West from Home: Laura Ingalls Wilder's Journey to San Francisco in 1915

Phyllis Ferder: Although I’ve read Laura’s books many times , I’m only now reading the ones written of her life by others . This book is so special because it is essentially her letters to Almonzo while on her wonderful trip to see Rose in San Francisco in 1915 . It almost feels like a violation of their privacy at times when you stop & realize we are reading their correspondence that wasn’t necessarily ever meant for anyone else’s eyes . I’m amazed at the modernity she experiences for the year 1915 - I had no idea . I’ve visited their home in DeSmet , SD & can’t imagine what changes they experienced in their lifetime . I highly recommend this book to all of Laura’s fans & anyone who loves history .

Canada on Jan 24, 2022

Chris330r: It made me feel like I was there at the 1915 San Francisco World Fair. I was sad when I finished it because I wanted more. And the image of Laura Ingalls Wilder crossing Market Street and dodging automobiles is funny because we mainly know her from the "Little House" show which was before cars. Both she and her daughter Rose lived in such constantly changing times. It must have been exciting to see all those new inventions come out during their lifetimes. From horses to cars to airplanes. It must have been a trip.

I should add that while this probably is a book geared towards young readers, don't let that deter you. It's quite an enjoyable read for adults too. Recommended for all ages.

United States on Oct 02, 2021

barbara mancini: Mi è piaciuto tantissimo.Ci sono delle bellissime descrizioni del periodo storico in cui è ambientato ed è una piacevole lettura.

Italy on Mar 18, 2021

artemis 1291: Looks can be deceiving, for sure. It can yield an ill-judged misapprehension of the true person and therefore, form a certain prejudice about the person. A person’s appearance is a false shadow for the substance, but our faculty of mind based on a sensory perception with the works of imagination often falls into fallacy. That said, this charming little book comprised of lovely missives to her beloved husband Almanzo back home in Mansfield, Missouri comes surprisingly pleasant twist of the image of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the creator of Little House on the Prairie, whom I always considered to be stoic and imperturbable, a kind of austere and puritanical mid-west matriarch, who turns out to be one sweetheart with the untainted sensibility of feminity.

In these letters written to her batter half she called ‘Manly Dear’ during her travel to San Francisco and her stay there too in 1915 following an invitation from her only child Rose, you will read the words of her heart and soul enveloped in tenderness, colored in vivaciousness, and sealed with love, all the marks upon pages in the felicity of vivid descriptions wonderfully mixed with the perspicacity of reflective...

United States on May 21, 2020

Suzanne James: Better than I expected

Canada on Mar 15, 2019

saffron: Interesting story of Laura's visit to her daughter. Very readable and descriptive, warm caring letters to her husband Amanzo.Came on time and well packaged thanks.

United Kingdom on Feb 16, 2017

A. C. Mcknight: Interesting but not on the same level as the 'Little Books' series.

United Kingdom on Dec 04, 2015

Tigdi: This was a wonderful book and provided me with a new view of Laura Ingalls that I had not previously known. Like many others, I grew up with the Little House series having received "Little House In The Big Woods" (the first of the series) as a Christmas present when I was six. I quickly read through all of the others in the series which was quite a few years before the t.v. series began. I really like seeing this side of Laura and her daughter, Rose. Even if one has not read all of the Little House books, they would still find this book enjoyable. It also provides a wonderful education of life in San Francisco and other areas of California during the early 1900s. I even plan on re-reading it, just as I did all of the other Little House books and highly recommend other Laura Ingalls fans add this book to their collections.

United States on Apr 24, 2015

Franchelle Owen: Laura Ingalls Wilders makes a trip by train to visit her daughter, Rose, in 1915 in San Francisco. It was during the 1915 World's Fair. Laura visited for two months and wrote interesting, detailed letters back home to Almanzo about what she saw and did.
Some of her descriptions were captivating in their detail. The book fills in gaps and answers questions about the years following the events of the Little House books. The reader meets Rose, the daughter, as an adult, and begins to learn about her amazing life as a successful writer.
It was during this visit that Rose begins to help Laura learn how to better write for publication, such as how to block-out a story.
The reader gets an insight into Rose's fierce loyalty and sense of responsibiity to her parents.

United States on Jul 12, 2007