Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 4
First Line: Dearest Mama Bess-- I simply can't stand being so homesick for you any more.
When I was six, my mother handed me Little House in the Big Woods, and I never looked back. I still love Laura Ingalls Wilder's tales of her childhood and still get the giggles when I think of the mouse giving Pa a bald spot. When I ran across this book at Paperback Swap, I thought it was time for a Half Pint Fix.
Laura's daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, became a journalist and moved to California. Rose became very homesick for her mother and finally saved up the money for Laura to board a train and come for a visit. Laura's visit coincided with San Francisco's World's Fair celebrating the opening of the Panama Canal. This book contains the letters Laura wrote home to her husband, Almanzo during her stay.
I loved this book for its glimpse into a San Francisco that had just rebuilt itself after the 1906 earthquake, and for its insights into Laura the adventurer, Laura the woman who was thinking about starting to write, Laura the mother, and Laura the wife who never stopped worrying about her husband alone on their farm in Missouri. This is a book for all those, like me, who have fond memories of Little Houses.
When I was six, my mother handed me Little House in the Big Woods, and I never looked back. I still love Laura Ingalls Wilder's tales of her childhood and still get the giggles when I think of the mouse giving Pa a bald spot. When I ran across this book at Paperback Swap, I thought it was time for a Half Pint Fix.
Laura's daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, became a journalist and moved to California. Rose became very homesick for her mother and finally saved up the money for Laura to board a train and come for a visit. Laura's visit coincided with San Francisco's World's Fair celebrating the opening of the Panama Canal. This book contains the letters Laura wrote home to her husband, Almanzo during her stay.
I loved this book for its glimpse into a San Francisco that had just rebuilt itself after the 1906 earthquake, and for its insights into Laura the adventurer, Laura the woman who was thinking about starting to write, Laura the mother, and Laura the wife who never stopped worrying about her husband alone on their farm in Missouri. This is a book for all those, like me, who have fond memories of Little Houses.
Cherri B. (cherri) reviewed West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 on + 264 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Delightful descriptions of SF and the great Panama-Pacific International Exposition as only Laura Ingalls Wilder could write it.
Helpful Score: 1
I quite enjoyed this book and the photos included. There was a nice intro, but I did feel like the book just....ended. An epilogue or closing from the editor would've been a nice touch. Overall it was good though!
Darcy I. (YahtzeeQueen) reviewed West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 on + 54 more book reviews
If you are a Laura Ingalls fan you will enjoy reading this book.
Shannon M. reviewed West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 on + 26 more book reviews
Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco 1915
Denise C. (teddybear) reviewed West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 on + 38 more book reviews
Short but interesting read, geared more for preteen readers. I read it because I enjoyed reading the Little House series of books when I was younger.
Lauren W. (believe) reviewed West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 on + 12 more book reviews
In 1915, Laura Ingalls Wilder traveled by train from her home in Missouri to San Fransisco. Laura's westward journey to visit her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, coincided with a spectacular event taking place in that city--the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. It was a great world's fair celebrating of the Panama Canal, and Laura was amazed by the attractions that had been gathered there from all over the world. Her husband, Alamanzo, was unable to leave their farm, and it was Laura's daily letters that gave him the chance to see what she saw on her magnificent visit to California. These letters allow the reader to experience Laura's adventures and her intimate thoughts as she shared with her husband the events of her exciting sojourn. It's a fascinating insight into the heart and mind of the author who would later on go on to write the classic Little House books.
(Taken from back cover)
(Taken from back cover)
Laura A. reviewed West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 on + 16 more book reviews
She really wrote well. great discriptions with some wonderful vintage photos. I had no idea about the Exposition! not only a good read, its educational!
Wendy S. (mrsscubafish) reviewed West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 on + 30 more book reviews
written in a leeter style rather than chapters is very appealing to me. Some really nice historical information not only about Laura's life, but glimpses into Rose's life while married and some on the spot reviews of the World's Fair. The travel part of the book also make me glad I have a car and can drive whenever I want to go somewhere. There were easier ways to get long distances but for some reason Rose didn't put those into practice for her mom.
Heather M. (mom25gr8kidz) - , reviewed West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 on + 7 more book reviews
Quick fun read! I finished this in 3 nights! i don't know if my young children would enjoy it as much as i did. book is in 'letter form" and it was fun to read the letters Laura transcribed to Manly (Almanzo) about her trip west to California to visit Rose. Lots of history and the letters really do a great job describing living conditions during that time period.
Victoria T. (justicepirate) reviewed West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 on + 350 more book reviews
This is a collection of letters that Laura and Rose sent to Almanzo while they were in San Francisco. It was nice to read about life there at the time and the lovely descriptions Laura wrote. I have a feeling this was all before she even wrote her books, in which you can see the way Rose prepared her mother to write while there.
sunshinems -
Interesting read with good details about 1915 San Francisco from the perspective of a first time visitor from the Midwest. Highly recommended.
Harriet C. reviewed West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 on + 2 more book reviews
A book of letters from Laura to Almanzo. Interesting for those trying to understand Laura's perspective of life.
Alice B. reviewed West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 on + 3591 more book reviews
It is like a fairyland." So Laura Ingalls Wilder described her 1915 voyage to San Francisco to visit her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane. Laura's husband, Almanzo, was unable to leave their Missouri farm and it is her faithful letters home, vividly describing every detail of her journey, that have been gathered here. Includes 24 pages of exciting photographs. This is an excellent book written by Laura about the 1915 World fair in San Francisco.
