Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated by Alison Arngrim

Nov 19, 2011 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, biography, non-fiction

Whether you loved her, loved to hate her or just plain hated her, there's no denying Nellie Oleson was a force to be reckoned with on "that prairie". Spiteful, hateful, bossy, rude, bullying, bragging, conceited, uppity, vengeful, vindictive, and the ~~bad~~ apple of her mother's eye, there wasn't any length that Nellie wouldn't go to in order to score one over sassy Half-Pint Ingalls in particular and most of the denizens of Walnut Grove in general.

As a long time fan of the TV show growing up, I wa...more Whether you loved her, loved to hate her or just plain hated her, there's no denying Nellie Oleson was a force to be reckoned with on "that prairie". Spiteful, hateful, bossy, rude, bullying, bragging, conceited, uppity, vengeful, vindictive, and the ~~bad~~ apple of her mother's eye, there wasn't any length that Nellie wouldn't go to in order to score one over sassy Half-Pint Ingalls in particular and most of the denizens of Walnut Grove in general.

As a long time fan of the TV show growing up, I was firmly in the "love to hate her" camp, and often wondered what the actress who played her was really like. Alison Arngrim was only one year older then myself, and it was hard as a 11 year old girl to imagine her personality without the "Nellie" persona. Well, it took me almost 40 years to answer that lingering question, and I'm happy to say that Alison is so much more then I ever expected her to be as a person, an actor and as a writer. She's awesome!

I loved every minute of this book, even when it hurt to read some of the tragedies that took place in her early life. Arngrim doesn't pull any punches, but her story of sexual abuse doesn't read like a cry for pity from a victim, but rather a call to arms from a warrior. The actions she took as an adult to change some of the laws pertaining to childhood sexual abuse was inspiring.

But this book was so much more, and under Arngrim's snarky pen she weaves a humorous collection of behind the scenes stories of life on the set that was the mega-hit Little House on the Prairie. Many times you'll read books written by actors (especially former child actors) that like to downplay or denigrate their time in front of the camera. Not so Arngrim. She loved every minute of her experience on the LHotP series and had some wonderful anecdotes to share about her fellow cast members, crew and particular episodes ("Bunny", anyone?). One of the biggest surprises to me was how much Melissa Sue Anderson (who played Mary Ingalls) was actually more of the "Prairie Bitch" then anyone would have imagined. But even in her tales of the not-so-nice Melissa Sue, Arngrim was still generous and willing (to this day), to open the doors of friendship to her. I'm suspecting Melissa Sue will never take that offer up - her loss, no doubt about that.

This is an irreverant tale written much better then I expected and filled with all the humor, fan-nerd trivia, and optimism that I frankly didn't expect to find from Arngrim. Overall, her narrative rings true, but I will say that I am personally skeptical about some of the incidences she said she experienced and some of the conversations she claims to have had. However, I'm willing to chalk that up to her artistic writer's license.

There is some strong (aka vulgar, IMO) language throughout the book, so don't expect a sweet and sugary story. In addition, if you don't want reality to intrude on your fondly held memories of this show, you might want to skip this one. But if you want a sad, yet funny and ultimately inspiring read, this one should satisfy.

4.5 Nellies
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May 08, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

This book had been in the massive TBR pile for quite some time when a chance reading of an author's blog jolted the memory of Prairie Bitch back into my mind. I'll have to agree with this author in saying that Joffrey from the television show Game of Thrones does bear a striking resemblance to Nellie Oleson from Little House on the Prairie.

The intro alone of the book was chock full of interesting tidbits. I love how it was explained why the show version of Little House was so different from the...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Kressel Housman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hollywood, little-house, memoir, non-fiction

Just learning that this book existed from a GR friend's review last year was enough to set me off on a full-speed-ahead Little House binge, as evidenced by this shelf, but curious as I was about this book specifically, I was a little put off by the curse word in the title and the knowledge that Alison would "come out" about being raped by her own brother. She was the victim, of course, and was ultimately heroic in becoming a voice for other victims, but I figured it wouldn't make for kosher read...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Julie Barrett rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoirs, finished-2012

I never imagined I would enjoy this book so much. I checked it out from the library only because I had just finished Melissa Gilbert's memoir(which I had to read after reading Rob Lowe's memoir) and I wanted to get Nellie's version of events as well. I loved watching Little House on the Prairie when I was a kid & it was on tv, but I'm not a superfan or anything like that. I haven't watched the show since I was a kid(though now I am thinking I need to rewatch some episodes after reading these...more I never imagined I would enjoy this book so much. I checked it out from the library only because I had just finished Melissa Gilbert's memoir(which I had to read after reading Rob Lowe's memoir) and I wanted to get Nellie's version of events as well. I loved watching Little House on the Prairie when I was a kid & it was on tv, but I'm not a superfan or anything like that. I haven't watched the show since I was a kid(though now I am thinking I need to rewatch some episodes after reading these two Little House memoirs).

