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The First Four Years (Little House #9)

by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams (Illustrator)

3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 · rating details · 14,658 ratings · 373 reviews

Laura Ingalls Wilder is beginning her life with her new husband, Almanzo, in their own little house. Laura is a young pioneer wife now, and must work hard with Almanzo, farming the land around their home on the South Dakota prairie. Soon their baby daughter, Rose, is born, and the young family must face the hardships and triumphs encountered by so many American pioneers.

Hardcover, 160 pages

Published February 17th 1971 by HarperCollins (first published October 1st 1953)

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Oct 10, 2009 Chris rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Discovered in 1971 and posthumously tacked onto the previous eight volumes of the 'Little House' series, it's obvious from the first pages that something's a little amiss here. The tone is different, harder, more grown-up, with many details that ended 'These Happy Golden Years' changed here, and not for the better. After going off to live 'the life of a farmer's wife' in the previous book, the same scene is revisited, with Laura telling Manly (she calls Almanzo by his nickname throughout the boo...more Discovered in 1971 and posthumously tacked onto the previous eight volumes of the 'Little House' series, it's obvious from the first pages that something's a little amiss here. The tone is different, harder, more grown-up, with many details that ended 'These Happy Golden Years' changed here, and not for the better. After going off to live 'the life of a farmer's wife' in the previous book, the same scene is revisited, with Laura telling Manly (she calls Almanzo by his nickname throughout the book) that he should work in a shop, and that she has no interest in being a farmer's wife. Jarring! But probably closer to the truth, too.

The lack of finesse added to other books by Laura's daughter Rose is noticeably absent here. Also, considering that the manuscript was found after her death, there's a good chance that it was unfinished, and might have been fleshed out at a later date.

It's interesting to see just how much hardship the couple endured in their four years of attempting to settle a land claim with the government. At the same time, the atrocities pile up so quickly, it's hard not to be come desensitized to them after a while. When the last ten pages is given over to 1) typhoon, 2) temporary blindless, 3) bankruptcy, 4) a fire that wipes out the family house and nearly kills Laura and Rose, it almost turns into some sort of black comedy, where the protagonist puts his foot in a bucket, falls off a cliff, and inadvertently starts World War III.

Of course, it wasn't a comedy, and as far as I know, these things actually happened, making it more depressing.

If you're following this saga 'all the way to the bitter end,' you'll probably want to read this. If you just want to enjoy the fairy-tale tone and ambiance of the previous books, I beg of you to stop with 'These Happy Golden Years' and protect your innocence. Since my girlfriend is writing a book about LIW, you can imagine that I'll riding this runaway train to the end of the line, but that doesn't mean you have to!(less)

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Jan 26, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

Be warned! This book is very, very different from all the other books in the Little House on the Prairie series. In fact, this book makes it easy to see how embellished the other books are and the positive spin that was put on them. Because it was published after the death of Laura and her daughter, it is not quite complete as well. It was taken directly from Laura's notebooks that were found in her belongings after her death and barely any editing was done on them. That being said, this book is...more Be warned! This book is very, very different from all the other books in the Little House on the Prairie series. In fact, this book makes it easy to see how embellished the other books are and the positive spin that was put on them. Because it was published after the death of Laura and her daughter, it is not quite complete as well. It was taken directly from Laura's notebooks that were found in her belongings after her death and barely any editing was done on them. That being said, this book isn't necessarily worse than the others, just entirely different. The rest of the books, for those who have no read them, detailed Laura Ingalls Wilder's childhood growing up and being a pioneer girl with her Ma, Pa, and three sisters.

The First Four Years details the first four years of Laura and Almanzo's (who she calls Manlly in this book) marriage. They set up house on his tree claim after agreeing to try farming for three years. The first year passes quickly they seem happy enough and even more so when Laura is expecting. They have a daughter, Rose, and Laura completely loves her and is quite devoted to her. They remain somewhat happy but do manage to have quite the disastourous next few years. It seems that everything bad that can happen, will happen. They have to suffer through crops being destroyed, illness and other hardships in those four years.

