Book Review: Love's Unending Legacy by Janette Oke

 

The Davis family saga continues with Love's Unending Legacy. The fifth book of the Love Comes Softly series brings Marty and Clark back home to their family. This is the first time their children in Anderson Corner have seen their Pa, and many are relieved that Clark is still the same man they knew before the accident that took his leg. All except Nandry, who is withdrawn and quiet. Marty wonders why, but her adopted daughter seems unapproachable. 

A lot has gone on in the year Marty and Clark stayed on Missie and Willie's ranch. Arnie is courting. Luke is heading off to medical school. Clare and Kate are expecting their first child. Clae and her husband Joe are likely taking a church out east. Meanwhile, Ellie has taken care of all the homemaking and housekeeping chores in Marty's absence. 

Marty and Clark are thrilled to be home, but she doesn't seem to be getting her energy back the way she expected to after the trip, and the family silently worries about what might be wrong. Their days are filled with happy preparations for Arnie's wedding and Clare and Kate's baby, and the pain of temporarily saying goodbye to Luke. With unexpected sorrows along the way, the Davis family will need to lean on their faith to get them through. 

Love's Unending Legacy is the fifth book in Oke's Christian historical series. As time goes on, we see that Marty's faith has deepened in the years since meeting Clark. Now, in her forties, Marty enjoys surrounding herself with her family and friends. This family saga updates fans of the series on where the members of the Davis family are in their lives. Told mostly from Marty's perspective, her mother's heart unfolds as she worries about a future with her children and grandchildren spread across the country, experiences joy at the thought of another grandchild, and wonders how long it will take Nandry to accept the loss of Clark's leg. 

If you enjoy faith-based family sagas, Love's Unending Legacy is a good choice. This dramatic novel brings readers through the ups and downs of a family in a small town with some side plots involving other known characters. Like Marty, the faith in this series deepens as it continues. Great story!

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bethany House Publishers; Repack edition (February 1, 2004)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0764228528
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0764228520

I bought this series on e-Bay. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: Back to the Prairie by Melissa Gilbert

 

In Melissa Gilbert's second autobiography, Back to the Prairie, fans get the chance to follow along as she and her husband buy and remodel a rustic house in the Catskills during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gilbert chronicles her life during that time, how she rediscovered--like many of us--what mattered most, how she dealt with the lockdowns and how she and her family adjusted to the new normal. 

Having read Gilbert's first autobiography, Prairie Tale, I had high hopes for this book. I found Back to the Prairie to be more relatable than her first book. And as I look back on the creation of her lifestyle brand, Modern Prairie, you can see how this change to aging gratefully developed during this time as they moved to the Cabbage, raised chickens, got back to nature, and explored cooking.

Since politics run close to Gilbert's heart, there is a fair amount of her sharing how she feels about the politics of the day and the administration in power at the time. You'll also find some cursing along the way.

Despite those things, Back to the Prairie is an enjoyable read that I am glad to add to my Little House on the Prairie collection.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gallery Books (May 10, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1982177187
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1982177188

I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon when it came out. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way. 

Book Review: A Prairie Faith: The Religious Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder by John J. Fry

John J. Fry, a professor of history and dean of faculty at Trinity Christian College, blends his love and knowledge of the American West with an exploration into the religious life of a cherished American pioneer in A Prairie Faith: The Religious Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Told chronologically, Fry starts with the birth of Laura Elizabeth Ingalls to Caroline and Charles Ingalls in 1867. Chapter by chapter, the author discusses the important events of the time, the daily life of the Ingalls family and those around them, Wilder's writing, her relationship with Almanzo and Rose, her numerous trips, the popularity of the Little House series, Rose's contributions to the books, and the continued fascination with Wilder and her work. Woven through this in-depth narrative is Fry's argument that while Christianity was important to Wilder's life, it was not central, as proven by her practices and her stoic ideas. 

I found A Prairie Faith fascinating and informative. It is a deeply researched, well-written biography of one of America's most beloved children's authors. Having read numerous biographies of Wilder's life, many cited in this book, I found Fry paid great attention to detail. 

