Caroline Little House, Revisited by Sarah Miller

If like me, you grew up reading and enjoying the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Caroline is the book you have been waiting to read as an adult. Sarah Miller tells us Caroline Ingalls' story in her own words and with the full approval of the Little House Heritage Trust.

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The Little House books in spite of the fact that they seem to be autobiographical are in many ways fictional. Laura Ingalls was writing fiction for children so while she did use some of her memories, she also embellished, ignored and totally created both characters and events. Sarah Miller has had the courage to write a story about Caroline that adheres more closely to the actual historical facts.

While children may find pulling up stakes and moving away from everyone and everything that they know exciting, for a woman and mother, especially a pregnant one, it was much more challenging. Caroline shares with us her thoughts and feelings, how torn she is as a wife to support her husband even when she may not be in agreement with him.

We meet Ma in this book not so much as the sober, serious woman who is always trying to curb Laura's exuberance but more as a strong woman who has to cook meals on the fly has survived privation that is only hinted at and yet still manages to find joy in faith and life. 

Caroline is a much more sympathetic figure than Ma, and Pa, though he is certainly charming is too much of a dreamer and you could even call him irresponsible when he gets an idea in his head. 

I found this book hard to put down. I was fascinated by the woman who was Caroline Ingalls.  As much as I loved the book, I thoroughly enjoyed the P.S. at the end of the book where we learn what went into the creation of this character from the few actual historical records that exist.

This is a wonderful way to continue the Ingalls family saga with a more realistic perspective of what life really was like in a Little House on the Prairie. 

I give 4.5 stars out of 5

Two Queens in One Isle by Alison Plowden

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The story of the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I of England and Mary Queen of Scots has been told many times before. What Alison Plowden does in Two Queens in One Isle to bring this relationship to life in a way that makes both of them sympathetic. 

Mary and Elizabeth were first cousins once removed. Mary's grandmother Margaret Tudor was the sister of Elizabeth's father Henry VIII. What is quite amazing is that the two women never met in person. Mary was Elizabeth's prisoner for more than 18 years and a threat to her throne for most of that time. 

Elizabeth didn't want to meet Mary in person due to many factors but it was important for the security of the country that she not give any legitimacy to Mary's claim to the English throne. Mary was a Catholic and thus was supported by the pope and English Catholics and of course, Elizabeth's mother was Anne Boleyn who was pregnant with her when Henry finally broke with Rome and declared his first marriage invalid and married Anne. He later declared Elizabeth a bastard and his second marriage invalid. This made her right to the throne somewhat precarious since in the eyes of Catholics she was a bastard. 

In spite of all the provocation she received over the years from Mary, Elizabeth had always been reluctant to execute her cousin. Once you execute a legitimate queen, you have opened yourself up to similar treatment. 

This book is a fascinating look at the letters and relationship between these two very different cousins and what made both of them act the way that they did. 

Traitors of the Tower by Alison Weir

Traitors of the Tower is one of the books in the Quick Reads Series. It is only 75 pages long and the print is large. I read it in about an hour and found it vastly enjoyable. If you are looking for a quick synopsis of the seven most tragic deaths to take place in the Tower of London this book will satisfy your need.

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As always, Alison Weir's work is very readable. She sticks to the known facts and doesn't add a bunch of her own twists but in these seven cases, the facts are interesting enough without embellishment to provide an hour of enjoyment. 

The book begins with Lord Hastings who was beheaded in the Tower of London by Richard of Gloucester on the eve of his seizing the throne in 1483. Her explanation is one of the best I have ever read and it has shaken my faith in the innocence of King Richard III. 

Next comes Queen Anne Boleyn who was as much a victim of her own ambition and ill temper as anyone who was ever executed in the Tower. 

Margaret Pole, Duchess of Salisbury is about as saintly a victim as the tower has ever seen except perhaps for Thomas More. She was King Henry VIII cousin and it was her royal blood and unruly sons that caused her demise. She is the Maggie of the White Princess if you were a fan of that series. 

Queen Katherine Howard was probably the stupidest person ever beheaded on Tower Green but it never is a smart thing to cheat on an old and jealous husband who has already beheaded a wife for adultery. 

Lady Jane Rochford is probably the most deserving of the victims in this book, not much good can be said about her. 

The most innocent and heartbreaking traitor is Lady Jane Grey, she never wanted to be queen, never wanted to threaten her cousin Queen Mary and as the pawn of her parents and in-laws lost her head.

The last traitor truly was a traitor, Robert Devereaux did plot against Queen Elizabeth I but his big sin was seeing her as the old aged woman that she had become.

These are the seven people that we meet in this book and it is so worth a read. I bought it from Abe Books and I recommend, if you are looking for a short and sweet read, you give this one a try.