The characters in this are much changed from the other books. They are less like characters in this book and more like the real thing and its a little easier to see that Laura wrote from the heart and didn't try to make this an easy children's story. Its more of an outline with all the emotions she felt still showing. Manly is kind of distanced and doesn't seem to be as good with finances as he in in the other books. Laura is more mature but sadly leaves most of the decision to Manly.

The book is short and is more a series of little stories from those four years. It is still mostly appropriate for children although there are a few sections that made even me pause. This could be considered a spoiler for the book so do beware. The first thing that made me pause was the Boasts (friends of Laura's) that offered to give Laura and Manly their best horse for Rose when she was a baby. Being childless they were probably desperate but it was still a shock to read about the situation in the children's book. The next was the death of their son. Maybe it was just me, but I couldn't help but feel that Laura seemed almost relieved when it was back to being just her, Rose, and Almanzo. I'm sure she cared for the boy (who wasn't alive long enough to be named) but I just didn't get that emotion in the book. I also noticed that in the writing of this book, some facts contradicted what the other books had say, like Manly having a milk cow before Laura married him.

This book is still very important to read when it comes to the series. It is depressing and I can see why Laura never published it on her own, but it does explain a lot and continue her story. The entire series is a wonderful read and despite the tone of this book, it is vital to the collection.

The First Four Years
Copyright 1971
134 pages (less)

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May 13, 2013 Gale rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: prairie-rural-young-adult, spunky-heroines

“Over the Horizon of Years”

Last to be published in the endearing prairie series of nine Little House books this one refers to Laura Ingalls’ life as Mrs. Almanzo Wilder. Divided into just four sections (or long chapters), based on the date of their anniversary, this novella chronicles both hardship and homespun happiness. The storyline is preceded by an Introduction by Laura’s appointed family biographer, Roger Lea MacBride, and also by a brief Prologue of her own. The unedited text is complime...more “Over the Horizon of Years”

Last to be published in the endearing prairie series of nine Little House books this one refers to Laura Ingalls’ life as Mrs. Almanzo Wilder. Divided into just four sections (or long chapters), based on the date of their anniversary, this novella chronicles both hardship and homespun happiness. The storyline is preceded by an Introduction by Laura’s appointed family biographer, Roger Lea MacBride, and also by a brief Prologue of her own. The unedited text is complimented by the authentic illustrations of Garth Williams. Recalling her own childhood with fondness Laura continues to quote the words to tunes recalled from her musical father, as well as philosophical homilies oft stated by her mother.

Priding herself on her “pioneer girl” roots Laura is gradually and reluctantly transformed into a farmer’s wife—with all its hardship and sorrow: cyclones, blizzards, droughts, wild fire, Indians, wolves, and financial insecurity in the form of perpetual indebtedness. The most careful planning can not compete with the vagaries of extreme weather. As if this were not enough personal heartache often lurked around the corner of their little homestead; medical care was limited both in knowledge and in travel distance.

Readers do not see much of her beloved Pa and Ma in this book, but other relatives appear and of course, new life arrives. But the young couple experiences the wheel of life with its hopeful times and neighborly society. Their mutual dependence on/ and respect/ for each other could only bring them closer as a couple. Surprisingly there are few references to God, the Bible and Church. Nevertheless, LITTLE HOUSE fans will recognize the simple Christian values and virtues revealed in these pages: truths about life, human interaction and the acceptance of the willfulness of Nature. Laura truly comes to understand and appreciate “when poor men get their ice.”

(May 13, 2013. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)

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Apr 22, 2013 Beth Klingler rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's hard to know how to rate this book knowing its background and context. If it was unfinished and neither Laura nor her daughter wanted it published, and it remained unpublished until after their deaths I don't really feel it should've been included in a Little House box set. It doesn't mesh with the others.
Given how much following the various Ingalls-Wilder books have acquired I'm okay with the fact that it was finally published, but it should've been a stand alone with it's unfinished state...more

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Apr 03, 2013 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was nervous about this book and as I started it, I got even more worried. It starts with the wedding rush conversation that happened in the last book, only there's more to the conversation and I was really surprised by Laura's reluctance to farming. I never, in the previous eight books, got the impression that she didn't want to have a farm. In fact, with her love of the outdoors and animals, etc. I didn't really think there were any other options! In ALL eight books she worked harder than any...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