Alison Arngrim's main focus in the book is her years on Little House. It makes sense, since that is what she is best known for. I thought Melissa Gilbert's memoir focused way too much on Rob Lowe & on all her made-for-tv movies that I've never heard of. It was vaguely depressing to read about Melissa's third tier status as an actress. Alison seems to have realized fairly early on that she was not going to be Meryl Streep and that she was just going to live a normal life; accepting she'd had a cool gig acting on a tv show a a kid, but not trying desperately to hold onto the fame.

Alison is very funny. Parts of her book made me laugh out loud. I bet she is a lot of fun to hang out with. I was not surprised to read in her memoir about her deciding to do standup comedy, starting a few years before her gig on Little House was up. Even though parts of her book sound, in black & white, incredibly dark, she manages to find the humor. The bit about her accidentally ingesting a bunch of LSD & then realizing that her tripping brother & his tripping friends were prepared to do anything to prevent her from freaking out(and thus getting arrested for dosing a kid) was so, so funny. "I WANNA PLAY MONOPOLY!" Hahaha. Stepping back, as a mom & as a normal human being, it is horrifying, just horrifying, that she was on acid as a little girl. But Alison manages to find the humor in the situation.

The one thing she did not joke about was being molested between the ages of 6-9 by her incredibly creepy, disturbing big brother. However, thankfully, she did not go into great detail and the actual yrs of molestation only constitute a few paragraphs. Rather, she wrote about how the molestation led to her working with a non profit organization that focuses on removing the incest exception law many states have/had. "What?!", you ask? I know, I had no idea that the law made it a lesser penalty if the abuser was a relative or even a house guest (WTF?). Alison was able to use both her personal experience as a victim of incest and use her lasting fame as Nellie to get the law changed in California. It's not as heavy in †he book as I make it sound here. It's actually very touching. She also talks a bit about all her AIDS charity work, which I respect as well. (I had no idea the actor that played her husband on Little House died of AIDS).

I would not recommend this book to anyone extremely conservative. I can only imagine all the pearl clutching that must have gone on when a conservative Christian Little House fan picked up this book and read it because it was Nellie's book. Alison's parents were the quintessential CA liberal parents of the 60s & 70s. It was kind of like being raised by wolves. But, like I said, Alison was able to turn what easily could have been a Mommie Dearest sort of story into one that is funny & loving & accepting. It's surprisingly worth the read.(less)

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Feb 26, 2012 Corey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, read-in-2010, recommended-reading

While I watched Little House a few times as a kid, I didn't become a big fan until recently when I re-read the books from childhood and bought the boxed set when it was on sale at B&N. As a child, Nellie scared the daylights out of me - mostly because I was bullied a lot in school and she reminded me of those mean girls. As an adult, I kind of loved her brazen bitchy style. While she was annoying, she was pretty damn smart. I did like how she grew up though and was sad to see her leave the s...more While I watched Little House a few times as a kid, I didn't become a big fan until recently when I re-read the books from childhood and bought the boxed set when it was on sale at B&N. As a child, Nellie scared the daylights out of me - mostly because I was bullied a lot in school and she reminded me of those mean girls. As an adult, I kind of loved her brazen bitchy style. While she was annoying, she was pretty damn smart. I did like how she grew up though and was sad to see her leave the show (but was thrilled when she came back for visits).

Since I read "Prairie Tale" Amazon suggested that I may want to preorder Confessions of a Prairie Bitch... and I did, immediately. It sounded like a much more enjoyable read than the former book. While I liked Prairie Tale okay I didn't relate much to Melissa at all. I didn't grow up rich. I didn't have a seemingly great family. I didn't drink until I was 21. So while her story was interesting to me, I couldn't really relate. It was also told in more of a dramatic sad fashion, than in the dark-humor fashion that I greatly prefer and understand.

I got Confessions the day it was release and it killed me to have to finish my book I was reading before I could delve into it. I kept looking at the cover just KNOWING a great story lied beneath it's pink pop art cover. While you can't always judge a book by its cover, this one is exactly what its cover depicts - sassy, spunky, edgy and hilarious.

While I didn't have a gay father, I had a similar abusive relationship with my older brother so from the early stages of this book I felt like Alison was a kindred spirit. It's rare to meet someone that has and appreciates dark humor and isn't weirded out by it. I'm also a Daddy's girl and am proud to this day when people tell me that I remind them of him in looks and wit. While I was never an actor (well unless you count the local theater!) I could really relate to a lot of Alison's stories and life. Even if I couldn't, I know that I would still enjoy this book so much more than the other prairie tales because it plays it real.

