Caroline: Little House, Revisited

Product Information

I've a confession to make: I'm a 42 year old man who loves football, swords 'n' sorcery fantasy, and Laura Ingalls Wilder. I see there are two versions with different illustrations. For what it's worth, I really liked the Chris Riddell illustrations in this one.

Readers familiar with Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series, will find this very familiar. Miller chooses to retell Wilder’s stories for an adult audience, focusing on Laura’s mother, Caroline. This short story is perfect for getting out of a reading slump. The book is very short with short paragraphs and sentences to keep the action flowing. This book also had laugh-out-loud moments, and Neil Gaiman is a master of intrigue, piquing the curiosity. He has walled off passages and old keys. His character is told not to go someplace, essentially daring the reader to explore. His prose is delicious, non-pretentious, but subtly brilliant. Read by the author - woohoo! As much as I grumble about some of his books, there's no denying that he's absolutely fabulous to listen to - this man could read a grocery list and I'd give it a listen. The concept behind this book is excellent - Little House, through the eyes of Caroline. Written with the full approval of Little House Heritage Trust, I felt like it would be a better book than the many books written 10-15 years ago that seemed to be written just to capitalize on the popularity of the Little House books. Yet Coraline is written so simply and poetically that it’s almost meant to be listened to. The audio version that I borrowed from the library has a full cast, and it’s one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever encountered. Plus, having the story read aloud to you only adds to the experience of being returned to your childhood. It’s just wonderful.

As usual after reading anything by Neil Gaiman, I'm way inspired. He's incredible across so many genres! I always leave each book wanting to be a much better storyteller and looking for which of his books to read next. This a perfect, traditional fairy * tale, with a slightly surreal twenty-first century warp. The writing is as magical as the plot. You see, for the majority of my life, a friend was someone who would, say, help me move a couch. Someone you could bum 10 dollars off of if you needed to. A friend was someone who felt comfortable enough to come over to my house without calling first. Then, if I wasn't home, they would let themselves in, eat out of my fridge, and start watching TV.

As a biographic fiction, Sarah Miller’s Caroline played to that interest. Laura created her own legacy and one could make a solid argument for Michael Landon’s iconic portrayal of Charles, but Caroline was regulated to a supporting role in both the books and television series so I was naturally interested in seeing what sort of depth Miller’s novel might bring her character. Could such a story compete with the existing canon and cultural memory? There was only one way to find out. It was awarded the 2003 Hugo Award for Best Novella, the 2003 Nebula Award for Best Novella, and the 2002 Bram Stoker Award for Best Work for Young Readers.

Reader Reviews

I wanted this book to be more gripping and fast paced. I wanted the writing to be more dramatic. I wanted the characters, especially the main character, to be a little more lively and interesting. I wanted to learn more about the side characters and I wanted these characters to be more involved in the adventure and the quests. I wanted the actual parents to be more realistic rather than seeming like fragments of a good, nice memorable dream. I wanted the ending to be a bit more interesting and enjoyable.

It’s all a little bit of a mystery. What drove this woman to such depravity? What happened in her life that she needed to feed upon the love of children? What has she lost? Where did it all begin? I can only speculate. But one thing remains an absolute certainty to my mind; something terrible happened to the “other mother” a long time ago, something awful that drove her into the deepest depths of despair and as a result she clings to the essence of life: love.

Church Times/Canterbury Press:

you have to read the book to know all the answers. you won't regret it once you start reading it. just go, buy the book and read it.