These Happy Golden Years [Paperback]

I read this series in my early teens. I enjoyed the latter books more because as Laura ages the language advances, so I found the earlier books (especially Little House) boring (but appreciated later). However, the latter books are still my favorite. I found Happy Golden Years sad because at the time I thought that was all I would ever know about Laura's life, that the rest would be a mystery, but I later found The First Four Years and then biographies as well as her own writings depicting events in her adult life (I especially like Little House in the Ozarks). But even though I now know that Laura went on to have a long and happy life (not without hardship), the Happy Golden Years is still sad. This series focused on this wonderful tight-knit family that experienced joy as well as heartache, and now the family is breaking up. It started when Mary left for college in Little Town on the Prairie. She is missed but when she returns for a visit there's the beginning of the realization for Laura that this life she's had, this family she loves, will change and she will eventually leave. It's something she is not comfortable with- it is hard for her to imagine doing anything other than remaining single and staying with her family, teaching school, but as the book progresses so does her realization of change, which becomes acceptance and hope. I love the writing style- it is simple and honest like the lives of the characters. I couldn't help but feel the joy that Laura felt to be at home with her family, the dread with which she faced her first teaching assignment. The warmth on the weekends contrasting with the chill away from home at that horrible teaching assignment. And who is it that is responsible for giving her the respite from that awful place- Almanzo, who first comes to take her home but who ends up taking her away for good. She goes from not giving Almanzo much thought to missing him terribly when he goes East to visit family, so much so that her family, who were her greatest joy and comfort, are little consolation. It seems that most coming-of-age stories these days are cynical and family is usually considered a burden to free oneself from, but this story is not like that at all. I found this book inspiring. Laura is able to have an independent mind and spirit and stay devoted to what matters in her life: family, faith, a strong work ethic, perseverence. The book Little House in the Ozarks is a compilation of articles Laura wrote for a newspaper column, and I see that the qualities of independence, perseverence, and devotion endured throughout her life, so I am reassured that Happy Golden Years was not the end, but in a way it was, and that's why this book is sad.

In this autobiographical book, Laura Ingalls describes her life from her first teaching job at the age 15, to her marriage at 18. The loneliness and isolation she faced as a young teacher are described in touching detail. Laura lived with a cold-hearted woman and spent her nights studying so she would be ready to teach her students (some older than she) the next day. The only bright spot in the week came on Fridays, when Almanzo Wilder drove her to her parents' home. She was not interested in him as a beau; it was three years before she agreed to marry him.

Written in 1943, this is a lovely, informative, and inspiring book that girls (and their mothers) will enjoy. Though there is no romance or sentimentality, we do get lots of Ma's wise sayings, Pa's fiddle playing, and Laura's spunky independence. Mostly we learn just how hard life was in the Dakota Territory in the 1880s. This is an easy-to-read book that will delight 9- and 10-year olds, especially those who enjoy "Little House on the Prairie" on TV.

If you look at Laura's life before and after this book, you will see that the title is perfect. Her life before this was always a struggle, never having enough, never being satified.
It was the same way after this book. Sure, things were good many times. There were happy moments and happy times. But never in her history before or after were things so consistently good. Pa and the family are totally successful: no locusts, no droughts, no long winters. Their wealth steadily increases. Thanks to Laura's teaching job, they can afford the blind college for Mary. Laura can buy fancy dresses and hats, She is a beautiful teenager and many boys are asking her out for a buggy ride. She will only go with Almonzo, and they have many pleasant times together. Finally at the end of the book she is married at age 18. This book teaches things like the other books in the series. This time we learn the manners of dating and how a young woman is to act both in her career and in her relationship. Laura doesn't always follow the "rules" but we learn what they are. And Mary asks an interesting question of Laura when she finds she will be married: Why do you want to go live with that Wilder boy? It's a question for us all. Why do we want to get married? There are a million answers and we all have our own. Laura gives only one answer.
It doesn't really answer Mary's question and yet I believe the engaged can relate to it.

In learning about the Amish I find their life is similar: a long boring childhood filled with lots of work, married life that is even more work and always a struggle, and in between, These Happy Golden Years where a person reaches young adulthood
and spends a good deal of time socializing and meeting friends and having many happy times.

This is the perfect place for the "Little House" series to end. But if you're like me, You'll keep reading: The First Four Years(Laura and Almonzo's new marriage), Farmer Boy(Almonzo's childhood), and Little House in the Ozarks(a collection of newspaper articles Laura wrote as an adult). Then I guess it will be time to visit the "Little House" museum in Minnesota!