I knew that this final installment in the Little House series was going to be different—it's unedited, more adult, and less sanitized than the previous books. But after the optimistic final note of These Happy Golden Years, it was tough to adjust to this one. It's not because Almanzo and Laura suffer from so much bad luck—that is par for the course throughout this series, and generally for people trying to make it out on the American frontier. What is far more disappointing is Laura's sudden lac...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Tracy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: little-house, teen, young-adult

I read this book when I was a child and was shocked and disappointed by it. The tone is very flat and Laura and Almanzo seem like different people. It seems more of an outline than a full-fledged Little House book. I almost didn't re-read it this time to finish out my re-reading of the entire series, but I decided to steel myself to the task, and I'm actually glad I did. I knew what I was getting into, so it wasn't so shocking and disappointing this time around.

This book begins by re-telling the...more I read this book when I was a child and was shocked and disappointed by it. The tone is very flat and Laura and Almanzo seem like different people. It seems more of an outline than a full-fledged Little House book. I almost didn't re-read it this time to finish out my re-reading of the entire series, but I decided to steel myself to the task, and I'm actually glad I did. I knew what I was getting into, so it wasn't so shocking and disappointing this time around.

This book begins by re-telling the end of These Happy Golden Years, but this time before they are married, Laura tells Almanzo she doesn't want to be a farmer's wife. How's that now? She feels farming is too difficult and they will always be poor, but Almanzo convinces her to try it out for three years. The couple starts out happily enough, racing their ponies on the prairie and enjoying being newlyweds, but even before the first year is over the tragedies start piling up right along with the growing debt. The first four years were pretty awful.

Almanzo, who seemed so smart and prosperous throughout the entire series, makes horrible financial decisions, and Laura, who doubts the wisdom of what he's doing, lets him do it because "that's his business." (Granted, she's writing about these first four years 60 years after they happened, so she might be turning her hindsight into foresight...) When hail destroys their first wheat crop before it is harvested, he suggests they use the hail to make ice cream, and Laura is thoroughly disgusted with him.

Also, it is revealed here that Almanzo did not build her that fabulous pantry in their house. He hired a carpenter to do it for him. And twice in the first year of marriage Laura orders things from the Montgomery Ward catalog, which just seems downright weird. It's as if this book showcases the reality of the pioneer/settlers life much more so than the first 8 books in the series do. This book lets you see that the first 8 books were idealized and sanitized, which doesn't make me love them any less, but it's kind of like finding out there's no such thing as Santa.(less)

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Aug 05, 2012 Anna Mari rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, samantha, historical-fiction

The conclusion of the Little House series was not what we had expected. Where most the family had endured hardship and were still upbeat, in this one, there was little upbeat about it. Trial after trial the newlyweds endured as they worked to make a go of it on the prairie. Almazo spent money freely - which seemed out of character - to the point where even Samantha was saying - don't take another loan Almazo!
While more realistic to the happenings of prairie life, it did make me research to see...more

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Jan 03, 2012 *tarazza rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I do not consider this really a part of the Little House series. Because it was just a draft found in LIW's notes after her death, it does not read the same as the previous books do. Plus, it seems to be the first chapter of a new series rather than a continuation of the Laura we know from the previous books.

The book's worst offense is that it actually begins before These Happy Golden Years ends, and rewrites history. There's a scene before they're married where Laura tells Almanzo (who is very...more

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Oct 29, 2011 Carin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens, young-adult

This book is written a little differently than Ms. Wilder's previous books, as she never finished writing and editing it. It's 4 chapters, so naturally those are long, although the book itself is very short.

Even though Laura doesn't want to be married to a farmer she agrees to give Almanzo three years (which stretches into 4 and then into 70) to prove that he can be just as successful as a farmer, and she can be as happy as a farmer's life, as Laura wants her life to be. It was surprising for m...more

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Apr 20, 2011 Kelly Hager rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As the title would suggest, this details the first four years of Laura and Almanzo's marriage. They have two children (Rose, who lives, and a son, who doesn't) and basically have a ton of bad luck (a hailstorm ruins the crops one year, plus there's a fire...basically anything that can go wrong, does).

