Have you ever heard of Laura Ingalls Wilder?
Or perhaps, Little House on the Prairie TV series?
I bet many of us have, at some point of time, heard or read or watched this series.
Truly my favorite!
During this pandemic, I keep coming back to my favorite books to comfort me during this trying time.
And Laura Ingalls Wilder books bring a lot of joy to me and my family! I have the complete series and I always bring them wherever we go, different countries and cities.
I like these books because it inspires me to be an adventurous person.
It ignites my dreams to be the world explorer, a globetrotter.
It makes me believe that no matter how hard life is, there will always be ways to move forward and succeed.
It also teaches me to be brave, strong, bold, and honest to myself.
Not to mention the love and the bond of the wonderful family that we have to keep inside our heart.
You can find some delicious traditional recipes as well here!
And the delight of witnessing the breakthrough that changed lives, like the use of train and more agricultural technology at that time, can be enjoyed as well.
See, so many beautiful thing you can definitely learn and cherish thanks to Laura.
Bicara tentang buku, saya punya list panjang buku-buku yang begitu saya sukai.
Begitu saya sukai hingga rasanya saya terus menerus membacanya sejak saya masih sekolah hingga kini punya dua orang anak :).
Karena buku-buku ini menginspirasi saya.
Membantu saya mengawali mimpi indah menjadi seorang penjelajah dunia.
Meneguhkan jiwa untuk terus berjuang dan semangat meraih mimpi.
Membumikan hati untuk selalu berusaha dan percaya pada skenario indah-Nya.
Terus terang, saya begitu suka dengan buku-buku ini sampai kemana pun saya pergi, pindah dari satu negara ke negara lain untuk menjalankan tugas, mereka pun selalu saya bawa. Ada beberapa buku koleksi yang benar - benar selalu ikut ke mana pun saya pergi. no matter how tattered the books are karena sudah berjuta -juta kali dibaca (maafkan lebay). Salah satunya adalah seri Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Ada yang ingat dengan buku ini?
Atau mungkin serial TV yang terinspirasi dari seri buku cerita kehidupan si kecil Laura hingga ia besar dan menikah dengan Almanzo Wilder, yang berjudul Little House in the Prairie?
Saya bahkan masih ingat klip pembukanya yang menampilkan padang rumput asri menghijau dan bunga -bunga. Wajah dan suara Michael Langdon yang menjadi Pa Charles Ingalls dan Melissa Gilbert yang menjadi Laura Ingalls masih terbayang nyata. Bahkan ikal rambut dan kenakalan Nelly Oleson, yang menjadi 'musuh' Laura di masa kecil sering membuat saya geram. Ini benar - benar serial TV favorit masa kecil yang legendaris! Nontonnya pun masih di saluran TVRI atau Televisi Republik Indonesia, satu - satunya kanal TV saatku kecil!
Buat generasi millennials, mungkin jarang sekali yang tahu tentang buku ini. Karena memang buku pertamanya diterbitkan tahun 1960an (atau bahkan lebih lama lagi?) kalau tidak salah, dengan text copyright untuk buku pertama yang berjudul Little House in the Big Woods dikeluarkan tahun 1932. Yes, you read it right, 1932. Sudah lama sekali ya.
Tapi jangan salah. Pengalaman keluarga Wilders, yang terdiri dari Pa Charles, Ma Caroline, Marry, Laura, dan Carry, yang kemudian bertambah dengan Grace Ingalls si bungsu, masih sangat menarik dan relevan untuk dibaca. Keluarga Ingalls adalah pionier di Amerika Serikat yang hidup di akhir tahun 1800an dan Cerita kehidupan para pionir di Amerika Serikat, yang mengerjakan semua secara mandiri most of the time, dan harus kreatif mengatasi berbagai tantangan dalam hidup. Mereka mengalami banyak cobaan, mulai dari panen yang gagal, penyakit keras yang membuat saudara Laura, Mary, buta, kerugian bertani dan beternak, hidup di tengah hutan belantara, serta hidup berpindah - pindah dari hutan, tepi sungai, pinggir danau, sampai kota yang dirintis bersama - sama. Tanpa listrik, tanpa gawai, tanpa segala kenikmatan dan kenyamanan hidup yang kita nikmati sekarang. but they do have a great and colorful life indeed! Laura juga mengajarkan saya untuk menghargai segala kemudahan dan berkah-Nya. Sekecil apapun itu. And this sense of gratitude really helps me get through even my darkest days.
Little House series have 7 books, entitled:
- Little House in the Big Woods
- Farmer Boy
- Little House on the Prairie
- On the Banks of Plum Creek
- By the Shores of Silver Lake
- The Long Winter
- Little Town on the Prairie
- These Happy Golden Years
Besides these 7 main books, I also have the other 2, On the Way Home and the First Four years, where Laura told us the tough and challenging life she and Almanzo had with so many unfortunate events, but still they both embraced it.
If you ask me which one is my favorite, I cannot answer that! I simply read all of them again and again and there are so many memorable 'scenes' or events from each book, like when Laura and her family joined the dance at her Grandpa's house after the snow sugar, or when Laura got Charlotte, her paper doll, or when Laura certified as one of the youngest teacher and married Almanzo. Or the excitement when Laura, Mary and Carrie, together with Ma, took the train ride for the first time, or when Ma slapped big brown bear unintentionally and also slapped the Indians who were trespassing. I can feel the joy and happiness whenever Pa Charles is playing his fiddle to the upbeat songs. I can see the beauty of the wilderness from Laura's eyes and the joy playing under the sun, embracing the nature. I learn that life is not always nice and sweet, but you will always get your family by your side. I sincerely hope such values will prevail.
Oya, saya sempat menulis 5 Awesome Books for your Teens and obviously the Laura Ingalls series is part of it! Here's some excerpt from my previous post:
"How I grew up with Laura, Mary, Carry, Grace, Pa, Ma and Jack!
To those born around the same years as I do, Little House on the Prairie or Laura Ingalls Wilder series must ring a bell. Beautifully telling us the stories and adventures of the pioneering family in the early years of the US independence, Laura and her family shared some wonderful family values that they held dear despite the tough and harsh journey they have to go through as they moved around from the Big Woods to DeSmet, where they finally resided.
I wept with them when the whole family was sick and Mary ended up blind or when Charlotte, Laura’s doll was found wasted on the mud by some spoiled girl.
I shared the joy when Laura became a teacher at the very young age and when they discovered a lovely swimming spot by the Plum Creek.
And I was curious when they started making snow sugar or smoked beef from Pa’s game.
I also enjoyed reading the Farmer Boy, Laura’s dearest husband's childhood story.
My kids showed similar fascination as I introduced that adventurous life of Laura and her family. I hope they managed to read the complete stories."
So I do hope you enjoy this lovely series of books and learn so many valuable lessons in life from it. While we have some times at home during this pandemic, book will definitely help you enjoy the confinement.
One more thing. If I got a chance to visit the US again, I would love to go to Missouri or Wisconsin to see Laura's home and museums :). Wish us luck yaaaa.
Stay safe, happy and healthy everyone.
