Prairie Tale: A Memoir
by Melissa Gilbert
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Book Summary Information
Author: Melissa GilbertEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Published)
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2009-06-09
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 384
Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
Book Reviews of Prairie Tale: A Memoir
Book Review: As Good as It Gets
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a few years younger than Melissa Gilbert, and I grew up watching her on Little House and seeing her in other projects. I also remember the reports of her dating Rob Lowe and other actors. I have always respected her as an actress and do so even more after reading her memoir. Melissa did an excellent job with this book. She reveals her heart and soul along with the facts that have established her as an actress, wife, mother, and leader in the Hollywood industry. The parts about Little House in the memoir were enough to reveal its impact on Melissa's life; however, the book is not just about her experience with the show. So much more could be told about those Little House years, and maybe Melissa will write another book.
Melissa's writing style reflects an educated, professional woman who is no-nonsense. There is humor and heartbreak in the book, but the book is not filled with trite overdrawn-out stories written with the purpose of emotional heartstring-pulling. She presented the facts and the details the way she lived them and her perspective on them. Yes, there is drama in this book--there were times when I had tears in my eyes for her, and I literally lost track of the hours as I read. There is also a lot of humor, and I enjoyed getting to know Melissa through her writing. So will you if you read this book. She is so down to earth that you will feel like she's a friend. You'll cheer her on and cry with her. She also is an inspiration for working through challenges and coping with life's blows. You can't compare this book to the memoirs of the other actresses on Little House because Melissa's writing style is so different. There is also a level of depth to this book that is compelling reading. Melissa has a strength in her that is rare, and thankfully she shows it through her writing.
{Small Spoiler alert}
The only issue I found concerning in the book involved the horse she rode for her movie, SYLVESTER. As described on page 160, at one point, the horse bolts beyond Melissa's control. Thankfully, Melissa is able stop the horse and return to her trailer where she (understandably) falls apart from the fear she just experienced. The horse wrangler comes to her door, with the horse who is also shaken. The wrangler then tells Melissa, "I punched the horse in the face a couple times" and that the horse was "sorry." I hope these were not literal punches? Who in the world punches a horse in the face?
Overall, I strongly recommend the book for a look at Melissa's life and for a unique glimpse into the celebrity world of Hollywood that Melissa navigates for us. I look forward to reading additional books from Melissa in the future.
Summary of Prairie Tale: A Memoir
A fascinatiating, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting tale of self-discovery from the beloved actress who earned a permanent place in the hearts of millions when she was just a child.To fans of the hugely successful television series Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Gilbert grew up in a fantasy world with a larger-than-life father, friends and family she could count on, and plenty of animals to play with. Children across the country dreamed of the Ingalls' idyllic life -- and so did Melissa.
She was a natural on camera, but behind the scenes, life was more complicated. Adopted as a baby into a legendary show business family, Melissa wrestled with questions about her identity and struggled to maintain an image of perfection her mother created and enforced. Only after years of substance abuse, dysfunctional relationships, and made-for-television movies did she begin to figure out who she really was.
With candor and humor, the cherished actress traces her complicated journey from buck-toothed Laura "Half-pint" Ingalls to Hollywood starlet, wife, and mother. She partied with the Brat Pack, dated heartthrobs like Rob Lowe and bad boys like Billy Idol, and began a self-destructive pattern of addiction and codependence. Left in debt after her first marriage, and struggling to create some sense of stability, she eventually realized that her career on television had earned her popularity, admiration, and love from everyone but herself.
Through hard work, tenacity, sobriety, and the blessings of a solid marriage, Melissa has accepted her many different identities and learned to laugh, cry, and forgive in new ways. Women everywhere may have idolized her charming life on Little House on the Prairie, but Melissa's own unexpectedly honest, imperfect, and down-to-earth story is an inspiration.
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