Rose Wilder Lane (1886–1968)

I have long read about this book, which author Lane based on her mother's life stories. I think I had higher expectations, as I know Lane also influenced her mother's novelizations. This book directly riffs off On the Banks of Plum Creek with a tale of teenage newlyweds David and Molly who settle on the creek to land they see with great promise, only for the grasshoppers to descend. It is utterly soulless. The two leads read as archetypes that never come to life, and therefore, the emotional show more events describe lack feeling. They are poor, but more than that, they are profoundly foolish. David is a condescending jerk to his wife. The racism is pretty blatant, too, including two mentions of "the whitest man I know" being high praise.

The Little House books have their problems, too, but the actual writing still holds up quite well. show less

This is a "perfectly genuine fictional autobiography." It was written not by Rose Wilder Lane, but by her protégée Roger Lea MacBride. It covers the period of Rose's life beginning with her leaving Mansfield, Missouri for the west coast; through her stint as a telegraph operator; and her marriage to and divorce from Gillette Lane. Altogether it covers at least three years. It is factual that Rose did work as a telegraph operator in California, and that she married and divorced Lane. I am show more not sure anything else in the plot is true.

In particular, the figure of Paul Masters looms large - Paul is the boy who traveled south with his family in a wagon from Dakota to Missouri, along with the Wilders, when Rose and Paul were wee children. I am not sure that he grew up to be a genuine love interest of Rose at all; here they are informally engaged, indulging in passionate lovemaking several times. Paul appears constantly in her life out in California - I am not sure it is at all true, either, that he ever went West.

But what can I say - it's a gripping yarn! I hardly wanted to put it down. MacBride writes a great little story... perhaps there is enough of Rose's actual material here too, shining through enough to enamor me.

Oh, the cover has got to go, though - its illustration shows a behatted Rose and is obviously based on a famous photo of her, but in the background is a Conestoga wagon traversing an empty prairie. The Wilders were traveling in this style some 10 years or more before the book ever takes place. There are no prairies or covered wagons in the story. This isn't LITTLE HOUSE, Garth Williams - or Garth Williams wanna-be, can't tell. show less

Aurora, a Romantic Bride by Hildie McQueen
Brides for all Seasons series #2. Historical romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but the bride from the first story does come to visit briefly.
Aurora Middleton is being forced to marry a man she doesn’t like and is afraid of. She decides to follow her friend Wilhelmina out west to Montana hoping for a fresh start. Traveling in the winter to Montana might not have been be the best idea when a storm forces Aurora to shelter with the local doctor. show more
Evan Jones left his high society privilege back east. He’s enjoying life as a small town doctor in Laurel, Montana. Knowing the women just arriving had no idea of how a snow storm can impact travel, nor how different life can be, he offers them a room to shelter in. He’s surprised and impressed by how well Aurora is able to adapt.

Aurora is impressively adaptable to a very different lifestyle from her privileged life in the East to the more rugged small town. She’s also great with friendships and treating people as important regardless of who or what they do. Evan didn’t have a chance. 🤣 show less

Lane’s “Discovery of Freedom” is entirely outside the box thinking. It is at once a history of mankind and a vision of political philosophy, but of course meets none of the ‘standards’ usually applied in either of these fields.

Her history does not follow the steps of generals and politicians, but rather that of normal people; the people who clear the land, make the clothes, build the railroads, raise the families and create their society. Most of them just don’t have time to be show more politically active, or to pursue critical literature. What they did do was to create America, drive its revolution, and create the greatest prosperity the world has ever known.

Her political philosophy is mostly negative. How and why did this happen in the 100 years between 1800 and 1900, but not in the earlier 6,000 years of civilization? Wilder looks at some earlier examples, the Jews and the Saracens, and at some of the debts we owe them. Her conclusion is negative in the sense that she views their and our success as due to the idea that ‘Authority’ (the government, state, king, dictator, church, or emperor) either left them alone or was ignored, while they went about making progress as best they could.

She goes on to point that this growth has been slowed and blocked in the twentieth century, but remains optimistic as shown by her final remark. (Remember that Rose was writing while the outcome of WWII was still uncertain.) ”Win this war? Of course Americans will win this war… [but] there is more than that. Five generations of Americans have led the Revolution, and the time is coming when Americans will set this whole world free.”

If you want a simple introduction to the idea of American values, to liberty, and to the causes of growth, this book is a must read. show less