You've watched Little House on the Prairie. Come on admit it. It ran for 9 seasons, from 1974 to 1983, and has been in syndication forever after it seems. Just try clicking through the channels this instant and I'll bet you find it.
LHOP was entertaining, uplifting, and probably something I would want to watch if I was seriously depressed (like after the 2010 elections). Who wouldn't want to live in Walnut Grove, where the skies are always blue, adults act like responsible adults (unlike real life), and the kids are wise beyond their years? Everyone except Nellie, that is.
Nellie Oleson was a spoiled brat, and if you were a kid who had to deal with Nellies in school, half the fun of the program was seeing her slapped down at the end. Everyone hated her.
No doubt you've occasionally wondered whatever happened to the little actress who played Nellie, right? Me either. But if you think of her at all you probably assume playing such a despicable, hated, creature at such a young age left the poor girl, Alison Arngrim to be exact, scarred for life, and if not suicidal at least living a troubled life like so many other child actors.
Well, I am pleased to put your mind at ease - she grew up pretty normal and has even written a book about the fame/shame of playing Nellie called, "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch - How I Survived Nellie Oleson and learned to Love Being Hated." I found it on Amazon and downloaded the free teaser to my Kindle.
I found that Alison's parents were interesting enough to warrant their own book...gay father, raised in an orphanage in Canada, adopted by Icelanders to work their farm, ran away at 15 to join the theater and marry Alison's mom who was raised in a wealthy Canadian home, found it stifling and left to join Alison's father in the theater, and eventually ended up doing the voices of Gumby, Casper the Friendly Ghost and a host of other kids cartoon shows in the 60s.
That's where I'm at right now - at the end of the free material and deciding whether to spring for $12.99 to read the rest of the book or not. I almost always refuse to pay more than $9.99 for an ebook because there are so many other good books for less, but a look at "Confessions ..." table of contents is making my decision harder. It's tought to pass up chapters like,
Melissa and Me...or "To Pee or Not to Pee"
Boobs, Boys, and Satan
Being Sold Into Marriage: ...
Fighting for Children...and Larry "F-ing" King
If I was a big fan of LHOP or if I wasn't living on a fixed income the choice would be easy, but alas, a $3 here and a $3 there adds up to real money (where have I heard that before?). But since I'm a liberal and "like to spend other people's money" I guess I'll see if it's available in the library. On the other hand, do I want to be seen reading this book, with it's bright pink cover and pictures of Nellie on the cover, in my favorite coffee house? I do have some pride. That's one of the great things about the Kindle - when hidden inside it's classy brown leather cover - you can put on a pair of glasses and look really smart in public while reading some of the trashiest novels imaginable.
--Trakker

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