If you are looking for a backstory on some of the antics on the Little House set they are here in abundance. Alison tells the truth about everything and doesn't sugar coat a thing, including just what was beneath Charles' trousers and what Melissa Sue was really like. If you are just looking for a fun memoir to read, look no further. This book is a great read, even for the non-LHOP fan!

By far the best book I've read this year and one of the best memoirs ever. I hope to read more from Alison and that she makes a stop somewhere near the lonely state of Ohio on her tour!!
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Dec 28, 2011 Gaeta1 rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: lovers of snappy biographies

Recommended to Gaeta1 by: Hannah

Shelves: biography-memoir, non-fiction, read-2011, revenge-memoir

Growing up, I wasn't a huge fan of "Little House", even though I was exactly in the aimed-for demographic. I thought Michael Landon was a bit smarmy (and beardless, worse yet!) and the show took waaay too many liberties with the books. (I was a picky purist, even then.) I stopped watching even sporadically when Mary got married. Let's face it, Mary's life was over when she lost her sight--even Laura said towards the end of her life that their parents never got over the tragedy--and she spent the...more Growing up, I wasn't a huge fan of "Little House", even though I was exactly in the aimed-for demographic. I thought Michael Landon was a bit smarmy (and beardless, worse yet!) and the show took waaay too many liberties with the books. (I was a picky purist, even then.) I stopped watching even sporadically when Mary got married. Let's face it, Mary's life was over when she lost her sight--even Laura said towards the end of her life that their parents never got over the tragedy--and she spent the rest of her days tatting lace and beading vases in the front parlor. I think Landon could have given his audience a bit of hard-nosed frontier reality--but he chose not to do so. Ahem. Well, since this is not supposed to be a critique of Michael Landon's choices as a producer and director but rather of Alison Arngrim's autobiography--let's just say I was in the "loved Nellie" camp. She was the only thing that made the show bearable and kept it from being so sticky-sweet that you could have distilled it and poured it into a humming-bird feeder. Long live Nellie! I used to turn the TV off when I saw that it was going to be a Nellie-less episode.

Even though I had fond memories of Alison Arngrim's sneering performances, I hesitated picking up her autobiography. Oh, boy. Yet another washed-up child actor's reminiscences of a long-off-the-air TV show. Could anything be more pathetic? Added to this were the allegations of sexual abuse by her brother. Was it just a sensationalistic ploy to get people to read her book? I decided to give it a try anyway, since it had been recommended to me, and it seemed the type of frivolous read of which I don't do enough. Besides, everyone needs a bag of Doritos once in a while.

Well, it did turn out to be more than that. Arngrim's book is both snappily and thoughtfully written. Yes, it did have those fun "fast-food" sort of anecdotes that makes people keep turning the pages. Here's her first encounter in the make-up trailor with Melissa Gilbert:

"....she looked as if she might fit into my purse-and could chew her way out if she had to...then came her stern warning, delivered with the intensity of an Edward G. Robinson in the vocal range of Shirley Temple. 'And whatever you do, you watch out for that Melissa Sue Anderson. She's evil and I hate her.'...it was as if we were suddenly in the middle of a really bad prison movie with an all-midget cast. We had just been told to 'watch our backs' by someone who looked like a talking Hobby Holly Doll."

Well, did it actually happen that way? Who knows--one would like to think so, though perhaps there was a bit of dramatic embellishment. And of course, she has plenty to say about the underwear-forgoing Michael Landon and the rest of the cast.(Michael Landon's words on the increasingly divergent-from-the book plot lines: "Have you ever read those books? There's a whole chapter on frying an apple fritter! I can't film frying an apple fritter!") Plus there are some wonderful sketches of the crew and make-up artists, which was actually my favorite part of the book.All this is delivered in a tone that is a bit gossipy yet not mean-spirited; time has given her enough distance to give her some perspective without reducing it to mellow haze.

Arngrim extends the same sharp, yet clear-eyed regard to her benevolently neglectful parents and her older brother. She gives enough detail on her brother's six years of sexual assaults so that you feel you understand what she went through without feeling like a voyeur. And she's refreshingly candid on using her type-casting to work to her advantage on her work for AIDS and child protection charities.

"Survivor" is a tired word that is used too often, especially for this sort of Hollywood biography. Yet if anyone personifies being able to overcome the odds, it is Alison Arngrim. Here's hoping she can continue a productive and meaningful life. Recommended for anyone curious about reading a well-written account of an unusual childhood and beyond--and not just for "Little House" fans.(less)

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Nov 14, 2012 Skyla rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: need-to-read-asap, american-author, autobiography, awesomeness, books-i-own, bullying, cool-author, dark-subject-matter, abuse

http://happygolucky-skyla.blogspot.ca...

