Caroline: Little House, Revisited

Ever wondered what Little House on the Prairie might read like if written in an adult voice? Sarah Miller has reimagined just that in this retelling of Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic pioneer novel. As someone who read through the Little House series multiple times as a child, I found this book to be a bit like a warm, welcome visit with old friends. I found the scenes with direct tie-ins to the original books (e.g., fording the river, well rescue) charming and I feared the author might go overboard with them, but she seemed to straddle that line reasonably well. It was refreshing to see the tale unfolding from a completely different perspective from that of a child, particularly when Caroline can come across as somewhat one-dimensional show more in the original books. At the same time, though, it was disheartening to experience Caroline's suppressing of her own desires, thoughts and opinions due to the cultural expectations placed upon women of the time. There is a great deal of focus on her internal conflicts as she struggles with burgeoning inclinations of independence and yearnings to be a whole person who could actually realize her dreams and aspirations. She always reins herself back in with a reminder that her role is simply to be a dutiful wife and mother, which is heartbreaking. In addition, perhaps I'm not remembering the severity of behavior expectations in the original series, but in this book it absolutely drove me bonkers that no one — adult or child — is permitted to express any negative emotions. Overall, I enjoyed it, and I also appreciated the attention to and correction of some inaccuracies in the original. show less

I've just turned the last page of Caroline by Sarah Miller - and I'm truly sad that it's ended, as I find myself wanting more. I had hesitated when I was offered the opportunity to read Caroline, as The Little House books are childhood favourites of mine. I imagined myself as Laura in many a book (and the television series as well) and didn't want to sully my perception of 'Ma.'

Well, I needn't have worried - Sarah Miller's portrayal of Ma has only added to my love of this series and given it more depth. The Little House books are of course told through Laura Ingalls Wilder's eyes. Caroline is told through Ma's eyes, thoughts, heart and actions. It's the perfect accompaniment for adult readers who grew up reading the Wilder books.

Miller show more does a wonderful job of portraying Caroline - the love between her and Charles, both intellectual and physical. And of course the love for her children and her desire to raise them 'right'. Her inner dialogue is often in turmoil, but she presents a calm, measured countenance to the world.

Just as well depicted are the details of the physical and mental strength needed, moving, settling in a raw land, raising children in this time and the details of daily life. But, along with those hardships are the moments of joy. Simple things - good weather, a kind neighbour, music, family and many more 'small' things. We all need to take a step back from our consumerism and enjoy the simple pleasures that life has to offer.

As adults, we can view the prejudice and disturbing historical actions of moving the First Nations peoples to reserves with the contrition it deserves.

Miller's author notes at the end explained a few departures from Wilder's memoirs. Miller had the permission of the Little House Heritage Trust. Caroline has found a place beside the Little House books on my bookshelf. show less

I loved the Little House on the Prairie books when I was a child and when I received Caroline by Sarah Miller as a Christmas gift a few years ago, I was intrigued by the thought of reading about the Ingalls family again but from an adult’s perspective. Unfortunately, I placed the book on my shelf and promptly forgot about it. I finally pulled it down the other day and I thoroughly enjoyed this reworking of a beloved story.

The book opens as the Ingalls family is packing up and leaving Wisconsin for the Kansas prairie. Caroline supports her husband but feels some uncertainties and is saddened by leaving family and friends behind. The author describes the difficulty in choosing what to take and what to leave, the long journey west, at show more times tedious and others, difficult and dangerous. Pioneer life is hard, especially as Caroline is pregnant but she grows to love her new home. She and Charles work hard to transform this new land into a place where her family can grow and flourish.

Although the author made some changes to the story, sticking closer to the actual historical record, I was totally captivated by Caroline. This is a story of love, survival and family that vividly recaptures the past and shows Caroline Ingalls as the complex wife, mother and woman that she most certainly was. show less

Caroline, her husband Charles, and her daughters Mary and Laura travel from Pepin, Wisconsin, to Indian Territory in Kansas. Caroline is pregnant during the journey, and gives birth to baby Carrie in their snug little cabin on the Kansas prairie.

This story stays close to the events of Little House on the Prairie, with a few notable digressions to accommodate the historical record of the Ingalls family's travels, which Wilder had streamlined a bit for her stories. This book is as firmly rooted in Caroline's perspective as the Little House books are in Laura's. There's a lot about the mystical power of womanhood (not couched in those terms, of course, but Caroline does wax eloquent about it in the privacy of her own mind) -- pregnancy, show more giving birth, nursing -- and, of course, a lot about all of the hard work a woman's life typically comprised in that period, particularly when traveling by wagon or setting up a homestead. There's relatively little about the girls, which is disconcerting. And, in an attempt to stay close to the source material (I think), Laura does not make a very convincing 3-year-old (because Wilder fudged the timeline, Laura seems slightly older in the Little House books, so it's less surprising for her to be as articulate and self-aware as she is). I had some trouble relating to Caroline, who comes across as rigid and stoic, seeing tears as shameful (I see no shame in crying when you are leaving all of your relations behind, possibly never to see them again -- or, for that matter, in crying when you've just dropped a log on your ankle). But this book does give readers a window into her internal life. I think readers who loved the Little House books are most likely to enjoy this one, though it will also appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction from a female perspective. Notably, the problematic attitudes towards Native Americans that exist in the original book are present here, as well, though softened and mitigated a bit. The author's note admits that the Ingalls' opinions and attitudes were unjustified, based on their own prejudices -- but if that's an aspect of the original that bothered you, you may want to be aware that it exists here, as well. show less

