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Karen T
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I have been reading the Little House series aloud to my 6.5 yo ds over the past 6 months or so, with a few breaks for other books. He really likes them and it's his first exposure to any sort of history. I never read the whole series as a kid, just a couple, so I've enjoyed them too.
I just about fell out of the bed tonight, though, when reading These Happy Golden Years. Laura witnessed Mrs. Brewster, the unhappy woman with whom she is boarding while teaching school, threatening her husband or herself with a butcher knife! I know this is pretty tame compared to what's on TV today, but our kids are pretty sheltered and this seemed strange for LIW. I had not pre-read the book and was reading to ds and had to think quickly to get past it without dwelling on it. I was already starting to think the book was addressing some issues better understood by older children or adults (ie, severe depression, neglect of the baby, etc.) but this shocked me.
Should I put the rest of these aside for now? He's eager to begin the Anne of Green Gables series soon, so we could do that (please tell me there are no murderous women in those - I never read those either)
Karen T
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JennGM
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Karen T wrote:
I just about fell out of the bed tonight, though, when reading These Happy Golden Years. Laura witnessed Mrs. Brewster, the unhappy woman with whom she is boarding while teaching school, threatening her husband or herself with a butcher knife! I know this is pretty tame compared to what's on TV today, but our kids are pretty sheltered and this seemed strange for LIW. I had not pre-read the book and was reading to ds and had to think quickly to get past it without dwelling on it. I was already starting to think the book was addressing some issues better understood by older children or adults (ie, severe depression, neglect of the baby, etc.) but this shocked me.
Should I put the rest of these aside for now? He's eager to begin the Anne of Green Gables series soon, so we could do that (please tell me there are no murderous women in those - I never read those either) |
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Gosh, that is the only scene I can think of that Laura wrote that would be "shocking". And she used it to illustrate the contrast of her parents wonderful relationship compared to that horrible time. And then the blooming relationship of Almanzo.
I think Happy Golden Years could be put aside for now...and the rest of the series. It's more adult situations of courtship, marriage, life's hardships.
When MacBeth posted in the Submissive Wives thread about taking out "obey" in her wedding vows, I immediately harkened back to Laura doing the same for her wedding vows in this book. Good material for discussion for older ages, but way over the heads of 6 1/2 yo.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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Another thought I should have mentioned. The appeal of the other books in the series is that they are about children -- so children like to read about children. The later ones she grows up and talks about those issues. Not necessarily interesting to all children, nor, as you pointed out, always age appropriate material.
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stacykay
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All of the books before "These Happy Golden Years," except "Little Town on the Prairie," should be ok. As Jenn mentions, these deal more with Laura as she is "growing up;" probably not as interesting for a 6yo ds as it was for me at 9 or 10  .
The "Anne of Green Gables" books are good, but then, too, you have Anne growing up and dealing with work and boys. (I loved these books, almost as much as LHOP.)
If you are looking for read-alouds for your ds, my boys (of all ages- even 18!  ) love the Hilda van Stockum books. We began with the Bantry Bay series (set in Ireland- I found myself adopting a somewhat Irish accent as I read them!,) and went on to the Mitchells.
Oh, and back to the LHOP books. When we read "Little House on the Prairie," my 11yods kept asking about the "massacre" she wrote about. So, we researched it.  Ugh! I wouldn't even let him read all that was written.
It was amazing, from an adult perspective, looking at what Laura's parents endured and their strength. I could never have been a pioneer woman! 
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Karen T
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JennGM wrote:
| Another thought I should have mentioned. The appeal of the other books in the series is that they are about children -- so children like to read about children. The later ones she grows up and talks about those issues. Not necessarily interesting to all children, nor, as you pointed out, always age appropriate material. |
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I was just surprised as I've read so many times how people use the LHOP books a lot in homeschooling, as well as general literature recommendations for kids. I've never seen anyone list any caveats before, like "don't read the later books to young children" etc. And it seemed such a jump from the previous books! Oh, well, we've enjoyed them so far and will put the rest up to wait for now.
Karen T
p.s. I read a biography of LIW a few years ago that was a little less "rosy" than what you get from reading her books - rather than the adventure of moving to a new place, it was more that Pa was not that good of a provider and all the moves were sort of a "chasing the next pot of gold" kind of thing.
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JennGM
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Karen T wrote:
JennGM wrote:
| Another thought I should have mentioned. The appeal of the other books in the series is that they are about children -- so children like to read about children. The later ones she grows up and talks about those issues. Not necessarily interesting to all children, nor, as you pointed out, always age appropriate material. |
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I was just surprised as I've read so many times how people use the LHOP books a lot in homeschooling, as well as general literature recommendations for kids. I've never seen anyone list any caveats before, like "don't read the later books to young children" etc. And it seemed such a jump from the previous books! Oh, well, we've enjoyed them so far and will put the rest up to wait for now. |
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You're right, I haven't seen caveats before, either. I didn't have them read to me, so it was a different case. I didn't start reading them until age 9 or so?
I guess I would think "everyone" read the series so you don't need to warn others. Now that you point it out, it is surprising.
