Happy??? Golden??? Years

Contains some facts about the plot.

I actually have a hard time comprehending why everyone has rated this book five stars. I mean, I did not find this book completely outstanding. It took me two years to read the whole series…and I forgot that I still have one to go! I’m sorry, but I was not completely thrilled.

I should not go ranting about the injustice of pioneer life for women because that is not what Epinions is about. But can I just make one point? Laura, the main character, had absolutely no free-spiritness that she was supposedly made out to have in the first book and second. I don’t think that previous sentence made very much sense, but I shall continue anyway. In the second book, Little House on the Prairie, Laura didn’t want to wear her sunbonnet, but it was only proper for girls to keep their white complexion. So you would think she that when she was an adult she would do something more than just teach school (the common job for women at that time), even though she desperately did not wish to. But she goes off and does it anyway just so her sister can afford to go to college.

Everything that happens in the book seems too…well…perfect. There really are no conflicts. And when you run into an event that you think might turn into one, it’s followed by something like this:

“Well, I’m not going to say I will obey you,” said Laura.
“Are you for women’s rights, like Eliza?” Almanzo asked in surprise.
“No,” Laura replied. “I do not want to vote…”

Of course, I should take into account that this is the way life was for pioneer women… “sucky”. When things happened that they didn’t agree with, they did nothing about it. Oh well, I can’t control the past.

The writing wasn’t really the best I have seen. There were a lot of parts that could have been taken out; like all the parts where her dresses are described from the top to the bottom. And then there were some parts that were way to short; like the description of her wedding. That took up about two paragraphs, and left me confused as to whether she was really married or not. One paragraph says, “And so they were married.” But I have started the last and final book and they are talking about getting married again for some odd reason. And suddenly, she has this crazy idea that she doesn’t want to marry him, when the whole previous book was based on their romantic get-togethers and engagements and such. Maybe I’m just confused on the plot or something.

I should also say some good things about the book, for leaving them out would be the ultimate injustice. It talked a lot about pioneer life and that was rather enjoyable…learning about the past. What they wore, what their customs were, what they ate, Sunday rituals, and life for women were just some things talked about in great detail. The romance between Laura Ingalls and Almanzo Wilder was rather subtle. Laura never really seemed to realize that Almanzo liked her until some certain place in the book where they kiss. I don’t want to give away too much…maybe I already have, but oh well.

The previous book, Little Town on the Prairie was rather entertaining though as it talked about her struggles to control the classroom and be a good teacher and such. It seemed like nothing was going well for her then. But when everything goes perfectly, like in These Happy Golden Years, the book becomes just…not interesting. I guess the fact that this is a non-fiction book explains. But could she have written it with a little more…spice? I guess that was the style of writing back then.

I think that I have pretty much summed up all that I wish to say. This book would be good for probably the younger type, or the older type…probably not the in-the-middle type. Of course, it all depends on your personal preference. I am the only reviewer here so far who has rated the book below five stars, so that proves my point.

The book might be considered a classic, I think. For it is quite famous according to what I know. I would still recommend it, for it is one of those that I will remember reading all my life. Maybe because it tells the truth and sincerity of a young pioneer’s life in such simple, yet subtle manner. Some concepts I will remember forever, others I will frown upon. I have just highered my rating to three stars instead of two…or maybe two and a half stars.