Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression Audiobook

" I expected this book to be filled with more struggle than it was. I really enjoyed hearing about farm life. It is a dream of mine to live on a farm like in the 40's and I felt like I was living my dream vicariously through Millie. Not incredibly interesting if you are not interested in farm life. However I loved it! "

" Charming, interesting, and light. This cozy little memoir does something rare: recounts in detail a childhood spent on the prairie during the 1930s, without feeling sorry for itself. "

" My Mom's mentioned in this book, which was written by her cousin! "

" I really liked this book, perhaps because I'm a converted Iowan. "

" Intersting and nostalgic read about simpler, albeit more difficult times - raising a family during the Depression. "

" Reading this book was like being trapped on a long bus ride with a chatty boring old lady. "

" Started out liking it . . . then it turned into one of those "Ok, ENOUGH ALREADY" books for me. By then I was at the point where I had to finish it. By the end I felt chastised for not living a more frugal life & eating more butter. "

" An unique memoir of growing up between two very different households during the Great Depression. "

" Pretty amazing little book...I always wanted to know how to make head cheese. "

" Charming memoir of day-to-day life of a child during the Great Depression. Interesting to compare and contrast the parallels to growing up in the Fifties. "

" This was an EXCELLENT episodic memoir. I loved it. "

" Lightweight. I'm not sure why the NYT was so enthralled by it. It would never have made it through an MFA workshop. "

" I enjoyed reading this, but I was nagged by the family stories that seem to be left out of it. Her father's driven away from the family by her grandparents -- and she doesn't comment on it at all. Still, lots of great stories about farm life, and recipes I want to try... "

" I loved every chapter of this book because they brought back so many good memories of my youth in rural Missouri in the 1950s. The author's generous spirit and quiet nature shines through the pages. "

" I loved it. It was inspiring to read about the author's happy, happy childhood and the lasting confidence and great values she developed, despite hard work and the privations of the Depression. She is a real character, and I'm glad to have gotten to know her! "

" This was a book club selection. As many have said, the book is your grandmother telling you about growing up in the depression. Lots of interesting stuff, but it tends to ramble on and repeat itself a bit. Like listening to your grandmother, the stories are totally worth it, but you have to settle in and be patient. "

" The book was about the hard times, but that wasn't the focus of the book. It was about working hard enjoying the simple things and how to rise up during such times. I commend the author on illustrating these times in the light not just the dark. Well worth the read!! "

" A couple of friends recommended this book. I should have read it and not listened to it. The reader was terribly slow and frustrating, as well as pronouncing many common farming words wrong. Plus, I could have skipped over the many recipies. "

" The title tells all. A good reminder to be thankful that I don't have to wipe out the inside of the eggshell to get every drop of egg. I'm always fascinated by homespun housekeeping techniques. "

" How a family survived and in many ways thrived on an Iowa farm before electricity during the Depression. . . funny anecdotes, hearty recipes and heartfelt remembrances. "

" That I could not live on a farm without electricity! "

" Entertaining, unsentimental memoir about growing up in the Midwest during the Great Depression. Got off to a slow start for me but picked up once I started listening to the audiobook in the car. A great remedy if you're finding yourself wallowing in Consumer/Digital Age concerns. :-) "

" A very nice memoir about growing up on a farm during the Great Depression. With plenty of hearty ideas on how to care for everything from the outhouse to tending chickens. Plenty of good old know-how and recipes. I found this a great tale of a time that doesn't exist anymore. I am glad I read it. "

" Sweet and light. My Midwestern roots really made me appreciate these stories from an Iowa farm. "

" What a great book. I loved the look back on her childhood as the author talks about growing up in the Depression era. She doens't sugar coat life and gleans many valuable messages from her experiences. It has wonderful recipes in it as well. "

" The author's memories of life on the farm during the depression remind me of my mother's stories; memories laced with laughter and thankfulness, even during very difficult years. "

" This book was an easy read, and it could be a good resource for vintage recipes and medicinal rememdies. There are chapters and chapters of ideas for food preservation. "

" I would not like to go back to the 'Thirties' but there were good times and good 'things' that we could use today. "

" What a wonderful memoir -- full of telling details about life on an Iowa farm in the 1930s! The sub-title says it all. "

" One of my favorite books! I love the pioneer spirit. "

" Engaging memoir but I kept thinking growing up during the Depression couldn't have been as fun as she makes it sound. "

" For every reader hungry to remember the good old days. Simplicity. Family. Courage. Strength. Humorous. "

" What a WONDERFUL commentary on life in the 1930's from the perspective of a child. A whole book on the daily events of life sounds boring, but it was so clever and well written, it was a joy to read. "

" I couldn't even finish this book. It was just a bunch of memories grouped into book form. Maybe someone from Iowa might enjoy it. "

" So funny, I learned about some of our family sayings and there origins "

