Customer Reviews

Old Home Town (Bison Book)

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Lane's collection of short stories centers on a unnamed small town in the American Midwest. Beginning with an introduction that lays out for us geography and social codes, Lane invites us to walk the streets and enter the houses with her, helping us to see how the small town at the end of the 19th century became the foundation for mid-20th-century American life.

Lane brings to life a rich cast of characters, many of them recurring throughtout the book. Each story is filled with telling details, strong character development and plot. Many of the stories detail the traps into which women fall -- marriages of convenience, the struggle against poverty, the subversion of natural desires to social convention.

Without denying the narrowness of small-town life, these stories brim with affection for the small town and its people, with all their genuine concern for one another. Hardship and hilarity, gossip and grace, these small-town characters see and experience it all.

Staying close to her small town while traveling far beyond it, Lane succeeds in setting down the details of a time and place long gone, yet populated with easily-recognized characters. A fine read, filled with the pleasure of nostalgia, yet not in the least soothing. Her view is too sharp for sedation.

This book is a beautifully-written account of small-town life just after the turn of the century. Fascinating stories, many with softly breathtaking twists. Characters are well-developed and believably human. Also, an eye-opener addressing the many limitations placed on the female gender of that era. For any Laura Ingalls Wilder fans hungering for more to read, this is the book for you. ~S.W.

I bought my copy at the museum in Mansfield because I always wanted to read Rose's work. This book is a gem. The essay introducing the book is worth getting the book but each story is a gem on its own. Her voice is fresh and rings well today. You would not know she lived in the first half of the 20th century.

I have loaned this book out to 2 people now and all of us are knocked out at how good Rose was. Purchase it, read it. Rose was well known in the early part of last century for good reason. Let's bring this author back to the audience she richly deserves today.

This delightful collection of short stories was based on Rose Wilder Lane's life as she was growing up. She accurately
described the issues women faced at around the turn of a century, especially that of being an old maid! An old maid if
you're not married by your mid-20's? Wow!

The stories in this book was a combination of humorous and some seriousness. The characters were realistic and seem to come to life for that time period.

This book is wonderful, funny and hearwarming. My great aunt was born in the same era and used to tell me similar stories in this fashion. What a life women had in the olden days, there are not many real life accounts in print that are honest and true. This one is. What a fun book to read.

Rose is just as gripping a writer as her mother, although with a far more adult narrative style.

This is a hidden jewel in american literature: a detailed portrait of life before women's right to vote was a federal law, before Margaret Sanger, before Rosie the Riveter. The author survived small town life, and lived to tell and in her own way celebrate it. I will be giving this book to all the tweenager girls I know (and my own daughter when she is old enough!).

Anyone loving the Ozarks and America in the early 1900's will LOVE this book. I re-read it every year before starting the Roger Lea MacBride series based on Rose's childhood in Mansfield, Mo. The short stories in here are true stories (only the name's were changed.) When this was published it sent the small town of Mansfield into a rage toward Miss Lane for telling the stories they preferred were kept quiet! Must Read!

This book was so good that I haven't been able to pick up another book in over a month.