With autobiographies it is always hard to know where to begin...how to review it because this is someone's actual life we are talking about here if you don't like the story being told there is no way to make it better because someone actually lived it and these are their words.

When I was little I can clearly remember every Sunday at noon dropping whatever I was doing and running home to watch Little House on the Prairie...yes I was a geek deal with it! It...more http://happygolucky-skyla.blogspot.ca...

With autobiographies it is always hard to know where to begin...how to review it because this is someone's actual life we are talking about here if you don't like the story being told there is no way to make it better because someone actually lived it and these are their words.

When I was little I can clearly remember every Sunday at noon dropping whatever I was doing and running home to watch Little House on the Prairie...yes I was a geek deal with it! It didn't matter if I was playing with my friends or up a tree, or even that one time where I was at school for an event...I still ran home to watch it. I can remember falling a little head over heels in love with a few of the characters (view spoiler). I can remember my Dad telling me that in real life Nellie was a sweetheart and Mary was a bitch. Alison mentions the tension between her and Missy but doesn't rag on and on about her like others have done.

This is not just a book about her days on Little House on the Prairie it is a book about how being Nellie Oleson gave her the strength to survive everything that came her way, the good, the bad and the downright terrible.

Alison has had a pretty strange and fucked up life but she has always seemed very down to Earth and centered to me. Growing up with eccentric parents, a gay father, a mother who was Caspar the Friendly Ghost, a brother who sexually abused her and gave her drugs at the age of 6, being a child star, having her best friend die of AIDS, marrying a guy who was really just a fan and ended up being really creepy and then finding her soul mate after he quotes the last line of Silence of the Lambs to her you know this woman is just awesome. Anyone who can go through all that shit and come out of it still smiling and with a sense of humour is alright by me.

This book is filled with witty lines, crazy characters and funny stories. I'd forgotten recently how much I adored her and reading this just made me remember why she is awesome.(less)

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Mar 03, 2011 Carli Entin rated it 5 of 5 stars

As a young child, Arngrim lived the bohemian lifestyle of her nomadic Hollywood actor parents—and suffered horrific sexual abuse by the hands of her brother, a washed-up teen idol. At age 12, her life changed dramatically when she landed the role of Nellie Oleson on the popular 1970s TV series Little House on the Prairie.

Arngrim is not simply a former child star with a story to tell. She is an excellent writer, and her memoir is poignant, hilarious, and loaded with the type of behind-the-scenes...more

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Jun 29, 2010 Louise rated it 4 of 5 stars

Nellie Oleson may have been the nastiest kid in town, but now, she's the one I'd want to be friends with. This woman is a riot. Her recall of all the weirdness that was her life and 'Little House' are done without the rancor and self-pity of so many others who've been through the same horrors. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she's jumped in to helping others and making people laugh.

And to know that hating Mary Ingalls was ok, just make me feel a whole lot better ;)

I read this one in about...more

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May 04, 2013 Riley Vermilya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club-bitches

I LOVED this book! I laughed, I cried, and I relived my childhood in the 70's. I remember racing home on my blue, sparkly, banana seat bike, jumping into the tub and running to the TV for my weekly Little House fix. Also, add the fact that I STILL own my tattered collection of books. : )

I totally dig how Alison took her Negative Nellie image and turned it into a positive. This book was a personal account filled with LHOTP details and I praise Alison for her courage and heart tackling important i...more

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Jul 05, 2010 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography-memoir, entertainment, nonfiction

Kindle for iPhone

I'm only about ten pages in, and I've already enjoyed it more than Mary Ingalls/Melissa Sue Anderson's whole stupid book!

It was interesting to read this, Melissa Gilbert's book and Melissa Sue Anderson's book in fairly close order. Arngrim hasn't had the career of Gilbert, but she comes across as the one you would most like to have a beer with. I had no knowledge of her abuse story, but she handles it very matter-of-factly (is that a word?) and with class. Her dislike of MSA jus...more

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Jul 15, 2010 Halpey rated it 4 of 5 stars

So sorry that Mary was such a BEOTCH. NOT sorry Nellie doesn't hold back. She delves, dishes, and zings on everyone and it's all done with love, respect, and humor... except for poor Mary who sounds like she deserved the treatment she receives. A quick and funny read.

