Book Review: Prairie Man: My Little House Life & Beyond by Dean Butler

 

Dean Butler brought Almanzo James Wilder to life for legions of Little House on the Prairie fans in the late 70s and early 80s. Now, learn about his life, his career, and more in Prairie Man: My Little House Life & Beyond.

Since Dean signed my hardcover book when I saw him in Farmington, Connecticut, last year, I downloaded an Audible copy of the book to read this wonderful memoir of his early life, details of his career--including roles I had totally forgotten about like CHiPs, personal interactions with family, friends and fans, the complicated relationship with his father, former love interests and his appreciation for his beloved wife Katherine, and people he considers influential. 

Coming from an affluent family allowed him to pursue his dream of becoming an actor, but as Butler shares, it didn't come easily for him. With advice from his father, he would eventually return to finish college, something he expresses gratitude for. He discusses how even back in his Little House days, he was interested in work behind the camera, and shares how he came to work on the talk show, Feherty. It was also nice to hear more about his theater work. 

Prairie Man is told in a way that is respectful of those involved. Honestly, I couldn't expect the Dean Butler I've been lucky to meet more than once at events to be any different. There were a few surprises along the way, which I won't spoil, but Dean, like Almanzo, is that quiet and shy guy who occasionally allows his stubbornness and pride to get in the way. He even admits how much like his most notable role he is--which won't surprise any Little House fan. 

I'm not sure if Dean recalls this, but back in the days of the Dean's Divas Yahoo Group, we had asked if he was ever going to write a memoir. As an aside, I appreciate the mention of Dean's Divas in the Acknowledgments.

For those of us who have followed Dean's career for decades, Prairie Man is a welcome addition to books by other Little House on the Prairie cast members. And if you follow the Little House: Fifty for 50 Podcast, you'll know he is already at work on a second book very different from his memoir. 

While I don't think we learn anything new about Butler's time on the show that he is most well known for, Prairie Man provides insight into a life that has spanned close to seven decades, many years of which have involved his connection and commitment to the legacy of a young American pioneer girl who has captured the hearts of generations. 

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Citadel
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 25, 2024
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0806543299
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0806543291

I purchased a hardcover and audio version of this book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Which Areas of the World Read Laura's Little Houses

 

Occasionally, I check to see where this blog's traffic is coming from. Most recent stats show that the most readers of Laura's Little Houses originate from Singapore. Though last week the United States topped the list, they are now in second place, followed by Japan, South Korea, and Brazil. What shocks me is that France is so low on the list, despite the popularity of the show there. If you have friends in France, I would appreciate it if you shared a link to this blog.

Thanks to everyone who spends time reading Laura's Little Houses!

Who Should I Profile Next?

I am moving this up from February, hoping for reader input. These are some of the most popular posts at Laura's Little Houses, so readers should have an opinion on who comes next. You can always send me a Facebook direct message by clicking here.

So far, I have profiled:

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Mary Ingalls Kendall

Almanzo James Wilder

Caroline Ingalls

Nels Oleson

Charles Ingalls

Who should be next on the list?

Harriet Oleson

Reverend Alden

Doc Baker

Eliza Jane Wilder

Nellie Oleson Dalton

Albert Quinn Ingalls

Leave a comment on this post to let me know. Thanks for your feedback!

Is It Time to Stop Saying Michael Landon Strayed Too Far from the Books?

Readers have graciously followed me through numerous posts comparing the Little House books to the Little House on the Prairie television show. Here they are again if you missed them:

"Little House in the Big Woods & Little House on the Prairie Versus Little House on the Prairie Pilot"

Click here to read the first post.

"The Long Winter & Little Town on the Prairie Versus Season 6 of Little House on the Prairie"

Click here to read the second post.

"Laura and Almanzo's Courtship - These Happy Golden Years Versus Season 6 of Little House on the Prairie & the Episode 'Laura Ingalls Wilder' (Season 7)"

Click here to read the third post.

