Regina (Gr8Smokies) reviewed Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated on + 98 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
This is the second of the Little House actress' memoirs that I have read. The first, Melissa Gilbert's Prairie Tale, was not as good as I hoped it would be.
This one, written by Alison Arngrim, who played the evil Nellie Oleson, hit just the right notes for me. The book details her early life and her relationship with her entertainment-world parents. (Little known fact: Her mother was the voice of many famous characters). Alison endured an abusive relationship with her brother and found family on the Little House set.
This memoir is more dishy than Melissa's and does contain more insights into the time that Alison spent on the Little House set. There is information about the other child actresses and actors, the adults on set (including Michael Landon and Katherine MacGregor), and the actor who played Nellie's husband, Steve Tracy (who later died of AIDS).
What I liked about this book was that you really got a sense that playing Nellie changed Alison and made her a stronger person. She seems to have benefitted from being the mean girl on TV. She really is a remarkable person, giving back to the community through working to change laws that did not protect children adequately, giving to AIDS related causes, and volunteering.
I complained about the language in Melissa's memoir, not because it was bad language, but because it felt forced and unnatural to me. In Alison's book, while there is some blue language, it fits the tone of the book and her personality.
This book was enjoyable, touching, and enlightening. Long live Nellie Oleson!
This one, written by Alison Arngrim, who played the evil Nellie Oleson, hit just the right notes for me. The book details her early life and her relationship with her entertainment-world parents. (Little known fact: Her mother was the voice of many famous characters). Alison endured an abusive relationship with her brother and found family on the Little House set.
This memoir is more dishy than Melissa's and does contain more insights into the time that Alison spent on the Little House set. There is information about the other child actresses and actors, the adults on set (including Michael Landon and Katherine MacGregor), and the actor who played Nellie's husband, Steve Tracy (who later died of AIDS).
What I liked about this book was that you really got a sense that playing Nellie changed Alison and made her a stronger person. She seems to have benefitted from being the mean girl on TV. She really is a remarkable person, giving back to the community through working to change laws that did not protect children adequately, giving to AIDS related causes, and volunteering.
I complained about the language in Melissa's memoir, not because it was bad language, but because it felt forced and unnatural to me. In Alison's book, while there is some blue language, it fits the tone of the book and her personality.
This book was enjoyable, touching, and enlightening. Long live Nellie Oleson!
Sonja M. (meri) reviewed Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated on + 39 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
This is such a great memoir. It is the best of the recent three memoirs from the 'girls' of Little House on the Prairie. Alison gives all the nitty gritty of her own life, and also some of the stuff that went on during the filming of this memorable series.
She ended up not being close to Melissa Anderson, but very close with Melissa Gilbert. However, in Melissa Anderson's memoir, there was no unflattering information or even any animosity towards Alison Arngrim. I got a feeling that each one of these girls did the best they could and got the most out of the experience that they could.
They each certainly had life changing experiences being such famous child actors, and to a person, seemed to look up to and respect Michael Landon. It seems he had strong relationships with just about everyone on the set.
As other reviewers have mentioned, Alison's memoir has some very tough to read sections regarding the abuse she suffered within her family unit. I admire her for her activism and most especially for her as a person, to have survived and thrived. Bravo!
She ended up not being close to Melissa Anderson, but very close with Melissa Gilbert. However, in Melissa Anderson's memoir, there was no unflattering information or even any animosity towards Alison Arngrim. I got a feeling that each one of these girls did the best they could and got the most out of the experience that they could.
They each certainly had life changing experiences being such famous child actors, and to a person, seemed to look up to and respect Michael Landon. It seems he had strong relationships with just about everyone on the set.
As other reviewers have mentioned, Alison's memoir has some very tough to read sections regarding the abuse she suffered within her family unit. I admire her for her activism and most especially for her as a person, to have survived and thrived. Bravo!
Sheena reviewed Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated on + 107 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
The cover of this book is totally eye-catching. If you loved Little House on the Prairie, why wouldn't you want to read a memoir from the girl who played evil little Nellie Oleson?
This book is totally hilarious. I don't think I've ever laughed this hard before reading a memoir. I really loved all of her stories about working on The Little House Set especially the one where her and Melissa Gilbert were in the wet suits in the river.... too freakin funny!!
It also has a serious aspect, her story of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her brother growing up and her parents not really being parents. How do some parents have no idea what is going on under their own roof, is beyond me.
This book is going on my favorites list for so many different reasons. You have to read it and find out for yourself! You will not be disappointed!
http://sheenathebookgeek.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-confessions-of-prairie.html
This book is totally hilarious. I don't think I've ever laughed this hard before reading a memoir. I really loved all of her stories about working on The Little House Set especially the one where her and Melissa Gilbert were in the wet suits in the river.... too freakin funny!!
It also has a serious aspect, her story of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her brother growing up and her parents not really being parents. How do some parents have no idea what is going on under their own roof, is beyond me.
This book is going on my favorites list for so many different reasons. You have to read it and find out for yourself! You will not be disappointed!
http://sheenathebookgeek.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-confessions-of-prairie.html
Keri (TXGrobanite) reviewed Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated on + 270 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent book! I usually don't care for personal memoirs unless it is about someone I have enjoyed in the past and Alison aka Nellie from Little House was a favorite of mine. Her book explains how shy she was before Nellie but after Nellie she used her new found fame and outgoing personality for AIDS activism, and even helped to get a child protection act bill signed in the California senate. If you don't like stories about abuse, or are sensitive to that, then I don't recommend this. She describes being abused by her brother for several years. There were some great LOL moments as well though which helped balance the book. Of the 2 Little House memoirs i've read this year (Melissa Gilbert's Prairie Tales and this one) I have to say I enjoyed Alison's much better than Melissa's.
Marianne S. (sfc95) -
Helpful Score: 1
If you grew up watching Little House on the Prairie, you must read this book. It is hilarious, filled with memories of Little House and that inside knowledge that you have been dying to hear. I read Melissa Gilbert's book, this is nothing like that this is filled with the "dirt" you have been looking for and it so funny.