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Sep 20, 2012 Abbe added it · review of another edition

Shelves: in-library

Review

“As a city bitch myself, I loved this book! It’s nice to see how the other half lives. Alison Arngrim’s memoir is a hilarious, moving, and dishy Hollywood tale.” (Margaret Cho )

“Whoa, Nellie! “Confessions of a Prairie Bitch” is a book that you will keep stored under a haystack in the barn, to dip into whenever you need a shot of something that will keep you down on the farm.” (Bruce Vilanch )

“Alison Arngrim is a fine actress and a true comedienne. She has always been the kind of ‘Bitch

...more

Review

“As a city bitch myself, I loved this book! It’s nice to see how the other half lives. Alison Arngrim’s memoir is a hilarious, moving, and dishy Hollywood tale.” (Margaret Cho )

“Whoa, Nellie! “Confessions of a Prairie Bitch” is a book that you will keep stored under a haystack in the barn, to dip into whenever you need a shot of something that will keep you down on the farm.” (Bruce Vilanch )

“Alison Arngrim is a fine actress and a true comedienne. She has always been the kind of ‘Bitch’ who tells it like it is. So, readers beware, you are in for an eye-full of reality told with a remarkable sense of humor.” (Carol Channing )

“Hilarious and heartbreaking.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution )

“Arngrim, decades past her ‘Little House On The Prairie’ years, dishes lots of great on-set stories, talks about what being a kid actor in the 1970s was actually like and discusses her own painful family history with frankness and humor....Delightful.” (NPR.org )

Arngrim looks back on playing the pint-sized sociopath in her memoir, “Confessions of a Prairie Bitch,” in which she merrily recalls show creator and star Michael Landon, that infamous blond wig, and how Nellie inspired her lifelong obsession with villainy.” (New York Post )

“Spunky Alison Arngrim, who played Nellie [Oleson], gets my kudos...Alison has a knack for yanking people’s chains in a good way. And her new bestselling memoir, Confessions of a Prairie Bitch, is such an absorbing read, I just had to give the woman a call for some bitch talk.” (Michael Musto, Village Voice )

“Alison Arngrim is a talented actress and an author who has patched together a meaningful life and created a book whose pages...fly.” (Phyllis Diller )

“Courage, moxie, chutzpah , cajones. Alison Arngrim has them all in spades. In “Confessions of a Prairie Bitch,” she bares her soul and manages to share her story with grace, dignity, and her inimitable humor. Simply put, I love this book and I love her. ” (Melissa Gilbert )

“Arngrim displays a healthy sense of humor.” (Chicago Sun-Times )

“’Confessions of a Prairie Bitch’ says it all: Neither Arngrim nor Nellie could ever be called boring.” (Entertainment Weekly )

“Alison Arngrim, familiar to a generation of TV viewers as the petulant Nellie Oleson of ‘Little House On The Prairie,’ is dishing the dirt on Walnut Grove.” (AOL PopEater )

Product Description

For seven years, Alison Arngrim played a wretched, scheming, selfish, lying, manipulative brat on one of TV history's most beloved series. Though millions of Little House on the Prairie viewers hated Nellie Oleson and her evil antics, Arngrim grew to love her character—and the freedom and confidence Nellie inspired in her.

In Confessions of a Prairie Bitch, Arngrim describes growing up in Hollywood with her eccentric parents: Thor Arngrim, a talent manager to Liberace and others, whose appetite for publicity was insatiable, and legendary voice actress Norma MacMillan, who played both Gumby and Casper the Friendly Ghost. She recalls her most cherished and often wickedly funny moments behind the scenes of Little House: Michael Landon's "unsaintly" habit of not wearing underwear; how she and Melissa Gilbert (who played her TV nemesis, Laura Ingalls) became best friends and accidentally got drunk on rum cakes at 7-Eleven; and the only time she and Katherine MacGregor (who played Nellie's mom) appeared in public in costume, provoking a posse of elementary schoolgirls to attack them.

Arngrim relays all this and more with biting wit, but she also bravely recounts her life's challenges: her struggle to survive a history of traumatic abuse, depression, and paralyzing shyness; the "secret" her father kept from her for twenty years; and the devastating loss of her "Little House husband" and best friend, Steve Tracy, to AIDS, which inspired her second career in social and political activism. Arngrim describes how Nellie Oleson taught her to be bold, daring, and determined, and how she is eternally grateful to have had the biggest little bitch on the prairie to show her the way.

