First Line: I was born in 1867 in a log cabin in Wisconsin and maybe you were, too.

Thus begins Wendy McClure's memoir of her attempt to relive her obsession with a series of children's books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. As a child, she loved the Little House books and dreamed of showing Laura the modern world. As an adult, she begins researching online, obtaining books written about the author and her family, and making pilgrimages to many of the Little House sites. Having missed the television series starring Michael Landon as a child, she watches all the episodes and finds other films based on the much-loved books.

McClure has a witty turn of phrase, as when describing Laura's arch enemy Nellie Oleson (who was actually a composite of three people) as "some kind of blond Frankenstein assembled from assorted bitch parts," and her list of things she learned from buying a dash churn on eBay is laugh-out-loud funny. She didn't stop with learning how to churn butter; she also bought an antique coffee grinder, ground seed wheat, and made bread just like Laura and her family did in The Long Winter. Throughout it all, she had the support of her husband, Chris, and that makes him a pretty special guy.

It's not necessary to be a Little House fan to enjoy this book, which is by turns thoughtful and funny. The book has a lot to say about how we react to momentous events in our lives as well as the power of obsession. However, as an older fan who read all the Little House books in hardcover and imagined herself in Laura's world, I think The Wilder Life will have special meaning for fans. As I turned the pages of McClure's books, I found myself remembering my own Little House days and what an impact those books had on my own life.

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The accounts of the author's visits to the actual sites chronicled in the book are interesting. But I did not care for her cynicism or her profanity.

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I really enjoyed this book. I read all of the "Little House On the Prairie " books as a young child.It was fascinating to read about this author's adventures visiting the real sites where Laura Ingall Wilder lived. It was a great trip down memory lane.

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This was not a great book. Intersting premise, and if you are absolutely in love with the Little House books, it might draw your interest. It was interesting to see the unraveling of the fiction vs. nonfiction parts of this history. But the book is pretty light weight, and I skimmed most of it.

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As I journeyed through McClure's memories, experiences and research about Laura Ingalls Wilder I felt in the back of my mind that I would have enjoyed this read more if I had read the Little House on the Prairie series again. Or, would I?

Never in my mind did I doubt that the series was fiction even though I knew that it was based on Laura's childhood memories. Yes, she left out some of the family's life experiences, particularly those that would mar the happy I loved that life of long ago. For example, when the family moved onto the Diminished Reserve which was not open for settlers. Some historians believe that he understood exactly what he was doing in the hope that the area would be opened for settling. And, there was there was the time the family left a home in the middle of the night to escape their debt obligations.

I liked the author's reference to the Laura world which she remembered as a child and revisited as an adult. I know that even my daughter became so involved in the Laura world that I made her a long dress and sunbonnet. Having visited some of these areas myself, I think most people enjoy them more as adults because much of what is displayed must be read or viewed rather than touched. There were few interactive events for the younger set.

The read would have been improved had the editors spent time editing but I suppose it is difficult to really edit a colleague's writing. While the hailstorm added to the narrative who cares about an encounter with a group of deeply religious people who believe the world will end soon. Thus, I have rated this one as being ok. However, Laura enthusiasts will no doubt love the author's comments and experiences. Not to mention those of her live-in Chris who became so involved with the trips and read the books.

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the true tales of a woman semi-obsessed with the wilder family- NOT the tv show wilder's but the real ones. her experiences will make you laugh out loud as she tries to trace their historic trail- with a supportive and funny husband along for the ride.

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