The thesis type format created a fair amount of repetition as Fry focused on his point that Christianity was important but not central to Wilder's life. The author reiterated examples to support that point, stating Laura and her family, then Laura and Almanzo, did not attend evening church services; Laura and Almanzo didn't attend services when they were traveling; and that neither of the Wilders became members of local churches despite being involved in civic organizations, some with religious ties. He cited changes between Laura's handwritten manuscripts and the finished product where the editor's hand changed scenes that surrounded some of Laura's experience with church and church members. He discusses that while Wilder prayed and read from the Bible regularly, she did not mention Jesus, and that her stoic ideas fly against the dependence upon God and Savior to bring you through life. 

With the limited amount of information available on this topic, Fry did a superb job of creating this biography of Wilder's life. Though I'm not sold on supporting the author's thesis, I'm happy to add A Prairie Faith to my collection of resources about Laura Ingalls Wilder. 

Publisher:‎ Eerdmans (February 6, 2024)

Language: ‎ English

Paperback: ‎ 240 pages

ISBN-10: ‎ 0802876285

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0802876287

I received a copy from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Thoughts on Little House Life Hacks by Angie Bailey and Susie Shubert

 

I reviewed Little House Life Hacks by Angie Bailey and Susie Shubert on my book blog. You can find that review by clicking here. I will briefly summarize this book for our readers, but since the TV show, Little House on the Prairie and the books it is based upon are the inspiration for Little House Life Hacks, I'll be sharing different thoughts at Laura's Little Houses.

During the pandemic, the authors began streaming episodes of Little House on the Prairie, which is how this book was born. After the authors' note, they introduce the Ingalls family and neighbors. They talk about Charles, Caroline, Mary, Laura, Carrie, and Albert Ingalls. They also make note of Grace and adopted siblings Cassandra and James Cooper. The neighbors include: Isaiah Edwards, Nels and Harriet Oleson, Nellie Oleson, Willie Oleson, Nancy Oleson, Doc Baker, Reverend Alden, Miss Beadle, Miss Eliza Jane Wilder and the Garveys. Almanzo Wilder is only mentioned in this section as Laura's future husband. 

There are ten different hacks in this book surrounding the topics of family life, community life, faith, romantic life, friendships, work life, self-care, resourcefulness, sustainability, and gratitude. The authors blend things about the show and some of its actors, historical tidbits from the time period and about the Ingalls family, quotes by Laura Ingalls Wilder, quotes from the Little House books and Wilder's articles, a recipe or two, and a good dose of humor to create a book to help modern readers create more balance, wellness, and fun in their lives.

Little House Life Hacks allowed me to wander through several of my favorite Little House on the Prairie moments. It's no surprise the show remains popular five decades after it first aired. And with all the 50th Anniversary Cast Reunions happening across the country, the timing of this book couldn't be better.

This is a book I wish I had been wise enough to write; though I'm not sure I could have done the content justice. Again, it validates why the show continues to attract new viewers. The book talks about a variety of subjects that all tie into Little House on the Prairie in one way or another. I think of it as another way to celebrate a show I've loved since childhood. 

What is some wisdom you've taken away from Little House on the Prairie and applied to your own life? 

Reading Now: A Prairie Faith by John J. Fry

 

What role did Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Christian faith play in her life and writing?

The beloved Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder have sold over 60 million copies since their publication in the first half of the twentieth century. Even her unpolished memoir, Pioneer Girl, which tells the true story behind the children’s books, was widely embraced upon its release in 2014. Despite Wilder’s enduring popularity, few fans know much about her Christian beliefs and practice.

John J. Fry shines a light on Wilder’s quiet faith in this unique biography. Fry surveys the Little House books, Pioneer Girl, and Wilder’s lesser-known writings, including her letters, poems, and newspaper columns. Analyzing this wealth of sources, he reveals how Wilder’s down-to-earth faith and Christian morality influenced her life and work. Interweaving these investigations with Wilder’s perennially interesting life story, A Prairie Faith illustrates the Christian practices of pioneers and rural farmers during this dynamic period of American history.