Earlier this week I finished reading Alison Arngrim's book "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch". I had no idea what horrible childhood Alison had. I also learned other things about the cast and crew of Little House that I had never suspected. It's a miracle Alison is even a functioning human being after all she went through. Yet not only is she functioning she is making a positive difference in the lives of thousands of other people through her involvement with many AIDS charities and her work against child abuse. God bless her!

It really is an amazing book (and the tension between her and Melissa Sue Anderson makes the Laura/Nellie feud look like a Sunday School picnic!) and I have had the pleasure to meet Alison in person in 2005 in Tombstone, AZ, for the Western Film Festival/LHOP Cast Reunion. She is indeed a survivor, and has such deep compassion for other hurting souls.

Here is a sampling of photos I found of our Nellie - with Percival (on-screen husband and off-screen best friend who tragically lost the fight with AIDS in 1986), with "sister Nancy", Allison Balson (trying on the wigs at Tombstone), and the LHOP ladies at Mt. Rushmore in 2008 (or 2009, I can't remember which). They are (Front L-R): Hersha Parady (Alice Garvey) and Alison. Back (L-R): Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush (Carrie Ingalls), Brenda and Wendi Turnbaugh (Grace Ingalls), Karen Grassle (Caroline Ingalls), and Charlotte Stewart (Miss Eva Beadle).

Those are great pictures Monika thanks for posting them. One thing i noticed about Alison while reading her book is her sense of humor. It amazed that someone who survived the abuse that she did could have such a great sense of humor. Then I realized that a sense of humor must have been a defense mechanism and way of survival for her when she was young.

Yes, she was fortunate to play such a volatile character because she really could let out steam in a safe environment. Alison could channel her anger and fears through Nellie. That's probably one reason why she never turned to alcohol or drugs like others in her position might have.

Yes, she was fortunate to play such a volatile character because she really could let out steam in a safe environment. Alison could channel her anger and fears through Nellie. That's probably one reason why she never turned to alcohol or drugs like others in her position might have.
True! She got to take out her aggression on Melissa Gilbert in all those scenes where Nellie and Laura were fighting! And in all those scenes where Nellie and her mother were arguing! It was really the perfect role at the perfect time for her!

It's just so great that she had a terrific outlet like Nellie - that she got to channel her own personal demons in such a creative way. Plus, she became one of TV's best-loved villainesses and gained tons of fans in the process!! :cool: :D

It's just so great that she had a terrific outlet like Nellie - that she got to channel her own personal demons in such a creative way. Plus, she became one of TV's best-loved villainesses and gained tons of fans in the process!! :cool: :D
Even if some of those fans couldn't tell the differnce between Nellie and Alison! I love the story she tells in the book about her and Katherine MacGregor going to a fundraiser at a school dressed in character as Harriett and Nellie and getting attacked because they were villians! It goes to show what a great job they both did playing villians on the show!!

Years ago, I read a comment online which said that the Olesons were the Bundys of Walnut Grove. That's hitting the nail right on the head!! :eek: :lol:

Years ago, I read a comment online which said that the Olesons were the Bundys of Walnut Grove. That's hitting the nail right on the head!! :eek: :lol:
That's an interesting comparison! And quite accurate!

Yup, Al and Nels were always outnumbered!!! (Hey, maybe the Bundys were descended from the Olesons? :eek: :crazy: :lol:)

I checked this book out at the library a few months ago and read it in about a day. It is very informative and entertaining.

^ I did, too. I couldn't put it down!!

That's a great book! I read the ones by Melissa Sue Anderson and Melissa Gilbert and didnt' find them nearly as entertaining as Allison's. She sounds like an awesome person and I was LOL-ing all the way through that book!

That's a great book! I read the ones by Melissa Sue Anderson and Melissa Gilbert and didnt' find them nearly as entertaining as Allison's. She sounds like an awesome person and I was LOL-ing all the way through that book!
Thanks Andrea! I was wondering how Alison's book compared to Melissa's and Melissa Sue's since I haven't read either of those. I appreciate your comments.

I read all three ladies' books as soon as they came into my local library. My favorite of the three? Alison's is the only one I went out and bought (though I waited until it went to paperback). Enough said? :D

I read all three ladies' books as soon as they came into my local library. My favorite of the three? Alison's is the only one I went out and bought (though I waited until it went to paperback). Enough said? :D
Enough said indeed!

She TOTALLY should record an audiobook version of this memoir, and while she's at it, make a Nellie GPS. "You're lost, stupid!!" Charles aka Zoneboy, you made a great pic of a Bob Dylan GPS - can you work your magic for a Nellie GPS? Please? :grineyes:

A Nellie GPS would be awesome!

I'd be the first in line to get one!!! :D

That's a great book! I read the ones by Melissa Sue Anderson and Melissa Gilbert and didnt' find them nearly as entertaining as Allison's. She sounds like an awesome person and I was LOL-ing all the way through that book!

I thumbed through Melissa Sue's book at a local B&N awhile back, and I didn't enjoy what I saw enough to buy it, plus I'd read bad reviews of it. I thought I'd like Melissa's book, and I was going to buy a paperback copy at a local used bookstore, but I found what I saw of it there pretty depressing, or at least not much fun, so I never did. I bought Alison's book from the same used bookstore chain in hardback and read it cover-to-cover. It was a lot of fun, in spite of her personal tragedies, and very informative about LHoP, behind the scenes and from her own research.

sounds like an amazing book.