This is a lot less cheerful than the first eight books. Part of that may be that when she was younger, Laura was shielded from a lot of the reality of prairie life and it was sort of like, oh, isn't...more

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Nov 25, 2011 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Little House Fans

Recommended to Heather by: My Grandma

Shelves: laura-ingalls-wilder

I hadn't read this in a long time and was a little shocked. The introduction mentioned that it had been found among Laura's belongings after her death and was not published until after Laura's daughter Rose had died. I didn't know this when I read the book as a child and simply accepted it as an automatic continuation of the other books in the series. In my own mind, I can see why The First Four Years was not published. Though very interesting and a short read, the book is not very happy. I feel...more

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Feb 05, 2010 Patel Aditi added it · review of another edition

15. summary
In this begining of the story Laura has just married Manly Wilder. They prepare to settle into married life, their small home on the Prairie. Although Manly is set on being a farmer, Laura advises him againts it. She fears poverty and being taken advantage of store owners. Manly makes a deal with Laura. He will be farmer for three years. Laura think about that if farming is going well for the family, if not Manly will choose another profession. Laura and Manly see all the wonderful...more

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Sep 18, 2011 sabisteb rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: buch, classics

De Smet, South Dakota 1885-1889. Dieser letzte Band der Reihe erzählt in kurzen Episoden von den ersten vier Ehejahren von Laura Ingalls mit Almanzo Wilder. Von Missernten, der Geburt ihrer Tochter Rose und dem kurzen Leben ihres kleinen Sohnes.

Anders als bei den ersten Bänden handelt es sich nicht um einen fertigen Roman, sondern um ein Manuskript, in welchem die Handlung eher Grob in Einzelepisoden umrissen wird. Das Manuskript zu diesem Band fand sich unter den nachgelassenen Papieren der Toc...more De Smet, South Dakota 1885-1889. Dieser letzte Band der Reihe erzählt in kurzen Episoden von den ersten vier Ehejahren von Laura Ingalls mit Almanzo Wilder. Von Missernten, der Geburt ihrer Tochter Rose und dem kurzen Leben ihres kleinen Sohnes.

Anders als bei den ersten Bänden handelt es sich nicht um einen fertigen Roman, sondern um ein Manuskript, in welchem die Handlung eher Grob in Einzelepisoden umrissen wird. Das Manuskript zu diesem Band fand sich unter den nachgelassenen Papieren der Tochter Rose als diese 1968 starb. Laura Ingalls Wilder hatte nach dem Tod ihres Mannes Almanzos wohl das Interesse an der weiteren Ausarbeitung verloren. Roger Lea MacBride, Rose Erbe, fand das manuscript und ließ es so wie es war von Harper Collins veröffentlichen. Dieser erste Entwurf wurde nie überarbeitet und zeigt ein ganz anderes Bild von Laura, als die ersten Bände der Reihe. Laura ist unabhängiger, stärker und freier, das merkt man vor allem in den ersten Kapiteln, die sich mit dem letzten in „diese glücklichen Goldenen Zeiten“ überschneiden. Wirkte Laura in „diese glücklichen Goldenen Zeiten“ eher leb- und farblos so wird nun klar warum. Ihre wahren Gedanken wären in den 30er Jahren so nie veröffentlicht worden. Sie hat nicht einfach brav eingewilligt Almanzo zu heiraten und brav seine Frau zu werden, das wird bereits angedeutet, dass sie sich weigert zu heiraten, wenn das Wort gehorchen in der Zeremonie vorkommt, nein sie hat ihm ein Ultimatum gestellt: Sie will keinen Bauern heiraten, sie will, dass ihr Mann ein geregeltes Einkommen hat und einen vernünftigen Beruf. Almanzo bittet sie, es drei Jahre lang zu versuchen. Er will die Landwirtschaft aufgeben, wenn sie nach drei Jahren keinen Erfolg hat. DAS verschweigt der Vorgängerband, er verschweigt wie tief die Gefühle der beiden wirklich gewesen sein müssen, die zusammen 90 Jahre alt wurden und durch dick und dünn gegangen sind. In diesem letzten Band der Reihe nennt Laura Almanzo auch Manly und nicht Alamanzo, etwas, was wohl auch überarbeitet wurde und es wurde verschwiegen dass sie die Landarbeit eigentlich hasste „Sieh hated the farm and the stock and the smelly lambs, the cooking of food and the dirty dishes.“
Dieser erste Entwurf ist direkter, ehrlicher und besser als die ausgearbeiteten Romane, denn er gibt einen Einblick in die Gedankenwelt der jungen Laura, unzensiert und nur für ihren persönliche Verwendung gedacht.
Anders als ich bisher immer gedacht habe, waren die Teenager damals mitnichten erwachsener. Es ist eine klassische Teenagerehe. Laura hat den Haushalt nicht im Griff, sie hat keinen Überblick über die Finanzen, bestellt fröhlich aus dem Katalog und Almanzo kauf seiner Frau einfach mal ein Pony, was wohl das Äquivalent zu einem heutigen Kleinwagen sein dürfte. Die Beiden leben auf Pump, Laura hasst die Hausarbeit und leistet sich eine Hilfe, damals wie heute nichts Neues in Amiland. Das junge Paar genießt das Leben, sie machen Ausfahrten, haben keinen Plan von Kindererziehung uns Pflege und pfeifen darauf, was andere denken. Keine Erwähnung mehr von besinnlichen Betsonntagen und Kirchgängen wie in den früheren Bänden.

