[.ca] Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa ... (ISBN 0553804952)

The World We Left Behind:
My father grew up on a farm in Illinois during the years this book describes. He would have been one of the Big Kids in the book. Dad had five younger siblings, and this book helped me to see their lives through Professor Kalish's eyes. Dad wasn't as good an observer as Professor Kalish is, and these details weren't always part of his stories. But I recognize bits and pieces of everything in the book, in part from having visited my aunt and uncle's Illinois farm in the early 1950s when I was young. They didn't have indoor plumbing or central heating either. Even if I didn't have that connection to the subject, this book would have attracted my attention as a wonderful way to create a bridge between my parent's generation and what my children experience. I intend to give a copy to each child for a Thanksgiving present. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of how everything was done before our labor-saving appliances and plumbing arrived. I was intrigued by the home remedies, and I was fascinated by the recipes. I can remember watching one of my aunts follow some of these recipes. The thrift described in the book I can remember from my parents who would reuse everything, any number of times in different ways. My children can't understand why I do the same thing. I think this book will be a great awakening to those who don't realize that you can have a great time without spending any money and while working quite hard. Appreciate your family and count your blessings!