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Apr 08, 2013 Elizabeth Wetzel rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have a weakness for celebrity autobiographies. Can't resist 'em. Being a Little House on the Prairie fan, and knowing Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson) has a second career as a stand up comedienne, I thought if nothing it would be entertaining. And it was! I hated Nellie on the show, I thought she was a big bow wearing bully. She was horrible. Alison Arngrim is absolutely hilarious and also touching as she recounts her bohemian upbringing and her life on Little House. We learn about her deep frie...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Candice rated it 3 of 5 stars

And so the final memoir in my trilogy of Prairie memoirs. And might I say by far the most fun, and sad. Alison Arngrim aka Nellie Oleson, thankfully, spent the most time recounting the actual goings-on behind the scenes of Little House on the Prairie. Only a handful of chapters were dedicated to her life before and after Little House (which was a very sad life as a child, but a hopeful and happy life as a grown woman). I found this to be the perfect balance of what I was looking for in a book ab...more

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Jul 13, 2012 melanie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks

Le moins qu'on puisse dire, c'est que cette actrice n'a pas sa langue dans sa poche. Ce n'était pourtant pas évident pour elle dès le départ, elle fut une petite fille timide et renfermée. Son passé familial (assez dramatique) n'a pas dû l'aider beaucoup. Née dans une famille où le spectacle était tout, élevée par des parents absents, violée par son frère depuis ses 6 ans... Elle n'avait pas grand-chose pour elle. Et pourtant... Pourtant ce sont les particularités même de cette famille qui la sa...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Angela Risner rated it 5 of 5 stars

I remember when I read Melissa Gilbert's memoir. She had a list of potential titles for her book at the back and one of them was, "Nellie's not a bitch but Mary is."

Yes, Melissa Gilbert and Alison Argrim (who played the despicable Nellie Oleson) were actually best friends behind the scenes. Don't you just love a plot twist like that?

Arngrim's book is very well-written. She now makes her way through life as an AIDS activist and a stand-up comedian. Those skills assisted her in making the book so...more

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Feb 27, 2012 Aaron Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

I never had a sister, but if I had, I'd want it to be Alison Arngrim!

It's impossible to come away from this book not LOVING this lady. Funny, touching, heart-breaking and ultimately very uplifting. She gives us a meticulously-detailed look at what it was like to be born into an acting family (her father, Thor, was a Canadian actor who went on to be Liberace's manager, and her mother, Norma MacMillan, was a famous voice-over artist who provided the TV voices of Gumby, Casper the Friendly Ghost a...more I never had a sister, but if I had, I'd want it to be Alison Arngrim!

It's impossible to come away from this book not LOVING this lady. Funny, touching, heart-breaking and ultimately very uplifting. She gives us a meticulously-detailed look at what it was like to be born into an acting family (her father, Thor, was a Canadian actor who went on to be Liberace's manager, and her mother, Norma MacMillan, was a famous voice-over artist who provided the TV voices of Gumby, Casper the Friendly Ghost and Polly Purebred on "Underdog"), and what it was like to become part of one of the most iconic family TV dramas of the century, "Little House on the Prairie." She gives glimpses into her relationships with her co-stars, including Melissa Gilbert (with whom she was instantly, and still is, best friends, although we get more detail of their childhood relationship in this tome than in Gibert's rather disappointing pamphlet) and Melissa Sue Anderson (they were NOT best friends!).

The most striking and impressive feature of this story is Alison's willingness to share her personal story of ongoing sexual abuse by her older brother (himself a former child TV star) beginning when she was six years old and lasting until about the time she joined "Little House." That she managed to turn out sane, not to mention gracious, funny and generous, is a miracle. She is also a tireless advocate for the AIDS Foundation of Los Angeles, a role that she gladly embraced upon the death of her "Little House" co-star (and on-screen husband) Steve Tracy in 1986. She also spearheaded the PROTECT movement to remove the "incest exemption" from child sexual abuse penalties. Her appearance on Larry King Live in 2004 probably turned the tide in forcing the CA legislature to vote down the exemption (when she just testified before them, they couldn't have given a shit, as politicians generally don't).

Alison is truly an example of a lady who knows how important the power of television is, and has used it to influence others' lives for the better.(less)

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Feb 25, 2012 Eva rated it 5 of 5 stars

I can't believe I am giving 5 stars to the memoir of a child actor- I mean, I usually reserve 5 stars for great works of literary fiction or history. However, I have to give credit where credit is due, and Alison Arngrim had me sitting up all night to finish reading her book. I loved Little House on the Prairie as a child, but I have never had the least bit of interest in reading Melissa Gilbert's autobiography. In general,I don't go for autobiographies of arguably minor celebrities, and wouldn'...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars

I may be different than many readers in that I really don't have memories of "Little House on the Prairie" and those that I do have are of general outline information (hot Michael Landon, family show, taken from the Little House series, etc.) but my interest was pioqued because Ms. Arngrim has represented an organization I've long been a member of, The National Association to Protect Children, and it seemed logical to read her biography. I'm glad I did!

