wayne@ada-uts.UUCP (11/10/85)
***** ada-uts:net.wobegon / wayne / 5:09 pm Nov 9, 1985
This is a reposted from net.wobegon. The book is :
Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor
For those that don't know, Mr. Keillor is the announcer and principle
writer for a radio show "A Prairie Home Companion." He has quite
a following of devoted listeners who relish both the music on the
show as well as his stories based on the fictional town of Lake
Wobegon, Minnesota. I am one of those devoted listeners.
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I bought the book when it first came out, being a fan of things
Wobegonian, and to tell the truth, I was mildy dissapointed.
The book was a series of excellent stories, but I felt like I was
missing the point of the book.
At times it seemed to be a confession for Mr. Keillor (about his
divorce, about his wonderings about old friends ("why don't we
see each other anymore? Was it something I said?")) which I didn't
mind. He only did it a few times, and not enough to really make
it seem like it was a self-examination.
At times it seemed to be a collection of stories about his youth,
but he also talks about the town's history before he was (supposedly)
born, and goes into his early college.
At times it seemed like a town history, but it wasn't complete ...
he was thorough in its beginning, but we really don't know what's
happening in the town when he was young, because he picks up on his
personal life and abandons all else.
And the ending was a downer, because it seemed incomplete. There
was no wrap up or anything to suggest that the book was finished. The
book seemed somewhat without a goal. It was like he was saying,
"Alright, I'll talk about Lake Wobegon, my home town for a while."
In fact his introduction (losing his manuscripts) seemed like he was
searching for a way to start the book, and the ending seemed like
the publishers omitted a section or two.
But besides all that...he writes like he speaks, very descriptive,
very well done. The real introduction (of the child walking down
the street) is one of the best introductions to a setting I've read
in ages. He does tell some good stories of his youth, ones I'd be
glad to tell my children (someday). And some of the more depressing
stories were welcomed by myself...they were well-done as well. He
does borrow from his "News from Lake Wobegon" segments of the radio
show, though there is a lot of new material.
If I had a choice of his "News From Lake Wobegon" tapes (which are
sold in bookstores) or this book, I would go with the tapes.
I enjoyed them more than I enjoyed the book. I also enjoyed his "Wish
You Were Here," a collection of short stories, more than the book.
I think the reason I was dissappointed was because Garrison has
a hard time changing from writing short stories to writing books.
This is first novel to date, and I believe in the future he will
be writing some very memorable, first-rate novels. He has everything
but the format down.
(P.S. If you do decide to get it, skip over the history of the town...
it's slooow reading.)
Wayne Wylupski ...!{ihnp4,ima}!inmet!ada-uts!wayne
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----------wayne@ada-uts.UUCP (11/10/85)
P.P.S. I therefore believe the success of the book lies with Mr. Keillor's popularity rather than the book's merits. Wayne Wylupski (again)