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Little Heathens by Mildred Armstrong Kalish
By Betsy · 2 posts · 6 views
By Betsy · 2 posts · 6 views
last updated Dec 20, 2010 09:25PM
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan
By Lisa · 6 posts · 19 views
By Lisa · 6 posts · 19 views
last updated Mar 24, 2010 07:48PM
What Members Thought
An important reminder that the land I'm living on was a very different experience just a few generations back. And I really like this author's voice -- more critical, less saccharine, than I expected. She taught English at the UI at one point in her career.
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One of the most endearing qualities of octogenarian Mildred Armstrong Kalish's Little Heathens is that it runs counter to what the memoir, sadly, has too frequently become
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All of my grandparents & great-elders have passed. Reading this account of childhood in rural Iowa during the depression gives me some insight to why they were so darn worn out! Who would expect (or what?) a child of today to use a toothbrush & rag to clean the dead, severed head of a pig so it can to made into headcheese? Much to my surprise, I found all the grisly details of isolated farm life, where nothing went to waste, quite interesting. I read aloud several passages to my family.
I enjoyed some of the things about this book- I have always been interested in learning about life on farms. I wish there had been more characters in the story- a little more about the people. I also was turned off by the comparisons to life today/kids today lacking character because we have not had the same deprivations. There was a bit too much of that preachy tone in here. I was also surprised by the stream of consciousness style- I feel this book could have benefited from better editing.
A lovely memoir that takes place during the Depression but is in no way depressing. Lots of kitchen table wisdom, practical and even some interesting recipes. Times were tough and yet somehow simpler. Loved this book.
While the writing was somewhat pedestrian and repetitive at times, this was an enjoyable read about a simpler although difficult time in American life.
Well written memoir of a childhood on an Iowan farm during the depression, ultimately you feel good at the end.
Sep 28, 2008
Kristina
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
owned-but-neglected,
started-not-finished
Feb 14, 2009
The Sassy Bookworm
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nonfiction
Apr 07, 2012
Nancy Motto
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
to-read-non-fiction
Mar 27, 2013
Katie
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
memoir,
non-fiction