Ms. Arngrim has an easy-to-read voice that...more

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Oct 29, 2011 Jodi rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Little House Fans

Shelves: memoirs, non-fiction

I absolutely loved Little House on the Prairie as a kid! I read all the books and watched all the tv episodes! So of course, I picked up this book when I saw it at the library! Of course, I HATED Nellie as a kid and always rooted for poor lil' Laura! How sad I felt when I read about Alison Arngrim's real life of sexual abuse by her brother, lack of a real home life, living realitively poor, and actually getting attacked by fans of Little House on the Prairie because they hated her character so m...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Jacqueline rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-books

I didn't intend to go on a Little House on the Prairie marathon read, but I couldn't help picking this up when I was at the library. After reading The Wilder Life this was a true hoot. For those of us GenXers the LHOP show was part of our cultural narrative - for good and for bad. And Nellie Oleson, well, she was the girl you didn't want to be. Mean, nasty and clearly out to get the good girls. Granted, with her crazy mother (in the show) they were the most fun to watch.

I don't usually read "wha...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Lu rated it 4 of 5 stars

I didn't grow up watching this show and didn't even know of it until I was maybe 13 by then all the episodes were on youtube. I think I got throught the first 6 seasons in two weeks. I loved the show and of course then the autobiogrophies from all the stars came out. I bought and read Melissa Gilberts first but not Melissa Sue Andersons as after reading Alisons I just didn't want to. To be honest Melissa Gilberts book kind of ruined the magic of 'Half-Pint' and I get that she isn't half -pint an...more

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Aug 30, 2011 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: biographies, entertainment-tv-movies-etc

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 29, 2011 LA Carlson rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: historial-memoir

I only wish I could give this book more stars. As a kid who grew up with this iconic show Alison Arngrim
reveals what no one could have possibly known. She is as hilarious, sharp and lovely as can be. Her life outside of show business was fascinating and horrible. She has risen to the top when most others would have floundered. If you want to retain your squeaky clean image of the show then you're probably not going to want to read what Michael Landon and Melissa Sue Anderson were really like. Yo...more

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Jun 24, 2011 Camelama rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: little house fans, melissa gilbert fans, hollywood bio fans

Shelves: read-but-do-not-own

If you ever watched Little House on the Prairie, you know Nellie Oleson. I never hated her like many friends did (oh how they hated her with a burning passion!) but I could see why she was hated. To me she just seemed sad - it was obvious Laura had the hearts of the village, and the full support of her family, so Nellie wasn't really a worry to her, just an annoyance.

Alison's life before, during and after Little House is quite astonishing. I'm just amazed by the lack of parental behavior by so...more

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Jun 18, 2011 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: autobiography

Having grown up with Little House on the Prairie, I was looking forward to hearing from such a strong character how she was perceived by her actress. Alison Arngrim had just been on a national talk show and made me laugh as she reflected on her time as Nellie Oleson. Reading the book gave me an insight into a child star who "made it" despite a horrible childhood secret of abuse. For years we have been hearing about child stars who skyrocketed to fame and then crashed because of drugs, alcohol or...more

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Apr 19, 2011 Joanna Wilson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: tv-film-books

This autobiography is everything you want it to be. It is written in a strong voice that is both clever and culturally literate. She dishes not just about her own personal experiences as a Hollywood child actress but also about those she worked alongside including Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert and Melissa Sue Anderson. Arngrim and Gilbert (the actresses who play Nellie and Laura) were actually best friends on the set! Arngrim also includes details from the most remembered scenes of our favorit...more This autobiography is everything you want it to be. It is written in a strong voice that is both clever and culturally literate. She dishes not just about her own personal experiences as a Hollywood child actress but also about those she worked alongside including Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert and Melissa Sue Anderson. Arngrim and Gilbert (the actresses who play Nellie and Laura) were actually best friends on the set! Arngrim also includes details from the most remembered scenes of our favorite episodes from Little House that feature the wicked Nellie Olsen.

My favorite section was Chapter Eleven where Arngrim describes the behind-the-scenes experiences on filming everyone's favorite Nellie moment: when Laura pushes the nasty Nellie, who is seated in a rickety wooden wheelchair, down a hill and into a frog pond. This is the 1976 episode entitled "Bunny." If you will remember, this third season episode's story starts when Nellie falls from her horse Bunny and pretends to be paralyzed. Since the horse used to belong to Laura, the middle Ingalls daughter feels guilty for Nellie's injury and agrees to help the paralyzed child now stranded in a wheelchair. Laura eventually discovers that Nellie isn't actually immobilized but is just using Laura as her own personal slave. The episode climaxes when Laura pushes Nellie in a wheelchair over the edge of the hill in order to prove to everyone in Walnut Grove that the blonde bitch has been faking it the whole time. This is everyone's favorite nasty Nellie moment because it's one of the most satisfying scenes where Nellie gets what she deserves at the hands of Laura.

