Back to the Prairie: A Home Remade, A Life Rediscovered

Written by Melissa Gilbert and 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: May 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781797141145

Melissa Gilbert

Melissa Gilbert starred as Laura Ingalls Wilder on the hit NBC television show Little House on the Prairie. She has starred in numerous movies and plays and served two terms as president of the Screen Actors Guild. She is the author of Prairie Tale, Daisy and Josephine, My Prairie Cookbook, and Back to the Prairie. She resides in the Catskills and New York City with her husband, Timothy Busfield.

Reviews for Back to the Prairie

[Diane Yates · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There were too many swear words. It gave me a different side of Melissa (Half Pint-who I loved watching on LHOTP.

[mrsfrosty2 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Keep political views to yourself. I wanted a positive book.

[bankwoman11 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Could have left out the politics. Good listen over all

[lkkoeppen · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It was so great at the beginning. Too much politics were added. Ruined the end.

[Kimberly Nielsen · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Overdramatic bad language
Know it all i skipped a lot

[Theresa Radich · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The book was good but Melissa’s political views should have been left out.
I have been a fan since the first Little House pilot was released.
I am happy that she has finally found love.
I forced myself to listen until her statement about vaccines (that were released far before Biden even stepped into office).
Too political for me!

[Däsha Miller Millson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fun, engrossing, surprising read. I thought I knew a lot about Melissa Gilbert but I learned quite a bit in this book.

[Kristin Eller · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Melissa Gilbert, to be honest, is not someone who I have any particular feelings about in one way or another. Little House on the Prairie is one of my favorite shows, her portrayal of Laura Ingalls Wilder is the only role that comes to mind regarding her. Her personal life is not well-known to me either, until now. This look into her relationships with Bruce Boxleitner and Timothy Busfield, especially Timothy Busfield, I found to be relatable, in the sense that I can relate to the feeling of finding the right one. The universe just seems to be misaligned until you meet the person that brings things into focus. The way she describes the end of her relationship with Bruce Boxleitner, I found similar to my descentigrading relationships with previous partners. The absence of a connection between the other person and myself, and the absolute acceptance of the stone-cold truth. It's wonderful to rediscover one's self and find a genuine bond with another person. This book is not one of my favorites, but it is interesting.

[Pat Mowery · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was in love with this book from the moment I started listening to the charming & funny forward by Tim Busfield. The entire book was as lovely and pleasurable as I had hoped and then expected it to be ❤️.

[OliviaGiles · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book, it was awesome, and I love her honesty and her beauty inside and out. she is amazing.

[Amy Homan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely wonderful! what an amazing journey...such joy was found with simplicity!

[Anna Martinsson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh what a treat this was. Loved every minute of it!