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| p.s. I read a biography of LIW a few years ago that was a little less "rosy" than what you get from reading her books - rather than the adventure of moving to a new place, it was more that Pa was not that good of a provider and all the moves were sort of a "chasing the next pot of gold" kind of thing. |
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There was a little discussion here on Rose Wilder Lane and Laura Ingalls. You're right about that. That's a big rabbit trail.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JodieLyn
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I have heard from a good conservative (very) christian friend that the books they have out now the earlier women in the family.. are much better.. I think they're Caroline, Charlotte and Martha. Anyway, they have been highly recommended to me and I'm interested in getting some of those.
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JennGM
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JodieLyn wrote:
| I have heard from a good conservative (very) christian friend that the books they have out now the earlier women in the family.. are much better.. I think they're Caroline, Charlotte and Martha. Anyway, they have been highly recommended to me and I'm interested in getting some of those. |
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You're so right. Lissa is on this forum, author Melissa Wiley for Charlotte and Martha years. You can read her blogs Here in the Bonny Glen and The Lilting House.
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Kelly
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stacykay wrote:
It was amazing, from an adult perspective, looking at what Laura's parents endured and their strength. I could never have been a pioneer woman!
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Isn't that the truth! When we stopped by to visit the Little House on the Prarie birthplace, in Kansas, I burst into tears and sobbed. The kindly docent patted me on the hand and said, "Yes, this place has that effect on a lot of people."
My kids didn't much like the "older" books, either, though we never got as far as the "Golden Years". They all preferred the first ones.
Kelly in FL
Kelly in FL
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JodieLyn
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Thanks Jenn, I really struggle with keeping hold of names in my head.. I would never have made that connection. :)
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TracyQ
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We're using The Prairie Primer for our school year this year with our 11yo daughter. We're loving it, but I'm REALLY glad we waited until 6th grade for many reasons, and Laura growing up, and marrying, etc. is one of them. I don't think they're meant for little kids.
We're only in the first book, Little House in the Big Woods, and there are even some scary and sensitive situations that come up from time to time (bears, having to kill the pig for food, etc.)in that book.
We're bringing other literature into our study as well. And we're learning a lot, and having fun!!!
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Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
 homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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JennGM
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Karen T wrote:
| I just about fell out of the bed tonight, though, when reading These Happy Golden Years. Laura witnessed Mrs. Brewster, the unhappy woman with whom she is boarding while teaching school, threatening her husband or herself with a butcher knife! I know this is pretty tame compared to what's on TV today, but our kids are pretty sheltered and this seemed strange for LIW. I had not pre-read the book and was reading to ds and had to think quickly to get past it without dwelling on it. I was already starting to think the book was addressing some issues better understood by older children or adults (ie, severe depression, neglect of the baby, etc.) but this shocked me. |
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I know this is an older thread, but I've been thinking about it over the past few months, trying to remember how old was I and what was my reaction or understanding when I read this. It came to me all of a sudden the other day. When I read that passage, it didn't shock me, not because it wasn't a grave situation, I just thought she had the knife in her hand doing something and the husband was mistaking the situation and Laura was reading into it. I know that's silly, but since I had never heard or seen such a thing as that kind of abuse or injury, it really went over my head, as it was inconceivable that a wife would actually do it. I think I was 10 or so.
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stacykay
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I was probably in 4th or 5th grade when I read "These Happy Golden Years," also. (I have re-read them countless times, since then!) For better or worse, I don't recall any kind of upset when I read the *knife* scene.  I do remember thinking, however, that staying over at someone's house may not be the safest thing to do!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Cay Gibson
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Karen T wrote:
I just about fell out of the bed tonight, though, when reading These Happy Golden Years. ... I had not pre-read the book and was reading to ds and had to think quickly to get past it without dwelling on it. I was already starting to think the book was addressing some issues better understood by older children or adults (ie, severe depression, neglect of the baby, etc.) but this shocked me.
Karen T |
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Karen,
I missed this post when you first wrote it.
A few months ago I blogged about an excerpt found the LIW's "Farmer Boy". I was reminded of it by a recent discussion on teachers being allowed to carry guns at school.
Here's the post:School Harassment Today and Yesterday
I didn't copy the whole excerpt so you might want to read that chapter ahead of time. I would think it's violent for your son's age.
I remember the "Anne of Green Gable" books with fondness (I read them all) and remember nothing offensive in them.
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Cay Gibson
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wife to Mark '86
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Erin
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Karen T wrote:
| Should I put the rest of these aside for now? He's eager to begin the Anne of Green Gables series soon, so we could do that (please tell me there are no murderous women in those - I never read those either) |
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Karen
I read the Anne books to my dd when she was 9 and we only read the first few. The rest we put aside until older nothing wrong with them just to old for her at that age. For example Anne went of to college, had romances got married etc in the later books so I decided they would be better for later. Which btw is now, at 13 she has read the rest. At 6.5 I suggest you read them first to make sure there is nothing objectionable, I do remember some of the women are awful gossips, can;t remember what they gossiped about though.
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4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: Surprised in These Happy Golden Years
