Yesterday was an exercise in fun as participants buzzed over our latest read, Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm during the Great Depression by Mildred “Millie” Armstrong Kalish for February’s Reading Round Table.
The majority of the group enjoyed the book, but one was deterred by the language. She read the whole book and the offending words appeared in only one chapter, but it was enough to turn her off. That was until we began to talk about the book.
As one can guess by the title, Little Heathens is a memoir written around Millie’s childhood during the Great Depression. She was five-years-old when the trouble started. Her dad had done some bad things. The whispers included, “bankruptcy, bootlegging, and jail time,” and there was an abrupt divorce.
Does she lament over lost quality time with her daddy? Does Millie write about her troubled youth without male guidance? No! This is pre-Oprah and her story is far from depressing. If his name is mentioned, she says he is dead and moves on; matter of fact, the whole family “moves on” and into the grandparents Urmy’s house.
The Urmys are a somber retired couple. They live in the town of Garrison, but through frugal living have bought and paid for four different farms complete with houses and barns that the offspring live and work on. Unfortunately, during the harshest winter months, Millie along with mother, John, Jack, and Avis, live in Garrison to attend school.
The terms of the Urmy household includes rising from sleep at a designated time every day, coming down to breakfast fully clothed and ready for work, eating what Grandpa decides will be the meal, only eating at meal times where the table will be set before anyone can take a seat, and retiring to bed at the same time.
June through Christmas, the family lives on the farm and life is a little more relaxed. That is, if you can call milking the cows, cleaning the separator, cooking three meals, working in the garden, and doing homework daily a relaxing pastime.
This book was a pure joy to read; although, every chapter was filled with four-letter words that offend me such as dust, chop, cook, wash, and iron. Oh, and yes the W-word was thrown a lot. You know W O R K!
Check out Nan's Book Report for Little Heathens at Letters from a Hill Farm!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Little Heathens (copy)
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11 comments:
I'm offended by the same words that offended YOU! Sounds like a good book. I"ll watch for it!
those are some pretty obscene words alright... ;)
sounds like a great book, i will have to look for it!
Mary, I think you will really like it. It has fun recipes and "how tos" for all kinds of easy living. :)
It's fun, Erica. Be prepared to read nostalgia, but she is on the funny side. ;)
I believe I heard about this book a year or two ago? Books about the Depression will be instructive and helpful now as we face our own scary times. I can't bear to look at my IRAs any longer but I'm thankful I have a job and I hope I keep it. I really miss my dad now. He was born in 1910 and remembered the Depression with great clarity. He always had good advice, much of which I ignored.
That's so right California Girl! My grandfather was a teenager during the time and he made it a point to teach me all he could about money. He feared it would happen again in my life time.
Oh, and people will have to work another ten years to get half of what they have lost on securities! Yuck!!!
This sounds great! And those four-letter words made me giggle. :)
Glad to lighten your day, Tiffany! :D
Yep, those 4 letter words are rough. I'm going to have to go get a glass of wine and read awhile to try and for get what I read here!
:)
Sharon
Sounds like a great book anyway! Thanks.
Yur funny, Sharon! Make it a good book! :)
Great review, Maggie! I loved this book. There's a little book report here:
http://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2008/12/book-reportlittle-heathens.html
Thanks, Nan! I'll add it to mine! :D
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