters I didn't know and didn't want to know. I think I'm just sad.

The author apparently loves language so much that she was unable to control herself and used too much of it. Initially the effusive language of "Caroline" was enjoyable. Unfortunately, it was a brief enjoyment. Then it got to the point where I was noticing the language instead of the story. The mark of an excellent writer is when the reader is so involved with the story that he/she doesn't notice the language. It was sad how this author turned a wonderful opportunity to tell a popular story from a different perspective into a "Look how I can write long and involved descriptions about every thought Caroline might have had!" exercise. I found myself shaking my head at the absurd metaphors and similes. The flowery and endless descriptions of everything detracted from the story. It became a chore instead of a pleasure to read. What a shame!

Good lord, this book went on forever, thanks to the author's self indulgent, long winded writing. Halfway though (and that was a struggle, believe me), I realized only about a week had passed in the story. Oy. On a more interesting note: during the sexy parts, I was unable to picture skinny, wire brush - bearded Charles from the books...but substituting hottie Michael Landon from the LHOTP show works. You're welcome : )

It was refreshing to have our old familiar book from childhood retold to us now that we are adults.
To imagine things from Ma's perspective was interesting. And she was made human, not sugar cookie perfect.
Yes, she swallowed much of her disappointments, but she had them, and how could Caroline not have had them?
To meet Mr. Edwards as an adult was fun. Leaving the family, the aunt's and uncles and cousins hurt, just as it hurts us to leave those we love behind.
Yes, it is fiction, but nicely filled out.

Caroline Ingalls, the mother of author, Laura Ingalls Wilder, has always been an elusive character in all of the "Little House" books. Ingalls Wilder gave generous descriptions of her father and siblings, but only a sparse sentence here and there as to the character and personality, of her mother.
Sarah Miller has fleshed out a character that is rich and complex, and most of all, one that fills in the spaces, that Ingalls Wilder had left blank. Certain sayings that were attributed to Caroline Ingalls in the "Little House" books, are said here as well, but from an adult perspective. You are given a wide and deeply woven, background of where those sayings originated in Caroline's life.
Seeing the trip to Kansas ,through Caroline's eyes, made me appreciate the hardship of female pioneers. So much was written of the work Charles Ingalls did as he oversaw his family going west, but stoic Caroline always took a backseat, behind her husband and even her children.
Here, she is front and center; taking care of her family while going west, and without even the primitive conveniences she was accustomed too, while living in the "Big Woods."
My wish would be that Sarah Miller would continue on, following the other books in the series, from Caroline's perspective. What a treat that would be!
This one book, will leave you not wanting the end to come. For this author, enough is not as good as a feast. You will want the feast!

It was refreshing to have our old familiar book from childhood retold to us now that we are adults.
To imagine things from Ma's perspective was interesting. And she was made human, not sugar cookie perfect.
Yes, she swallowed much of her disappointments, but she had them, and how could Caroline not have had them?
To meet Mr. Edwards as an adult was fun. Leaving the family, the aunt's and uncles and cousins hurt, just as it hurts us to leave those we love behind.
Yes, it is fiction, but nicely filled out.

Caroline Ingalls, the mother of author, Laura Ingalls Wilder, has always been an elusive character in all of the "Little House" books. Ingalls Wilder gave generous descriptions of her father and siblings, but only a sparse sentence here and there as to the character and personality, of her mother.
Sarah Miller has fleshed out a character that is rich and complex, and most of all, one that fills in the spaces, that Ingalls Wilder had left blank. Certain sayings that were attributed to Caroline Ingalls in the "Little House" books, are said here as well, but from an adult perspective. You are given a wide and deeply woven, background of where those sayings originated in Caroline's life.
Seeing the trip to Kansas ,through Caroline's eyes, made me appreciate the hardship of female pioneers. So much was written of the work Charles Ingalls did as he oversaw his family going west, but stoic Caroline always took a backseat, behind her husband and even her children.
Here, she is front and center; taking care of her family while going west, and without even the primitive conveniences she was accustomed too, while living in the "Big Woods."
My wish would be that Sarah Miller would continue on, following the other books in the series, from Caroline's perspective. What a treat that would be!
This one book, will leave you not wanting the end to come. For this author, enough is not as good as a feast. You will want the feast!

I devoured this book! I grew up reading and rereading the Little House series and now, as an adult, this provides a fascinating look at the same story from a completely different perspective that resonates with me as a woman, wife and mother. I hope it becomes a series!

It started out so sweet, and I was enjoying every page of it. However, the graphic nature in which the intimate details of Caroline and Charles marriage was described was completely unnecessary and truly ruined the whole story. It’s sad that such a talented author would feel the need to add such material to what was proving to be a beautiful piece of literature. I do not think the Ma and Pa Ingalls would have appreciated being written about in such an explicit way. Those moments shared between husband and wife are meant to only be shared between husband and wife and not exploited for the entertainment of others. The least I can do to honor Laura’s memories of them is to warn any future readers. Truly, truly disappointed!

It's an interesting perspective from another angle of the story. It's important to remember that although based on research we really don't know what Caroline's true thoughts were. I'm a Little House on the Prairie fan but I always kinda felt that "Pa" could be a bit narrow minded on his decisions he made for the family.