Questions About The Long Winter (Little House, #6)

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Answered Questions (6)

For those of you living in the Dakotas, can winter really be this bad?

Noble Township Yes. The 1880's and 1890's were particularly hard in the midwest. We don't have "official" weather records for our part of the world for much more tha…moreYes. The 1880's and 1890's were particularly hard in the midwest. We don't have "official" weather records for our part of the world for much more than 140 years because we haven't been settled for much longer than that. The early pioneers were not bringing thermometers with them. But we do know for certain that in the period when western Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas was first being settled, 1850's, 60's, and 70's, we had a period of North America warming. We know this from written reports of how the people and livestock lived at that time. For example, when my Great-great-grandfather settled about three miles from where I now live, he spent the first year, including winter, living in a three-sided shed, open to the south. His wall on the south side at night that first winter was his campfire. Now either the weather was much milder, or he was a lot tougher than any man alive today. The early cattle drives in the 1860's and 1870's could take place late into the fall and winter because the winters were open and cattle could continue to graze through the winter. Settlers in those years didn't have to put up hay because of year around open grazing as far north as the Dakota territories. Herds of cattle were driven up from Texas into Wyoming, Montanna, and the Dakotas because it looked like a sure way to make money. Then the 1880's hit. If you have read the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, particularly "The Long Winter", you know the settlers in that period of time were caught unprepared for the harsh winter weather. The 1880's and 1890's were noted for cold winters and terrible blizzards that wiped out herds of livestock and killed hundreds of settlers and natives who had been pushed onto reservations. When I was a child, there were annual reunions held by those who had survived the "School Children's Blizzard of 1888". Future president Teddy Roosevelt lost a fortune in the cattle business in North Dakota at that time. (less)

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I've read this series so many times my set is literally falling apart. Did anyone else want to name their children after the Ingalls girls? Alas, I did not have four daughters but my eldest daughter's middle name is Grace.

Nancy When I was an elementary school librarian, I had a student who was in third or fourth grade when her baby sister was born. Like many parents, her mom …moreWhen I was an elementary school librarian, I had a student who was in third or fourth grade when her baby sister was born. Like many parents, her mom let her name the baby. She wanted to name her Laura Ingalls Baker. Mom went along with the Laura part! Laura is now a senior in high school. (less)

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How old is Laura in the book?

Cathryn She is 13 to 14. I am halfway through the book.

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Do you think that this book is better than the TV show?

Jan Z Much better. The television series strayed too far from the books. Not just there was no Albert and Mary never married. But the tv was not historicall…moreMuch better. The television series strayed too far from the books. Not just there was no Albert and Mary never married. But the tv was not historically accurate to the time period. Michael Landon wanted to put late 20th century themes in 19th century dress. The books are a fictionalized account of the real Ingalls family. The TV series is not true to the real Ingalls family, the books, or the 19th century. And the clown mask rape scene, just NO!(less)

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How old was Laura when she wrote the book?

Elizabeth She was 70 something when she wrote the series. Look for the book Prairie Fire for the story of how she and her daughter took on the writing.

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Unanswered Questions (2)

Did anyone read this as a kid and then come back as an adult, hoping to re-capture some of the magic of childhood? I did. I read this book when I was 12 and then came back to it in my early 40's. It did not let me down. I still enjoyed it and I felt transported back to not only the simple times of the narrative, but also to the simple times of being a kid.

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why is the good reads summary in italian?

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