Lake Woebegon Days by Garrison KeillorMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have recently read this book due to the fond memories I still had of listening to Garrison Keillor’s readings about Lake Woebegon on the radio, decades ago. His wonderful depiction of life in a fictional small town set in Minnesota came back to me as I read the book. He had just the right radio voice and that’s what I heard with every page of the book I turned. I don’t recall hearing Keillor’s radio narration moving to and fro the various time settings for different events but it did in the book. I was a little confused about that while reading the book but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment at all.
His writing is full of amusing and poignant tales often showing tremendous insight about people and intimate society. One moment his writing raises a smile, even a laugh, and the next it causes a gulp in your throat, tempting the odd tear to fall. Keillor’s sense of the occasional absurdity of life and his skill at describing the sheer ridiculousness of it is central for me to the attraction of his book. I know I will be returning to this book over and over again. The humorous digs at life is gentle and subtle while remaining glaringly obvious to anyone interested in observing human nature. The author’s portrayal of such a wide array of characters each with their own story and history is quite remarkable and, it has to be said, very appealing to readers who enjoy Dickens, Elliot and Hardy et al. Lake Woebegon Days is an excellent book for anyone of mature years to enjoy. Highly recommended.
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