I don't remember reading Little House on the Prairie as a child, which is probably pretty strange for a little girl reader of a certain age. I do remember reading other books from around the time I would have been the perfect age and reading level for it so if I'd read it, I can only assume I would have remembered it. I only remember coming across it much later, in college when I took a Children's Literature class. And this is going to be blasphemy for many, I didn't love it then. In fact, I'm not even sure I offered it to my daughter when she was of an age and ability to read it (but I must have, right?). So why on earth would a novel from Caroline Ingalls' perspective of those events interest me? I really can't say other than to say show more that the human brain, and mine in particular, works in mysterious ways. Because from the minute I head about Sarah Miller's novel Caroline: Little House, Revisited, I have wanted to read it. What can I say?

As the novel opens, the Ingalls family, Caroline (Ma), Charles (Pa), Mary, and Laura, is packing up their covered wagon to make the long trek from Wisconsin to Kansas, leaving behind their extended family, furniture, and everything that is usual for them. Charles is excited about the journey, eager to leave the known and to make a claim on the wide open prairie in Kansas. Caroline is more reticent about going, knowing that she is early in a pregnancy with their third child, fearful of moving to Indian territory, and reluctant to leave her loved ones, perhaps forever, but she is willing to follow her beloved Charles wherever he thinks they'll find the most opportunity. The months of travel in the tiny wagon, facing the reality of the hardships, both imagined and surprising, mothering two young and impressionable children, and suppressing her own thoughts and feelings to spare Charles or the girls takes a toll but Caroline rarely, if ever, complains aloud. While raising a house on a distant claim and turning it into a home, bringing a child into the world with only a stranger to assist her, and attending to her daily domestic sphere, Caroline's life is full of both overwhelming difficulty and ethereally beautiful moments.

Caroline is very much the main character of the novel. There are glimpses of Mary and Laura as portrayed in the Little House series, but they are not the main focus at all. Although written in the third person, the novel is very much internal to Caroline. As she goes about her daily chores, the reader is privy to her thoughts and feelings about parenting, the prairie, being a wife, and the Indians who sometimes come uninvited into her very cabin. Her fears and sadness, as well as joys and delights, are pretty equally balanced in the portrayal and she is definitely a woman of her time. The plot flows placidly most of the time through the long journey and the domestic chores but it is occasionally interrupted by peaks of action as when they cross the swollen creek, the Indians arrive in the cabin, baby Carrie is born, or the fire sweeps towards them. With each of these incidents, it is clear that Miller has done extensive research, not just reconciling her story to the original Little House tale but also to what is historically accurate. Miller has drawn Caroline's feelings beautifully. Her love and frustration towards her children will resonate with any parent. The reality of love and marriage with children always within sight and hearing is carefully handled, much of it no more than musings and wishing on Caroline's part although there are a few more visceral moments as well. Readers who know Little House on the Prairie will know the entire story told here but it is interesting and different to see all the events through an adult's eyes instead of a child's. Miller has captured the sturdy loneliness of women settlers of the time in a nuanced and lovely way and those who are fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books as well as those interested in the women who helped their husbands push against the frontier will find this chronicle of life on the prairie to be a worthwhile and thoughtful read. show less

I had mixed thoughts when I saw, "Caroline: Little House, Revisited" by Sarah Miller. As a child/young adult, I was mesmerized by the "Little House on the Prairie" TV series and books by Laura Ingalls-Wilder. So, I wasn't sure what to expect with this novel, since it wasn't written by Laura Ingalls-Wilder. I was pleasantly surprised by how well written this novel was. The story fit write into the original series. As I read this wonderful story, I actually envisioned the characters, as they appeared on the television series. Ms. Miller did a truly amazing job! She researched census records and the Ingalls family bible in preparing to write this novel. Ms. Miller was also given permission by the Little House Heritage Trust. I definitely show more recommend adding this novel to your tbr list! show less

Straight up a must read for any grown up Little House fan. This book did not disappoint! Caroline is told through the perspective of Ma and it starts right where Little House in the Big Woods ends. We saw Laura's carefree nature, Pa's strong unwavering love, Caroline's fears about giving birth in the plains with no other females around to assist her. This goes into more detail about the little things that readers always wondered but never knew, how the family went to the bathroom on the road, how childbirth went on the prairie, how the house was built, what was really going on with the Indians. It beautifully ties in with the series and lends an adult viewpoint to the stories we love so well. I would love to see more books that feature show more Caroline as an adult narrator, this was lovely! show less