Little House in the Big Woods

As part of trying to read more this year, I've found myself reading in different parts of the house. I read everyday to the boys at the end of school, usually while they draw or do an art project. We just started Mystery of the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks. Then I also like to read while peddling on our recumbent bike. I can't do that on the TreadClimber, so I listen to music then, but I can read while I peddle. I just finished Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I hadn't read that one in years. The last time I probably read it was to the girls when they were in school. 

The whole Little House series has always been a favorite of mine. I loved both the books and the television show. I've always related to Laura Ingalls. We were alike in so many ways, both physically and emotionally. I could relate to Laura always thinking her sister was prettier and better than she was. I could relate to wanting to run around barefoot all the time. I grew up thinking it would have been fun to live in early pioneer times. Everything was so much more simple back then. Laura's house was small and cozy, but would have been better than what I grew up in. In the books illustrated by Garth Williams, I always felt I looked like Laura ...

Of course, this isn't the first time I've blogged about how I've thought I resembled Laura. Click here to read my post titled: They say everyone has a twin. which I posted two years ago. As much as I always felt I resembled Laura Ingalls in the original books, even more so in the television series. It's kind of creepy how much, too. The only thing I really couldn't relate to was growing up in the deep woods of Wisconsin. That type of environment was foreign to me. Those were images I only saw on Christmas cards or television. I can certainly relate to the imagery now that I live in Montana. The descriptions of the forest, the animals, even the weather makes total sense to me now.  

But anyway, I haven't decided if I'm going to start reading Little House on the Prairie next, or wait awhile before getting into that one. The Secret Garden has been calling me from the shelves, and since I haven't read that one since I was a kid, I might start it up. I also went to look for our Ramona the Pest book, but I can't find it. Maybe Nicole has it with her. Ramona was another one I totally related to as a child, with her free-spirit, almost wild, mannerisms. I might have to find another copy of that one sometime. We looked a lot alike too ...

How about you? Was there a book character you could really relate to as a child, whether it be how they acted, thought, or even resembled?