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.

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. 

The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House by Melissa Anderson -- Book Review

In her new memoir, The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House, Melissa Anderson, who played Mary Ingalls on the classic family show Little House on the Prairie, shares her memories of several Little House episodes and her career during her time on the iconic show.

Taking readers from her initial meeting with beloved creator, actor and producer, Michael Landon, through After-School Specials, Love Boat episodes, The Equalizer, and more, Anderson speaks fondly of the career she temporarily left behind to raise her family.

Out of the three books recently written by Little House on the Prairie cast members, this is the one I wanted to read the most. We still hear a lot about Melissa Gilbert and Alison Arngrim, but Anderson walked away from the business and had maintained her privacy for years. Knowing she was finally ready to discuss with fans her Little House years, found me pre-ordering the book from Amazon as soon as it was posted. Despite the fact that I have over 60 books in my TBR pile, the minute this book arrived on my doorstep, I cracked it open and began reading. Perhaps that's why my disappointment seems so great.

I wanted to get to know more about Melissa Anderson, her relationships with the cast and crew of my favorite show, and how she handled being a child star. It ended with me not feeling I learned much more than when I started.

The Way I See It is mostly recaps of Little House episodes in which the character of Mary played a significant role. In addition, there are spots where the dialogue from the episodes is quoted. Having been a fan since childhood, I could probably recite most of these episodes back from memory.

While Anderson shared some memories of Michael Landon and Karen Grassle, the rest of the cast and crew received minimal nods. She didn't speak ill of them, but I felt after so long on a show, she would have more to share about those people she grew up around. I wasn't looking for dirt on who she might not have gotten along with, but it seems like her need for privacy prevented her from offering anything new to readers.

I admire Melissa Anderson. She's beautiful, she's talented, and I would love to see her back on the small screen again. She gave up her career to raise her family and she's not sorry about it. While I am glad I purchased the book so that I can add it to my Laura Ingalls Wilder/LHOP collection, I wish she had been willing to open up more about the role that defined her career.


Title: The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House
Author: Melissa Anderson
Publisher: Globe Pequot Press
ISBN: 978-0-7627-5970-5
SRP: $22.95

New Survey Posted!

Well, it's been a while, but I posted a new survey today. This one asks if you've read Melissa Sue Anderson's new autobiography, The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House.



Out of the three recent autobiographies from Little House on the Prairie cast members, Melissa Sue Anderson's (now going by Melissa Anderson) is the book I've looked forward to the most.

I received notifcation from Amazon that my copy shipped, and if the tracking information is correct, I should have it tomorrow. I honestly can't wait. But now I'm wondering if I should read Melissa Gilbert's book first, which is in my TBR pile.

Please vote in our survey and feel free to share your thoughts.

Thanks!

Survey Results

Sometimes I have to admit the results of the surveys surprise me. As the owner of Dean's Divas, is not a shock that several voters--including me--said they are interested in Dean Butler's autobiography. Matt and/or Patrick Labyorteaux being a top pick (tying with Dean) is also not a huge surprise. The character of Albert is a fan favorite, which might be increased by how Matt has stepped out of the spotlight as he has gotten older.

Some of the other choices, however, were not what I expected. The Greenbush Twins tied with Dean and the Labyorteaux brothers for the most interest. Now, I'm not saying they aren't wonderful ladies, it's just that the character of Carrie was often minimized on the show. She wasn't even really allowed to grow up, as Laura and Mary had been.

The one thing that left me shaking my head, though, was that Karen Grassle didn't garner any votes. Now, it's possible she could have been included by the 12% of voters who said they were interested in several cast autobiographies, but most of the actors still ended up with some votes.

While Grassle hasn't been seen on TV since 1994--other than in Little House on the Prairie reruns--she remained active in theater and co-founded Sante Fe’s Resource Theatre Company. In 2006, she starred as Miss Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy at the Manitoba Theatre Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Her easily recognizable face can be seen in commercials for Premier Bathrooms. In addition, she could provide a perspective of being on the show that is very different from the stars who were children during their time on Little House.

It was very interesting to see how this survey turned out.

Thanks to all who participated in this latest survey. Look for another one coming soon!

Vote in Our New Survey

Take a minute while you're browsing around to vote in our new survey. We ask, "What other cast member's autobiography are you interested in?"

There are several choices and I left the last option for someone who isn't listed. Since these are autobiographies, the person would need to be living. I might also run one on biographies, which would allow us to include deceased members of the cast.

New Survey Now Open!

Our new survey asks if you plan to purchase the upcoming Little House on the Prairie cast member autobiographies by Alison Arngrim and Melissa Sue Anderson.

The polls are open until February 13th. Feel free to share your thoughts in this thread.

Spring 2010 Brings Autobiographies from Little House on the Prairie Cast Members

It looks like the time for Little House on the Prairie cast member autobiographies is here. Melissa Gilbert's Prairie Tale is a New York Times Bestseller. And this year will see the release of two more cast autobiographies, one from Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson) and the other by Melissa Sue Anderson (Mary Ingalls Kendall).

I own Prairie Tale, and plan to review it at The Book Connection, hopefully before I receive Arngrim's and Anderson's books, which I already have on preorder at Amazon. These books are due to come out around the same time, and I've received notices from Amazon that they will be shipped earlier than originally expected. Anderson's book looks like it will be out about a month before Arngrim's.



There aren't many details out about Arngrim's book, that I could quickly find, anyway, except that the title is Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated, and that it will be released around June 15th by a new imprint of HarperCollins, It Books.

Anderson's book is being released at the beginning of May from Globe Pequot. This is the product description of The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House:


When other girls her age were experiencing their first crushes, Melissa Sue Anderson was receiving handwritten marriage proposals from fans as young, and younger, than she was. When other girls were dreaming of their first kiss, Melissa was struggling through hers in front of a camera. From age eleven in 1974 until she left the show in 1981, Melissa Anderson literally grew up before the viewers of Little House on the Prairie.

Melissa, as Mary, is remembered by many as “the blind sister”—and she was the only actor in the series to be nominated for an Emmy. In The Way I See It, she takes readers onto the set and inside the world of the iconic series created by Michael Landon, who, Melissa discovered, was not perfect, as much as he tried to be. In this memoir she also shares her memories of working with guest stars like Todd Bridges, Lou Gossett, Jr., Mariette Hartley, Sean Penn, Patricia Neal, and Johnny Cash.

In addition to stories of life on the set, Melissa offers revealing looks at her relationships off-set with her costars, including the other Melissa (Melissa Gilbert) and Alison Arngrim, who portrayed Nellie Oleson on the show. And she relates stories of her guest appearances on iconic programs such as The Love Boat and The Brady Bunch.

Filled with personal, revealing anecdotes and memorabilia from the Little House years, this book is also a portrait of a child star who became a successful adult actress and a successful adult. These are stories from “the other Ingalls sister” that have never been told.

I wish both ladies great success with their books. Could there be more cast autobiographies coming in the future? A Dean Butler one would certainly make my day.