Prairie Tale: A MemoirA fascinating, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting tale of self-discovery from the beloved actress who earned a permanent place in the hears of millions for her role in Little House on the Prarie when she was just a child. To fans of the hugely successful television series Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Gilbert grew up in a fantasy world with a larger-than-life father, friends and family she could count on, and plenty of animals to play with. Children across the country dreamed of the Ingalls’ idyllic life—and so did Melissa. With candor and humor, the cherished actress traces her complicated journey from buck-toothed Laura "Halfpint" Ingalls to Hollywood starlet, wife, and mother. She partied with the Brat Pack, dated heartthrobs like Rob Lowe and bad boys like Billy Idol, and began a self-destructive pattern of addiction and codependence. She eventually realized that her career on television had earned her popularity, admiration, and love from everyone but herself. Through hard work, tenacity, sobriety, and the blessings of a solid marriage, Melissa has accepted her many different identities and learned to laugh, cry, and forgive in new ways. Women everywhere may have idolized her charming life on Little House on the Prairie, but Melissa’s own unexpectedly honest, imperfect, and down-to-earth story is an inspiration. |
Contents
| 3 | |
| 13 | |
Showtime | 23 |
Something Better | 34 |
Love Loss and Love | 55 |
What the Hell Happened? 8 Oh Shit They Got a Real Man 9 Not So Sweet Sixteen | 101 |
Meet Cute | 112 |
Choices of the Heart | 136 |
THIS PERSON DOESNT YELL Do Me DADDY | 223 |
No No NO WERE NOT GOING TO DO That | 235 |
GETTYSBURG WAS MY WATERLOO | 247 |
THE TV VERSION | 261 |
Dates WE WILL NEVER FORGET | 273 |
DAYS OF MIRACLES AND WONDER | 283 |
INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR | 299 |
ALL KINDS OF CRAZY | 312 |
Hollywood Is the Devils Toilet | 147 |
Andy Wants to Know If Any Famous People Are Here | 164 |
Wait a Minute Whos the Princess in This Love Story? 17 What Fresh Hell Is This? | 173 |
ABRANDN BRANDNEW Start of It 18 THE HEArt of the Matter | 199 |
NEW YORK STORIES | 209 |
Madam HALF PINT | 322 |
A PAIN IN THE NECK | 335 |
THE SWEET SIMPLE THINGS | 348 |
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS | 361 |
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Common terms and phrases
actor AFTRA asked baby began Bruce called cast child couple crazy Cyril Dakota Danny dinner dressed drinking episode everything eyes face father feel felt film friends gave girl going Half Pint happened head heard heart Hidden Hills Hollywood Jeff Corey Kent McCord Kevin kids kiss knew later laughed Laura Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House living looked makeup married Melissa Melissa Gilbert Melissa Sue Anderson Michael Landon Mike mother moved movie needed never night nose Okay Patty Duke play president pretty pulled Rob Lowe Rob's scared scene Scott Baio screamed Screen Actors Guild shooting shot someone star stayed story sure talk tell thing thought told took trying turned Uncle Ray Valerie Harper waiting walked wanted Warren Beatty watch woman Yeah