Little Town on the Prairie

Review of Little Town on the Prairie

This story is great and engaging! I love Laura Ingalls Wilder. She is a talented writer.
However, what I disliked about this performance was Cherry Jones as the narrator. Her voice is too raspy, too harsh and too loud. It is very hard to listen to her.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Narrator could’ve done with less twang...

I’m a huge fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and have never understood why audio productions weren’t widely available, so I was very excited to see the whole series appear BUT I don’t understand why the narrator went in the voice direction (particularly for Laura and Pa) that she did.
Laura was born in Wisconsin and grew up in Minnesota and South Dakota—I’m not aware of any very strong regional accent from those places (the author doesn’t do a Minnesota accent at all, it’s a very definite homespun twang), and with the emphasis throughout on proper grammar and her mother having been a teacher, and the lack of ‘local color’/slang words in the text, I’m just perplexed as to why the narrator/director recorded it that way. (I did go back and check the narrators other work, in case that’s just her normal speaking voice, and it’s not, so this was a stylistic choice)
The accent/speaking style is evident in the sample, so just be aware that it doesn’t (as I thought it might) diminish through the text or kind of grow on you (at least it didn’t on me). I finished the audio but it annoyed me mildly throughout.
I’m just disappointed because sometimes audio can add so much to a text, particularly one I’d share with my kids. On the plus side, I do like the inclusion of fiddle music and the song excerpts being actually sung (the narrator does a good job with those, I will say—it adds something hearing a tune rather than just seeing the text printed). Her forced (unnecessarily) accent just makes this one I wouldn’t whole-heartedly recommend as I would a fantastic production.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Super sweet read

These books never fail to make me happy. I found myself feeling so proud of Mary finally going to the college for the blind, and so proud of Laura getting her teacher's certificate. And Almanzo. <3 Of course I also continued loving the historical context of the story.

Only two more books to go, I think? I'm looking forward to them. :)

Content Advisory for those who want to know:
Mention of strangers swearing, and also a mention of the husband in a family Laura works for swearing while he and his wife constantly argue. (The actual words used are never stated outright.)

Laura witnesses a couple drunk men causing some destruction and singing. (She thinks it's funny.)

Mention of a minstrel show and a song from it is sung that repeatedly uses the term "darkies". Pa himself is in the show and plays one of these characters and apparently wears black face. Because these kinds of shows were common back then none of the characters have a problem with it, but it could make modern readers cringe a bit, and parents may want to have a discussion about it with young children.

Love!

Cherry Jones is a perfect reader! My 5 year old and 8 year old loved it!

excellent

if you haven't, make sure your get the whole series. I wish I had read or listened when younger!

Little Town on the Prairie

I so enjoy reading all the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I enjoy reading about how the town folks entertained each other.

Another Laura Ingalls Winner

If you could sum up Little Town on the Prairie in three words, what would they be?

Will not disappoint.

What did you like best about this story?

The detail and descriptions....I can picture everything.

Which scene was your favorite?

It's hard to pick a favorite scene. I loved the entire book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I think the title works...

wonderful

everything was great. ty for the enjoyment. I have always enjoyed her books just don't have the patience to sit and read. this was heaven sent.

Happy to share the laura ingalls books with my kids and read again myself

I am happy to have a way to listen to these books as a family, but I would prefer another narrator. She does a good job with the different voices, but I had to take breaks since I just really don’t like her voice.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Laura's Spirit Shines Through It All!

Ah, Laura's growing up! DeSmet has become the "Little Town on the Prairie", and here she finds her first job (rather, it finds her). Though the work is tiring, she happily does it: anything so that Mary can go to the college for the blind in Vinton.
The book is so filled with Laura's spirit: working, sticking up for little sister Carrie even though it gets her into trouble with the flailing and resentful Miss Wilder, sticking up for her very self when the wicked Nellie Olsen re-enters her life, fighting to keep the corn crop safe, and most wonderfully: the gaiety she finds in a life in town. There are literary societies, sociables, birthday parties. Oh, what fun!
But what is the young Mr. WIlder doing escorting her home? And oh how wonderful those two brown Morgan horses of his are!
Cherry Jones breathes wonderful life into the text: Ma's smiles, Pa's twinkling eyes, Laura's enthusiasm all come through with her wonderful narration.
One note: By now, you've discovered that these books will have you talking about the narrative in historical context. I.e. Yes, the west was settled by pushing Native Americans out and the racism therein. In this book, you'll be explaining "Darkies". Kinda touchy stuff, but you can manage, yes?

3 of 8 people found this review helpful