Long Winter, The (Wilder)

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Description: Long Winter, The (Wilder)

Average Review: 4.5 stars

Review: Of all the Little House books, this one seems to evoke the strongest emotions. Whether it's cold, hunger or just admiration for the family. This book is an experience and one that you'll remember long after you're done. More than all of that, this is a book to listen to. From the beginning of the whir of the mowing machine to the singing on the last page, you hear this book. The blizzards howl and screech, threads sing together like music, voices of strangers in the street, the coffee mill grinds on endlessly. Pa loses his "voice" when his hands are too roughened by twisting hay to play the violin. Throughout all is the music made by singing, speaking and the routine of life, against the voices in the blizzard. Many times the family sang or recited in order to hear themselves and fight against the howling winds. When I first read this book as a girl, I remembered the cold and how Laura had to twist that hay just to survive and stay warm. Now as an adult, I admire the family dynamics. Caroline and Charles always stayed positive and strong. They didn't argue, they only figured out a way to get them by. When the weather got any of the family down, someone else gave them courage. Laura really developed in this story as well. It was the first time that I could recall her using Ma's words, "alls well that ends well" after the slough incident. She showed more responsibility and discipline than she had to this point. The story is simply told, not with big words but with a big view on life. The pacing keeps you turning pages, even without our modern day cliffhangers. The best part is this book is clean and portrays good values while not being preachy. I would recommend this to anyone of any age. Just make sure you snuggle before reading because when you're done, you'll feel as if you had gone through it as well.