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The First Four Years
2016 ♦Archives Buddy Read ♦
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Trea, Erica, & Cindy - Little House Series
Trea wrote: "Cindy, would starting On the Banks of Plum Creek on the 12th give you enough time before you leave to read it?"That should be fine. I'm starting Farmer Boy tomorrow and should have it finished no later than by the weekend.
I've finished this one...not as good as the previous two, in my opinion, but there were a good bit of interesting things happening!
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Erica, Quality Control Supervisor
(last edited Aug 04, 2016 05:20PM)
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I haven't started yet. Things have been hectic here trying to get everything done for my trip but I'll get it read this weekend. I'm looking forward to reading about his family.
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I do enjoy the descriptions of how everything is made and how absolutely NOTHING is wasted. I'm amazed by how Almanzo's father just knows what the weather will be in the coming day, and how he plans what the work will be for that next day based on his prediction of what's coming. Oh, and the descriptions of food leave my mouth watering. The amount of food Almanzo packs away is astounding. He must have worked very hard, as I'm sure he was not fat and he had to burn off an awful lot of calories every day!
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Erica wrote: "Finished this one tonight. I absolutely love the ending, where Almanzo decides he wants to be a farmer rather than going in to town to be apprenticed to Mr. Paddock. Made me smile."Yeah, I liked that too!
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Erica wrote: "I'm starting On the Banks of Plum Creek today. I may wind up reading the two extra books after all... I just joined the crazy "What's It Called?" challenge, and could us an "O" and a "W" book... he..."I'm doing that challenge too so I also need as many O's and W's as possible! lol
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I don't mean to get ahead on this buddy read, but I couldn't stop myself once I started this one. I don't plan to start the next one until September though.
Erica wrote: "And... done. I couldn't put this one down! What really got me is that now I was looking at all of the disasters (locusts, blizzards, fire) through the eyes of Laura's parents. They had to be quite ..."Yeah, I'm only at the start of chapter 20, so about halfway through it.
The leeches part was interesting! Mary is such a girly girl!
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Updated for the new book...any thoughts on when to start this one?I have a BR scheduled for the 1st and one scheduled for the 4th, so I'm thinking to start the new one on the 6th or 7th.
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I started this one back on the 6th, thinking that's what we had agreed on, but it looks like I am the first one done! It was a decent read, and I liked the little surprise at the end!
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Erica, Quality Control Supervisor
(last edited Sep 11, 2016 07:44AM)
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Erica wrote: "Double oops. MOB of men. There."It gave me a chuckle to read it the way you originally had it, something I sorely needed this morning!
Erica wrote: "Oh wow. The part where Laura and Lena ride out to pick up the wash from the homesteader woman whose 13-year-old daughter was MARRIED the day before. Just imagine!"I didn't like Lena too much...too wild for my impression of the times, especially how some of the wash was re-dirtied because of the antics she allowed the horses to do.
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Erica wrote: "Yes, it makes you wonder what ever came of her. Also sorry that Laura now feels compelled to become a school teacher since Mary no longer can."Yeah, I didn't care for how she was forced into that career...
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(last edited Sep 15, 2016 12:59PM)
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Erica wrote: "Pa found the homestead site but he hasn't filed his claim yet. I don't remember if he makes it... sure hoping he does! I continue to be impressed with how grateful they all are with the very simple..."There's a surprise in it!
I would be happy with some of those gifts they got, honestly!
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Erica wrote: "Done! I loved this one. I love that Laura is still such a tomboy. When do you want to start The Long Winter? I'm thinking maybe next weekend, the 26th at the latest. I want Laura and Almanzo to meet!"The 23rd/24th works for me, and I can't wait for them to meet either!
Okay, ladies, I'm back. I'm so sorry I've been gone so long!
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Cindy wrote: "Okay, ladies, I'm back. I'm so sorry I've been gone so long!"Welcome back!
Can I just say that while reading Prairie, I was actually really upset that they didn't let the dog ride in the wagon when they crossed the creek and then it looked like the dog had drowned? Like to the point that I almost didn't want to finish the book. I was so happy when it turned out that he survived. That's probably silly but I really love my dog. lol
Cindy wrote: "Can I just say that while reading Prairie, I was actually really upset that they didn't let the dog ride in the wagon when they crossed the creek and then it looked like the dog had drowned? Like t..."LOL, I remember getting that angry about it too!
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I'll be done with Farmer Boy tonight, btw. Sorry to have slowed everything down! I'll start Plum Creek tomorrow.
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Almost finished with Farmer Boy and I feel like I like Almanzo's father better than I like Charles. But of course it is probably because Laura is writing from Almanzo's memories of his father and he clearly idolized his dad. But still, sometimes I kind of feel like Charles is just blundering around the country with his family in a wagon.
I'm almost done with Plum Creek and it's interesting to see the differences between the way Laura and Almanzo were raised. I have to say though, I am pretty annoyed at Ma right now for making Laura give her doll away to neighbor's little girl and always telling her to be unselfish. They literally. Had. Nothing. It wasn't really possible to be selfish when they had nothing. And why wouldn't it have crossed Ma's mind that Laura might want to keep the first and only doll she had ever received for Christmas?
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I finished Plum Creek. For a while there it really did seem like Pa's Comedy of Errors. But he worked so hard for his family it was just heartbreaking when things went wrong. Even if I did want to wring his neck for some of the ridiculous things he did. I'll start Silver Lake tonight probably before bed. I'll be ready to start The Long Winter by the end of this week but let me know what works for ya'll. That is where you guys are at right? lol
Cindy wrote: "I'll start Silver Lake tonight probably before bed. I'll be ready to start The Long Winter by the end of this week but let me know what works for ya'll. That is where you guys are at right? lol"Yup, we're at Long Winter, and end of the week works fine for me! Just give a shout when you're starting it!
Re: the doll- I was very glad when she got it back! I felt it showed Ma just how little respect the other girl had had for the gift, when compared to how Laura took care of the doll!
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I'm glad Laura's Ma fixed her doll when she got it back...
I hadn't thought about it before, but maybe part of Laura's talent with words came from her job of "seeing for Mary" once she became blind.
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Erica wrote: "I started The Long Winter last night. So happy - Laura finally met Almanzo - or maybe I should just say "encountered". I won't say how because I'm not sure if either of you have gotten to that poin..."I haven't started it yet, but I will in a little bit!
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Little Town on the Prairie (other topics)
The Long Winter (other topics)
By the Shores of Silver Lake (other topics)
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It also struck me how wealthy Almanzo's parents were. Compared to Laura's experience in the big woods and on the prairie so far, just the description of the barns on Almanzo's farm seem almost palatial!
I just started this last night. Not very far yet...