Back to the Prairie

A Home Remade, a Life Rediscovered

By: Melissa Gilbert, Timothy Busfield

Narrated by: Melissa Gilbert

Includes a foreword written and read by Timothy Busfield

The New York Times bestselling author and star of Little House on the Prairie returns with a hilarious and heartfelt memoir chronicling her journey from Hollywood to a ramshackle house in the Catskills during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Known for her childhood role as Laura Ingalls Wilder on the classic NBC show Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Gilbert has spent nearly her entire life in Hollywood. From Dancing with the Stars to a turn in politics, she is always on the lookout for her next project. She just had no idea that her latest one would be completely life changing.

When her husband introduces her to the wilds of rural Michigan, Melissa begins to fall back in love with nature. And when work takes them to New York, they find a rustic cottage in the Catskill Mountains to call home. But “rustic” is a generous description for the state of the house, requiring a lot of blood, sweat, and tears for the newlyweds to make habitable.

When the pandemic descends on the world, it further nudges Melissa out of the spotlight and into the woods. She trades Botox treatments for DIY projects, power lunching for gardening and raising chickens, and soon her life is rediscovered anew in her own little house in the Catskills.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Half Pint Enterprises. All rights reserved (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved

Authors, please remember that liberals, conservatives, and independents are going to read your books.

I grew up watching Little House, and I’ve read a lot of the books from the show’s actors/actresses. I loved getting to know Melissa Gilbert through this book. I loved the details of her fixer upper, description of covid, foods, hubby, friends, neighbors. But the politics, ish!

I didn’t like the political insults of one party. Covid was terrible for everyone, and while we don’t see eye to eye on politics, it’s important not to over generalize people. As a conservative/independent myself, for example, I took great precautions during covid (N95 masking, vaccines, social distancing,shopping for the vulnerable or covid-infected people). The media and leadership were not completely honest (eg. Fauci admitting the 6 ft rule was not based on data) and they did not release complete facts on vaccines. It’s ok to question leadership, question vaccines, question rules and regulations (regardless of political affiliation). Let’s be open minded to all people.

It could be good, but she tries too hard

This had potential, but Gilbert goes out of her way to tell you how "normal" she is and that she doesn't have a lot of money. I don't care if she had/has millions, the point of her story should not be "we both were broke because of divorces, so look we're just like you!" There's more to it than that, but the incessant pandering to the reader about how much money they didn't have (while at the same time talking about going to NYC multiple times a month when they lived in Ohio), makes it feel disingenuous. Her editors should have given her better advice.

transported to a beautiful world

I don't have the Ellicott words like Melissa Gilbert does I don't usually leave reviews I just hit all stars. but I was very moved by this book. it was touching and loving and had me emotional at times. I found Melissa Gilbert's voice very soothing and relaxing my world is very chaotic so to listen to her and tell her story I felt transported with her and really enjoyed listening to her. I'm going to have to look and see if she reads any other books. Just so I can have that climbing relaxing feeling by listening to her voice I grew up with her watching her just like everybody else I can't explain how moved I am by this book

Love Melissa, very sad for her, that she is so blinded by the left.

I really do love Melissa, but her politics, vaccinated made me a bit sick. And I’m really sad she could give The One True God, the thanks that should have been given. She only listens to what the left side what them to know, there are always two side of the story, but you have to want the truth.

Her love of family and animals

My first audible book I thoroughly enjoyed here is to many more and I continue to be entertained

Treat Yourself To This One!

I wasn’t particularly a Melissa Gilbert fan. By that I mean I’ve never watched Little House On The Prairie. Nope, not ever. I know who Melissa is. She’s cute, lived in my state for a couple years, ran for office and is married to Timothy Busfield (“Ray, do not sell this farm”) who I like very much. I actually read this book just because I saw her on a talk show. I read audiobooks so I got to hear her story in her voice, which, I believe made reading it 100 times better. And seriously, this was one of the best written autobiographical stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I laughed, I cried and I couldn’t wait to hear more. It’s a story about her strength, her experiences and her love for her family, especially her husband. Hearing her read about what she’s been through and parts of her life both happy and sad was almost like a small glimpse into her soul. I found myself becoming jealous. Not of her celebrity, but of her life on her… “cabbage” (cottage/cabin).
This is an uplifting lovely story about finding what’s really important in life. Hearing stories about her husband, her children, her grandchildren, her dog and even her chickens made me so happy. This book is on my list to save and read again. Read it, you’ll be so happy you did.

Tries too hard.

Lots of "feel sorry for me", Actors/actresses should stick to entertaining instead of cramming their politics into everything. Very disappointing.

Raw and Real

Real, listening to Melissa read her own book and give her own opinions, well, quite frankly she comes across raw and real. I may not agree with all of her opinions but it was a pleasure getting her views which she also gave her readers not just an understanding of someone with other opinions, but why they had those opinions. Melissa, thank for the read

LOVED IT

loved that Melissa narrated and did an awesome job. I laughed and cried. So heart warming. If you love Milissa Gilbert you will love her story.

Not what I was expecting

Mostly about tales of her life. I was suspecting more about little House on the Prairie and details and experiences. A little disappointed.