A Wilder Rose: A Novel

In the forward, the author says this is the true story of how the Little House books came to be written. Actually, it’s a good imagining. This is a novel, first and foremost. That means, by the very definition, that it isn’t true.The bond between Laura and Rose was tenuous, at best. Rose was a modern woman, while her mother came from a different time. Laura cared very much what the neighbors thought. Rose wanted to say goodbye to the sleepy town she lived in and do what she wanted. By herself, Rose had an interesting life. And Albert subscribes to the theory she was a closet lesbian. Which I agree with. Rose comes across as many a younger generation to the older-exasperated with their refusal to keep up with the times. Almanzo comes across as a bit of a pushover when compared to his wife. Laura appears as a class conscious harridan, horrified of change.Pluses: Albert doesn’t sugar coat the Wilders’ lives. She shows what it was like during the depression, and how Laura from the Little House books is not the same Laura Rose grew up with. The writing is well done, and the dialogue seems real.Minuses-for me the biggest one is that I disagree with her viewpoint. I don’t believe Rose basically the LH books. Now, the first 3 books, LHITBW, FB, and LHOTP, I can see Rose’s hand in those writings. After that, I believe Laura was the driving force behind them. Having read Let the Hurricane Roar/Young Pioneers, I feel Rose’s writing style is different from her mother’s. When Laura couldn’t remember things, she depended on Rose’s writing skills, but as the books aged she was better able to tell her point of view. Also, Rose is not a very likable character. Again, to me she isn’t.Overall, it’s a good novel. But do not be fooled into believing that Albert has solved the LH mystery.

I have read most of Ms. Albert's mysteries and have enjoyed them greatly. I have always thought she was a wonderful writer--until I read this book. The topic--who wrote The Little House books?--isn't earthshaking but I knew that before I started. However, I expected more from the author and the cover and the really good reviews. Because I'm leading book club on this, I had to finish and I was cursing the entire time. This is the most boring, repetitive book ever with the least sympathetic heroine. Rose is always whining and unhappy, feels she's being taken advantage of, used, and yet does nothing to stop this but complain and complain and complain. By the end of the book. I decided everyone in the family was terrible which fairly ruined any desire I had to re-read any of the books I loved as a child. Ms. Albert certainly did her research and she shared every bit with us. DO yourself a favor--read one of the CHINA books. They are terrific. You'll love them. Avoid this one.

A sensitive and very revealing telling of the lives of two very strong women: Laura Ingalls Wilder and her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane. It is interesting because this does look at the period when Rose was growing up but when Laura was growing older. It also was that period in America's life — after WWI and into the Depression, when not only were the Wilders struggling, the whole nation was. The world was changing for both these women and dealing with that and their complex relationship is what gives potency in the story.But there is the whole issue of how much did Rose contribute to the writing of the "Little House" books. I believe, that how it was represented in the book, is closer to the truth. After all, telling stories about your childhood is one thing, writing columns for small town newspapers is another and then writing books that would later become beloved by thousands of children is very, very different. And Rose had the writing experience and knew that it wasn't just telling the story, but how its shaped and massaged for your audience that makes or breaks the tale. But that aspect of it has been debated ever since the books came out and neither woman would reveal what actually happened. So in the end it is up to the reader to see it as they believe.A thoroughly enjoyable read by a talented author.

I loved this book. I am an old Little House books fan. I read those books when I was little in the early 1960s. I read them to my kids when I had kids. I visited Malone, NY where Almonzo's house has been made into a museum. The stories of Farmer Boy immediately sprang to life when I walked into that house. I was enthralled. Being in that house was like visiting old family.A Wilder Rose is a great read for someone like me. It was exciting to learn about Laura Ingalls Wilder and her husband Almanzo, and her daughter Rose. It was interesting to read how they really lived and related to each other, and how the Little House books were written. I loved the historical perspective this book included. I loved reading about how people lived during those times. I read this book in 1 day when I was on a 13 hr train trip. I had a hard time putting the book down. In fact, I plan on reading this book again -- it is that good.

like most of us who've read this novel, I have always loved the "little house" books.I find this book to be quite bitter and biased and personally feel both Rose and Laura would dislike it.I've recently read "Pioneer Girl - an annotated biography" and can clearly see that Laura's raw material is descriptive, creative and beautiful, even before Rose's editing and would say (after also reading "let the hurricane roar" written by Rose) that it was Laura who was the most talented of the two at writing.this book was exaggerated and made Rose out to be quite bitter and angry at her mother, making out she was doing her parents a favour by living at Rocky Ridge.she may of made a lot of money but her parents provided her (and lots of her friends) with a home and the tranquility they craved. if Rose had wanted to leave she easily could have. This book is making out that Laura held Rose as an emotional hostage. I don't believe that for one minute. I'm not saying Laura was a saint but I don't think she was the emotional tyrant the author is making her out to be. Rose suffered from depression and I believe Laura helped her daughter, she also inspired her to write "let the hurricane roar" and "free land" with her work (including passages she edited out of pioneer girls original manuscripts)I truly feel Rose and Laura would've been really offended by this authors depiction of their relationship.

Ok

A lovely read. I really didn't know anything about the Ingals family nor that Laura didn't write the little house books.

Quite enjoyed this book but I didn't care much for the changes of the two naraters.

could not get into this book