The Fields of Home

Ralph recounts the story of his time with his grandfather with homespun skill. It's engaging as a read-aloud and was enjoyed by both my younger and teen children. Ralph faces new challenges both in himself and his relationships, and we can all learn from the way he navigates these times. His story brings to light the mixture of the simple life of farming and the profound questions of life. A classic!

I loved reading this book. For those who marked the book down because of unlikable characters, I will remind you that this is a nonfiction tale, an account of Ralph Moody's life. In a novel the writer can create likable characters. They are drawn from imagination. In this book Ralph Moody described the people and events as they were, or at least how he perceived them to be. I'm sure he wished many times that his grandfather Thomas were easier to get along with and less critical of him, but that wasn't the reality.I found Thomas to be a very interesting man, abrasive, sometimes impossible to get along with, and yet tender with animals. A complicated man with countless layers. I enjoyed Levi's analysis of his father's feelings and what made him behave the way he did. How insightful Levi was to have been able to explain his cantankerous father to Ralph in a way that he could not only understand, but also enabled him to empathize with his old grandfather's mixed emotions, a war being waged within his heart. Millie was also a pleasure to read about, in my opinion. Again, she was a real person with a past that shaped her into the woman she became, loyal to cranky old Thomas almost to a fault, and yet spunky enough to say she'd had enough and leave the farm.This is a heart-touching and enriching book to read. Coming to know these people through Ralph's memories of them was a pleasurable experience for me.

This story was a lesson in understanding people (and horses) with difficult personalities and those set in their ways. Even a look into ourselves at times. It was sweetened with warm characters who loved and sought to understand them like Uncle Levi. He made the harsh storyline tolerable and helped to get through it. I had respect for Ralphie and all the patience he must have had to stay and help his grandfather and the lessons they each learned. It was also fascinating to read about the knowledge the elder folk had in the way they handled bees, fixed and fashoned tools, raised buildings and farmed the land. I also admired Ralph for his inventive mind and always thinking of ways to improve hard jobs. It shows how we can all need and learn from each other if we are willing to give it a chance.

It has been a long time since I read this book, but I do like the earlier books in the "Man of the Family" series. The books do not hinge on each other, so you can read them in any order. Although having said that, I would probably recommend starting with Man of the Family. The values written into these books are priceless, time-honored ones. Now that I think of it, I read them aloud to my children when they were just school age and they are now parents of their own children. And I hope they read them aloud to their children when their time comes.Now that I think of it, I will just put in a plug here for reading stories aloud that your children could actually read on their own. It gives them the story without their having to hash through all of the decoding of the words. Doing this gives them a taste for reading.

I’ve been reading these Ralph Moody books aloud to my kids (14, 11, 9 & 7 years old) during our homeschool crazy CoVid days. I really love them so much. I love how they teach hard work. The value of working hard and the joy that can be found in good, honest, hard work.

The story was very reminiscent of my youth, late 40s and early 50s, when I would spend most of the summer on my grandfather's dairy farm in west central Wisconsin I recognized all of the farm implement terms that were mentioned in the story. My grandfather insisted on working with horses but bought 2 tractors to help the hired help and his son's in law expedite the work. I had experiences with machinery that soon became obsolete with the introduction of combines. Experience that people just a few years younger than me cannot relate to. I really enjoy Ralph Moody's writing style and the stories of his youth. I've read several of his book and will continue to enjoy them.

Pleasure, one of my favorite books as a child.

I haven’t read it yet. I liked the two books that preceded it and expect to like this one as well.

The first book (Little Britches) was my favourite book when I was in grade 6. Reading this series nightly with my honey. Such a great story. This is the second in the series. Love it! Would recommend to all, young and old!

Great book!