Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Caroline - Historical Fiction Review

About Caroline

• Paperback: 400 pages • Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (June 12, 2018) USA Today Bestseller! One of Refinery29's Best Reads of September In this novel authorized by the Little House Heritage Trust, Sarah Miller vividly recreates the beauty, hardship, and joys of the frontier in a dazzling work of historical fiction, a captivating story that illuminates one courageous, resilient, and loving pioneer woman as never before—Caroline Ingalls, "Ma" in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved Little House books. In the frigid days of February, 1870, Caroline Ingalls and her family leave the familiar comforts of the Big Woods of Wisconsin and the warm bosom of her family, for a new life in Kansas Indian Territory. Packing what they can carry in their wagon, Caroline, her husband Charles, and their little girls, Mary and Laura, head west to settle in a beautiful, unpredictable land full of promise and peril. The pioneer life is a hard one, especially for a pregnant woman with no friends or kin to turn to for comfort or help. The burden of work must be shouldered alone, sickness tended without the aid of doctors, and babies birthed without the accustomed hands of mothers or sisters. But Caroline’s new world is also full of tender joys. In adapting to this strange new place and transforming a rough log house built by Charles’ hands into a home, Caroline must draw on untapped wells of strength she does not know she possesses. For more than eighty years, generations of readers have been enchanted by the adventures of the American frontier’s most famous child, Laura Ingalls Wilder, in the Little House books. Now, that familiar story is retold in this captivating tale of family, fidelity, hardship, love, and survival that vividly reimagines our past.

My Thoughts:  I loved this book.  This is a hard review to write because I loved so much about it I have a hard time limiting all I want to say to a paragraph or two!  As a child I loved the Little House on the Prairie books.  I read and reread them so many times and Alonzo Wilder was probably my first fictional crush.  But when I think back on the books Caroline kind of fades into the background.  She's kind and never cruel but she is the one who instills order in the house and reminds Laura to act like a lady.  Because of this it surprised me just how much I connected to her as I read.  She loves her family fiercely but is somewhat constrained by both the upbringing and the time she lived in.  Her relationship with her husband Charles was so realistically sweet it at times brought tears to my eyes.  He is still Laura's beloved Pa but through Caroline's eyes he's a more fully flushed out character with flaws and even greater strengths.  One thing that really shocked me was the intense vulnerability of the family both on the journey and even when they settle in Kansas.  I don't think I truly realized just how truly alone the settlers were until reading this book and my sympathy and admiration for Caroline increased tenfold. This was an emotional and interesting book that made me appreciate and have more affection for the Ingalls family.  If you are ready to see the world of Little House through adult eyes than this book is a must read.  This is one of my best reads of 2018!  Rating: Loved It!

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Sarah Miller

Sarah Miller began writing her first novel at the age of ten, and has spent the last two decades working in libraries and bookstores. She is the author of two previous historical novels, Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller and The Lost Crown. Her nonfiction debut, The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century, was hailed by the New York Times as "a historical version of Law & Order." She lives in Michigan. Find out more about Sarah at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

16 comments:

  1. Oh how cool! I'm glad the author did such a good job with such beloved characters.

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  2. How wonderful that you loved it, and really all that is necessary to say is that you did love it! I never really got into the Little House books, I don't think they were here in NZ when I was growing up. They came later. Pioneer women were totally amazing.

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  3. A new one for me but I do so like your review.

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  4. I used to watch this show and loved it. I didn't realize there was a book about Caroline. Sounds really good.

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  5. That sounds so good. I guessed right from the title that it was going to be about her!

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  6. It's such a delight to read a book that you really enjoy as an adult that connects you to books you loved reading as a child.

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  7. I always thought Caroline was a remarkable woman when I watched the TV series more years ago than I care to recall. A great review, Katherine:)

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  8. I admit to being unsure about this one. I have such fond memories of the television show (I haven't read the original books) and so I was a bit worried I wouldn't like it. After reading your review though, I want to give it a try. You make it sound so good! And I know you have good taste. :-)

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  9. I am so tempted by this one but I was a little afraid that it wouldn't do my memories justice. I remember dragging my books from this series everywhere and being so proud to have read them all as a kid. I was in love with the show and still watch it if I happen to catch it. I may have to pick this one up after all.

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  10. Love your thoughts on this one and so glad you enjoyed it.

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  11. This sounds really interesting! I read a few Little House books when I was a kid. I don’t remember them very well, so it’s a series that I need to reread. Great review!

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  12. Well thank you for another great recommendation! I just added Heaven Adjacent to my Goodreads list based on your review, now I need this one too, We are gelling today, Katherine!

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  13. Glad this one was good as sometimes a book written going back as like a prequel doesn't meet expectations.

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  14. I read A Wilder Rose and it cast Caroline in a much different light. I really wish I hadn't read it before this book because I think it would be difficult for me to separate the two. :(

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  15. I would really like to read both this and Prairie Fires, the biography of Ingalls Wilder.

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