I know I'm not the only one who jeered each time the villain Nellie Olsen came on my TV screen in the 1970s. It's a wonderful read to learn just how the actress that brought this delicious bitch to life feels about being one of TV's most hated characters. Not only has Arngrim grown to embrace the strength of her TV character but she's been able to use this courage to speak out for those suffering from AIDs and those who have been sexually abused. Who could have anticipated that this insufferable TV character would be brought to life by an actress that inspires the best in all of us?(less)

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Apr 19, 2011 Thebakingbookworm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography

I wasn't sure what to expect from this autobiography. I had read Melissa Gilbert's memoire last year and liked it but it pales in comparison to this down-to-earth and brutally honest read. This book vividly and humorously describes Arngrim's difficult childhood, her career on the Little House set as well as her accomplished life after her Nellie years.

I loved that Arngrim doesn't hold back or sugar coat her descriptions of her fellow cast mates or even her own family. She hasn't written this boo...more I wasn't sure what to expect from this autobiography. I had read Melissa Gilbert's memoire last year and liked it but it pales in comparison to this down-to-earth and brutally honest read. This book vividly and humorously describes Arngrim's difficult childhood, her career on the Little House set as well as her accomplished life after her Nellie years.

I loved that Arngrim doesn't hold back or sugar coat her descriptions of her fellow cast mates or even her own family. She hasn't written this book to placate anyone or to name drop (which is the feeling I got while reading Gilbert's memoire). This is a raw, emotional, funny (I think her humour comes from her Canadian parents!), and honest look into Arngrim's life and those who influenced her - both positively and negatively.

One of my favourite parts of this book was Arngrim's behind the scenes look at what life was like on the Little House set. Growing up, Little House was one of my favourite shows so learning some behind the scenes secrets was awesome! From learning why baby Carrie tumbles down the hill in the show's opening sequence, what Michael Landon wore under his pants (yowzers!), to how horrible the Nellie wig was to her poor head, Arngrim brings the reader behind the scenes in Walnut Grove.

I was surprised to learn how close Melissa Gilbert (Laura) and Arngrim were in real life. They'd go from being arch enemies on screen to BFF's in real life. I have to admit that I was a little surprised and let down to learn that my favourite character, Mary Ingalls (played by Melissa Sue Anderson), was actually very sullen, stuck up and downright rude to her fellow castmates (which continues, at least with Arngrim, to this day).

Arngrim paints a very clear picture of how the cast and crew bonded like a real family. She shows how her support within the cast gave her the family ties that she sorely lacked at home. The relationship that I found most touching was the very close bond Arngrim had with Steve Tracy who played her husband Percival on the show. I have to admit that I was a little surprised to hear that the cast are still in touch and even get together regularly to catch up with each other!

Nellie was the original 'mean girl' and Arngrim played her to perfection! Little House just wouldn't have been the same without Arngrim's comedic timing and her ability to bring heart to a truly horrible character. I now have a better appreciation for the much hated Nellie Oleson! Arngrim was instrumental in the development of this infamous TV icon who is known throughout the world (just ask the people in France where Nellie is adored!).

Even with her horrible childhood and the stress of being famous, Arngrim didn't become a child star tragedy like so many young actors. She credits Michael Landon as being a firm and constant force in her childhood. By treating her with respect and expecting a lot from all of the child actors on set (which wasn't the norm at the time) Little House is one of the very few TV shows that can boast that none of their child stars were in the news for drug abuse, issues with the law etc.

I have great respect for how, to this day, Arngrim uses her Nellie notoriety in a very positive way. She is a huge advocate for AIDS causes (she started with AIDS activism when it was in its infancy) and she was instrumental in helping to pass a law in California which greatly increased the jail time for incestors (which was truly pitiful before the law was changed).

Reading this book has left me with a desire to introduce Little House to my own children. I honestly think that, even in a world filled with computers and major movie special effects, that Little House still fills an important family-oriented niche all its own. After getting this sneak peak behind the scenes I know that I will never watch another episode of Little House on the Prairie the same way again. Whether you were a Nellie fan or not, I'm sure you'll become an Alison Arngrim fan after reading this book.

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Mar 29, 2011 Tabitha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: autobiography-biography-memoir, absolute-favorites, non-fiction

This was an absolutely delightful memoir to read!
Ms. Arngrim has such an easy comfortable storytelling voice, and she has an incredible sense of humor about herself, her life and everyone around her. It was really easy to get sucked into her memories and get a really clear picture of how she felt during filming, and escaping filming. I'd be willing to bet her honesty got under the skin of a few people she's worked with in the past. But always in a good way, and of course she could always win the...more

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Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated

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