amusing but not his best

Keillor is one of those authors you either "get" or you don't. Outing myself here as one who enjoys his melancholic whimsy. ( )

Seems as if somehow other readers want this to be, or thought it is, something other than what it is. It is not 'stories.' It is not a companion to Lake Wobegon or even to Prairie Home Companion.

It is a whole bunch of very funny essays. Most (all?) are parodies and it does help, somewhat, to recognize the assorted source materials. For example Plainfolks" is inspired by the [b:Foxfire 3 (Foxfire|156163|Foxfire 3 (Foxfire (Paperback))|Eliot Wigginton|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320390953s/156163.jpg|150697] series. And if you've never read serial comic books or pulp fiction magazines you'll not fully appreciate "Mission to Mandala." And GK isn't laughing at, but with, [a:Studs Terkel|33716|Studs Terkel|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1225511511p2/33716.jpg] and LIFE magazine when he writes "How It Was in America a Week Ago Tuesday."

Don't let me discourage you, though. With an open mind, all are enjoyable. I know there are ones I don't 'get' but I love his writing style, his gentle and affectionate wit, and I enjoyed every one - even the baseball ones. And for many the source material is not necessarily all that specific. Witness the ubiquitous attitude in the US that 'we're number one' and you'll know that GK just couldn't help but write "U.S. Still on Top, Says Rest of World."

Charming & witty, Wise & humane.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519vgDxAQcL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticke..." ( )

Read during Fall 2003

Essays/Stories/News from Lake Woebegon/etc. Many laugh out loud funny. I esp. like Jack Schmidtt, Arts Administrator.

An early book by Garrison Keillor, consisting mostly of humor pieces that appeared in "The New Yorker" magazine. These pieces are clever and witty and shallow, reminding me of Art Buchwald. The exceptions are three (autobiographical) stories at the end where Keillor seems to reveal a bit more of himself. I liked the baseball pieces best of the humor bits. ( )