Eindeutig mein Lieblingsband der Reihe, weil erfrischen ehrlich, direkt und unkorrekt. Keine liebe, brave, angepasste Laura mehr, sondern ein lebenslustiger Teenager ohne Plan.
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Jun 26, 2011 Nelly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: others

Almanzo (Manly) & Laura adalah pasangan keluarga muda yang harus berjuang keras dalam menyongsong masa depan mereka. Banyak rintangan yang harus mereka hadapi sebagai petani.

Saya sangat mengagumi Almanzo (Manly) sebagai sosok suami yang tidak kenal kata "menyerah" dan selalu berusaha meyakinkan istrinya Laura bahwa mereka akan berhasil sebagai petani, sekalipun di awal pernikahan mereka Laura tidak setuju kalau suaminya seorang petani.

Namun pada akhirnya Laura semakin berkobar semangatnya u...more

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May 12, 2011 Laurie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was, finally, refreshingly honest. I loved the previous 8 books, but was always a bit bothered at how Laura's true feelings were rarely described. Finally hearing about the boredom that Laura felt as a new mother, about how she didn't want Manly to be a farmer, and how she occasionally hated the stink of their farm stock was quite satisfying to me.

And, "Manly?" Two things about this nickname: first, have I been pronouncing his name incorrectly? Is it not "Ahl-MAHN-zoh?" Second, I wish...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: from-library, olivia-older-to-read

46 months - What a sad ending to the series. If you are looking for "Happily Ever After", then stop at "These Golden Happy Years". In fact this book probably should have been placed with the other later ones as a stand alone because it is written very differently, or at least was edited differently or not at all. It also recaps part of the book before from an adult and more personal perspective. I actually liked that because finally we could see that her and Almanzo actually had real conversatio...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Deann Doolittle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s-fiction

I was not as impressed with the last book in the series as I was with all the rest. I have never read this book before. I know it was found after Laura Ingalls Wilder had died and you can tell that it wasn't here that was actually doing the writing. It was nice to have the story come to a close by telling about her children. I did not realize she had a son as well.

I am glad that I took the time to re-read these books. I still think these stories should be mandatory reading for the intermediate g...more

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Aug 17, 2010 Jonathan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography

This book, published posthumously, has a very different feel than the others. It is as if (and maybe it is that) Wilder wrote down the biographical notes, then stopped working on the book before fictionalizing the story. The result is a book in a very different style than the previous ones, and with some details (such as Almonzo's age) not agreeing with previously written facts. This book is more biographical than the other books. It should be read as an unfinished work, and there are many thing...more

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Mar 15, 2008 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this many years ago, but enjoyed reading it again as Laura Ingalls Wilder has a way of story telling that draws you in and invites you to stay for a while. This book was published in its "rough cut" form since she died without ever fleshing it out for publication, but it was still enjoyable. Her light humorous touches in this retelling of her first years of marriage brought back memories of my own early married life.

