Pages

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

A Wilder Rose

by Susan Wittig Albert

I was familiar with this author through her China Bayles mystery series.  Those mysteries are well written and enjoyable, so when I saw this book by her on Net Galley I was interested.  That and the fact that this book is about the author/s of the Little House books.

The focus is on the relationship between Rose Wilder Lane and her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Rose was a strong, independent woman and writer who moved back to her home in Missouri.  Both Rose and her mother were short on money, so Rose hatched the idea of Laura writing a book that told of her early years growing up on the plains.

The idea was a good one but publishers weren't happy with Laura's writing.  Rose had to do a great deal of work with her mother's manuscripts to get them acceptable to the publishers.

The tumultuous relationship between these two strong-willed women was further complicated because of the mother's old-fashioned ideas and the daughters liberated, worldy ideas and life style.

I liked this book and would recommend it to others who grew up reading or watching The Little House books or tv series.  Or anyone, actually.  I thought it was well-written and informative.  I always enjoy a book that informs while it entertains.

* I received a copy of A Wilder Rose  from NetGalley in exchange for my review.  No other compensation was received.