" I have heard my parents talk about the depression and life on the farm during those years; thus, I couldn't really get into this book. I found it a chore to finish it! "

" Good documentation of life on the farm in the old days, but it's a rather dull read. "

" Beautifully written, detailed memories of the author's childhood. Mildred Kalish, grew up during the 1930's on her grandparents farm in Iowa. Every chapter is a treat! Great book for our Book Club discussion. Makes one want to simplify, simplify, simplify! "

" I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. It was amusing, well-written, etc. By the end, I was ready to be done. Certainly could've done with fewer recipes, too. "

" Not a very exciting book but it does show the hard life of a farmer especially during the depression years. Light, easy reading. "

" Delightful memoir of the author growing up on a midwestern farm in the 1930s. Reminded me of my mom's childhood stories in many ways. We have many advantages in today's world, but we have also lost so much. "

" Very interesting account of a former Garrison, Iowa woman about growing up during the Depression on an Iowa farm. I love this type of book! "

" I loved this book. You are basically listening to someone's grandma tell stories from her childhood. I laughed (a lot), I cried (just once), and I thought about how much has changed. "

" really great insight into the depression era. It made me feel blessed and lucky because the women in this time worked so hard. One chapter talks about idioms and wording of the day and I really enjoyed that, even with the parts that talked about swearing. "

" A very interesting book about how things were done in the good old days. "

" Wonder and gratitude for lessons learned, especially the value of work. "

" ... made me realize that Iowa winters could be worse. I could not have heat and have to use an outhouse! "

" This is the perfect book to read aloud to kids! "

" To be fair, it would really be a 3.5 book. I enjoyed the stories, but had a hard time finishing the book. Perhaps because it was just full of reminiscing, with no strong narrative. "

" Glad the NY Times convinced me to read this memoir, a genre I usually eschew. Anyone who spent any part of childhood living in the country or on a farm would enjoy this. "

" Glad the NY Times convinced me to read this memoir, a genre I usually eschew. Anyone who spent any part of childhood living in the country or on a farm would enjoy this. "

" Reading this book was like being trapped on a long bus ride with a chatty boring old lady. "

" Reading this book was like being trapped on a long bus ride with a chatty boring old lady. "

" Thought of my grandma the entire way through this book. I even sent it to her when I was finished.... "

" Thought of my grandma the entire way through this book. I even sent it to her when I was finished.... "

" It had personal connections for me since my mom was raised on an Iowa farm during the depression. However, while the story was personal to me, the writing wasn't great, in my opinion. I now know more about outhouses than I ever cared to. "

" It had personal connections for me since my mom was raised on an Iowa farm during the depression. However, while the story was personal to me, the writing wasn't great, in my opinion. I now know more about outhouses than I ever cared to. "

" I really enjoyed this novel. It just reminds us what luxuries that we have today and how easy everything is. Makes you wonder if you could do. "

" I really enjoyed this novel. It just reminds us what luxuries that we have today and how easy everything is. Makes you wonder if you could do. "

" I quite enjoyed this book. It was not so much a story as it was a collection of memories, but it was a good reality check to my lazy life. "

" I quite enjoyed this book. It was not so much a story as it was a collection of memories, but it was a good reality check to my lazy life. "

" I'm really enjoying this book. Having loved the Laura Ingalls Wilder series, this book feeds my love for true tales of hard-working people. Looking forward to trying her remedy for warts (let me know if you have any - warts that is).<br/> "

" I'm really enjoying this book. Having loved the Laura Ingalls Wilder series, this book feeds my love for true tales of hard-working people. Looking forward to trying her remedy for warts (let me know if you have any - warts that is).<br/> "

" Not what I expected at all. I found it more of an instructional book than a life's story. "

" Not what I expected at all. I found it more of an instructional book than a life's story. "

" Life on a farm in the 1930s -- straight forward and beautifully written. "

" Life on a farm in the 1930s -- straight forward and beautifully written. "

" This isn't the kind of book you'll want to sit down and read all the way through. It is more of a &quot;list book&quot;. <br/>The author has done a lovely job of describing what made life hard, good, interesting and worth while growing-up on a farm in the 1930's. "

" This isn't the kind of book you'll want to sit down and read all the way through. It is more of a &quot;list book&quot;. <br/>The author has done a lovely job of describing what made life hard, good, interesting and worth while growing-up on a farm in the 1930's. "

" This book was an easy read, and it could be a good resource for vintage recipes and medicinal rememdies. There are chapters and chapters of ideas for food preservation. "

" This book was an easy read, and it could be a good resource for vintage recipes and medicinal rememdies. There are chapters and chapters of ideas for food preservation. "

" I can't believe how hard people living on a farm had to work in the early 1900's. A real eye-opener, but a bit too detailed in some parts. "

" I can't believe how hard people living on a farm had to work in the early 1900's. A real eye-opener, but a bit too detailed in some parts. "