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Jul 29, 2009 Empress5150 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Frankly, this books is fairly depressing because not a lot of good came out of the first four years Laura and Almanzo (referred to as "Manly" now) were married (save their daughter, Rose). Just about every bit of bad luck one living out on a prairie could experience, they did, including ruined crops, their house burning down, their baby son dying and Almanzo getting diphtheria. It was likely due to these awful times that the Wilder's ultimately moved to Mansfield, MO. Also, this book was not wri...more

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Mar 13, 2011 Ruth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I would doubt this is a favorite of those fans of the "Little House" series--I think it's so dissimilar to the 'voice' of the other books, that it's slightly jarring by contrast. The notes were found after Laura's death, in draft form, and so perhaps by publishing it in that format there's no help for the way it comes across (rather hasty--there are only about 5-6 chapters in all; also a bit impersonal in tone). And yet--when one reads of the huge challenges Laura and Almanzo (she calls him "Man...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Liz rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, i-like-kids-books

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Sep 20, 2011 Amber rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 11-12, ao-yr-5, family

We were a little disappointed with this installment to the series. Really, I think it should not have been added to the series as I don't think the author intended it to be. This was written in a very different tone and from a very serious perspective which is not in keeping with the rest of the books. In previous books they have been near starvation and yet the story is happy. Even though Almanzo and Laura face some really tough times in the first four years their struggles are no worse than th...more

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Mar 23, 2009 Ashley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: ELLIE AND ELIZABETH AND KAYLEE AND BRIANNA AND LAURA AND MARRISSA

Recommended to Ashley by: MY SISTER

Shelves: books-i-loved

it was good.

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Oct 15, 2011 Sherrie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reading-challenge, already-read

I must admit that I haven't read any of this series of books. But Little house on the Prairie was one of my favorite t.v. shows. While I was reading this book I kept thinking of Laura from the t.v. show. Her face would pop right into my mind. There is an introduction at the beginning of the book that tells how this book came to press. This book takes you through the first four years of Laura and Almanzo's marriage. Almanzo has talked Laura into staying on their land claim for 4 years to see if t...more

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Jul 31, 2010 Margaret rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was written only as a first draft by Laura and was found in her belongings when she died. It was published after her daughter died. It tells of Almanzo and Laura's first four years of marriage. Before they got married Laura told Almanzo that she didn't want to be a farmer's wife because it was a very hard life for a woman. But Almanzo tells her to give it three years and if he hasn't made success by then he will do something else for his occupation.
So since this is only a first draft,...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Grace rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Pre-Teenagers

Recommended to Grace by: My mother

I absolutely love this series. I have read each book at least twice, most more. My mom loved these books as a kid, too, and she'd get them from the library and read to me when I was young. I first started reading the series myself in fourth grade, I think. In seventh grade, I started crying on the school bus home because I could never be Laura Ingalls Wilder. I also thought that Ma was one of the best mothers in the world, and that if I had to choose another mother, it'd be her. Just thinking ab...more

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Aug 03, 2010 Maria rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens

Although this book was published posthumously and doesn't really have the same panache as the earlier books, Laura comes through as a totally different person with overtones of Mrs. Brewster, the depressed housewife from an earlier book. It surprised me since I had gotten so comfortable with the Ingalls who always pitched in and worked things out, no matter how troublesome. It did seem like the young Wilders were jinxed, but I think the main problem was that Manly did not choose to put his energ...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Meghan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books, childrens

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

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About Laura Ingalls Wilder

Ingalls wrote a series of historical fiction books for children based on her childhood growing up in a pioneer family. She also wrote a regular newspaper column and kept a diary as an adult moving from South Dakota to Missouri, the latter of which has been published as a book.

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Quotes from The First Four Years

“The incurable optimism of the farmer who throws his seed on the ground every spring, betting it and his time against the elements, seemed inextricably to blend with the creed of her pioneer forefathers that "it is better farther on"-- only instead of farther on in space, it was farther on in time, over the horizon of the years ahead instead of the far horizon of the west.” — 11 people liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/777075.The_First_Four_Years?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348136856l/777075.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/777075.The_First_Four_Years?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder[/url]

The First Four Years (Little House #9)

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