"Laura and Almanzo's Married Life - The First Four Years Versus Seasons 7 - 9 of Little House on the Prairie" 

Click here to read the fourth post.

"On the Banks of Plum Creek Versus Season 1 of Little House on the Prairie"

Click here to read the fifth post.

There tend to be three groups of Laura Ingalls Wilder fans: 

• Fans of the books and Wilder's real life, 
• Fans of the television show, and 
• Fans who willingly accept and appreciate that they exist in the same universe. 

With news of a planned Little House on the Prairie production coming from Netflix (see here), there is a new division in Laura land: those who plan to watch it and those who have already sworn it off due to their dedication and love for the original television series. I remain cautiously optimistic, just like when the 2005 Little House on the Prairie mini-series and the television movies, Beyond the Prairie and Beyond the Prairie II, aired. 

I also totally understand the reservations of others. Michael Landon, who the world lost in 1991, had a vision for bringing the story of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family to life for viewers that has resonated with people across the globe for more than half a century. The show has not been off the air since 1974. People found themselves rewatching and discussing Little House on the Prairie during the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out one viewer's article here. In 2024, Little House on the Prairie garnered 13.3 billion minutes of streamed viewing time, which topped viewing minutes for everything else out there, including new shows. Check out this Dateline article that talks about it by clicking here. Others have tried to recreate Landon's magic with the same source material, but have been nowhere near as successful. And there is a growing movement toward modern homesteading that embraces frugal living, self-sufficiency, and environmental consciousness. Those themes run throughout the show, even if that last one wasn't fully developed or discussed. 

But, I digress...

When we compare the books to the Little House on the Prairie television show, what are themes we see running through them?

Books

• The importance of family and working together for the common good
• How to be resourceful, especially when times are tough
• The enjoyment of the simpler things in life
• The need to be resilient, work hard, and persevere to survive 
• The importance of community--school, church, town

Television Show

• The importance of family and working together for the common good
• How to be resourceful, especially when times are tough
• The enjoyment of the simpler things in life
• The need to be resilient, work hard, and persevere to survive 
• The importance of community--school, church, town
• Acceptance of and respect for others
• Women as equal partners

When we boil it right down to this, Michael Landon embraced the core themes of the source material. Did he add characters that never existed? Yes, but the stories he wrote for those characters still embraced everything fans love about the Little House books and the themes Wilder wrote about in her sixties.

More than two decades after the first parent expressed concerns for Wilder's depiction of Native Americans, Landon was writing shows for her fans that espoused acceptance of and respect for others in episodes like "Injun Kid," and "The Wisdom of Solomon" and "The Craftsman," which elevate the source material and allow for engaging, meaningful discussions between modern readers and viewers. 

Perhaps the Almanzo and Laura romance storyline is the best example for those who say he strayed too far from the books. Could anyone, however, see a twenty-something-year-old man pursuing a fifteen-year-old girl as acceptable in the late 70s? What was Landon to do? And after some nonsense in the early days of their marriage, can't we say that Landon captured the true partnership between Laura and Almanzo that we see reflected in the books and in real-life accounts?

Even in Season 9, when one could truly say the show had some out-there episodes, did Landon ever regularly deviate from the core themes of Wilder's books? I believe he didn't.

Michael Landon's magic was in being able to take scenes and themes from the books and either reimagining those scenes or crafting new stories based on those themes that touched the hearts of Laura fans. Clearly, he sought to honor Wilder's work while bringing it to the small screen. Landon had one foot in Wilder's world and the other in his, creating an enduring, cherished show that fans will continue to love for decades to come. 

Who is Attending the LHOP Cast Reunion in Columbia State Historic Park

 

Photo credit: Little House Gold Country website

Curious if any of our readers plan to attend the Little House on the Prairie Cast Reunion in Columbia, California. According to their website, tickets for Saturday are almost sold out. You can find more information and purchase tickets by visiting https://www.littlehousegoldcountry.com