Garrison Keillor is celebrated for his distinctive humor and narrative voice, often drawing inspiration from life in the American Midwest. His works, frequently infused with satire and a gentle observation of human foibles, resonate with readers for their authenticity and wit. Through his storytelling and radio programs, Keillor has established himself as one of the most perceptive and humorous commentators on American life. His ability to capture the essence of ordinary people and their everyday concerns is central to his enduring appeal.
Chosen by Garison Keillor for his readings on public radio's The Writer's Almanac, the 185 poems in this follow-up to his acclaimed anthology Good Poems are perfect for our troubled times. Here, readers will find solace in works that are bracing and courageous, organized into such resonant headings as "Such As It Is More or Less" and "Let It Spill." From William Shakespeare and Walt Whitman to R. S. Gwynn and Jennifer Michael Hecht, the voices gathered in this collection will be more than welcome to those who've been struck by bad news, who are burdened by stress, or who simply appreciate the power of good poetry.
With warmth and humor, the creator and host of A Prairie Home Companion shares his remarkable life story. He reflects on growing up as a Brethren boy in a small Mississippi town during the 1950s, where the early loss of three friends led him to pursue comedy and radio. Through a series of fortunate breaks, he founded A Prairie Home Companion, which aired for forty-two years and reached millions of listeners each Saturday at 5 p.m. Central. His journey included memorable moments like singing with Emmylou Harris and Renée Fleming, performing for the U.S. Supreme Court, and portraying various characters, including a private eye and a cowboy. He reported news from his fictional hometown, Lake Wobegon, and connected with Somali cabdrivers who learned English through his show. Alongside his radio success, he authored bestselling novels, won a Grammy and a National Humanities Medal, and collaborated with Robert Altman on a film that featured significant improvisation. He reflects on his life with gratitude, noting, “I was unemployable and managed to invent work for myself that I loved all my life, and on top of that I married well. That’s the secret, work and love.” As he approaches eighty, he continues to rise early to write each day.
Garrison Keillor's iconic hometown, Lake Wobegon, "where all the women are strong and all the men are good-looking," has become legendary. This collection features tales of love, reflections on marriage and fatherhood, and musings on various topics, including smoking, baseball, and the challenges of nearsightedness.
The contents are divided into several sections:
1. **Pieces**: Stories like "End of the Trail" and "Three New Twins Join Club in Spring" explore personal experiences and societal observations, while "The Young Lutheran's Guide to the Orchestra" and "Hollywood in the Fifties" provide humorous takes on culture.
2. **The Lake**: This section includes letters that capture the essence of community and relationships, such as correspondence between couples and reflections on local events, including a Memorial Day address.
3. **Letters**: A variety of letters cover themes from family life to humorous anecdotes, touching on topics like basketball, regrets, and the meaning of life.
4. **House Poems**: This segment features poems that delve into everyday life, memories of pets, and personal reflections on guilt and identity.
5. **Stories**: A collection of narratives that explore personal growth, relationships, and the passage of time, revealing the complexities of life and love.
Through these reflections and stories, Keillor captures the heart of small-town life and the universal experiences that connect us all.
Over 2,200 Jokes from America's favorite live radio show A treasury of hilarity from Garrison Keillor and the cast of public radio's A Prairie Home Companion. A guy walks into a bar. Eight Canada Geese walk into a bar. A termite jumps up on the bar and asks, "Where is the bar tender?" Drum roll. The Sixth Edition of the perennially popular Pretty Good Joke Book is everything the first five were and more. More puns, one-liners, light bulb jokes, knock-knock jokes, and third-grader jokes (have you heard the one about Elvis Parsley?). More religion jokes, political jokes, lawyer jokes, blonde jokes, and jokes in questionable taste (Why did the urologist lose his license? He got in trouble with his peers). More jokes about chickens, relationships, and senior moments (the nice thing about Alzheimer's is you can enjoy the same jokes again and again). It all started back in 1996, when A Prairie Home Companion fans laughed themselves silly during the first Joke Show. The broadcast was such a hit that it became an almost-annual gagfest. Then fans wanted to read the jokes, share them, and pass them around, and the first Pretty Good Joke Book was born. With over 200 new and updated jokes, the latest edition promises countless giggles, chortles, and guffaws anyone--fans of the radio show or not--will enjoy.
The humorist and radio host examines the "politics of kindness," offering a series of nostalgic reminiscences, meditations, and observations on the core values of the democratic ideal
In 1926, the Soderbjerg brothers, Ray and Roy, plunge into radio and found station WLT (With Lettuce and Tomato) in order to rescue their failing restaurant and become the sandwich kings of South Minneapolis. For the next 25 years the station produces an array of shows and stars.
In this collection of stories from Lake Wobegon, the author takes us to a place that is everyone's home town - where the women are strong and the men are good-looking and all the children are above average. It is a celebration of the life and the people of that place, narrated with wit.
A national holiday in Lake Wobegon is always gaudy and joyful. But what is going on between Clint Bunsen and Miss Liberty? Clint is one of the old reliables in Lake Wobegon – the treasurer of the Lutheran church and the auto mechanic who starts your car on below-zero mornings. For six years he has run the Fourth of July parade, and has turned into an event of dazzling spectacle that has attracted the attention of CNN and prompted the governor to put in an appearance as well. The town is dizzy with anticipation. Until, that is, they hear of Clint’s ambition to run for Congress. They’re embarrassed for him – his unfortunate episodes involving vodka sours, his rocky marriage. And then there’s his friendship with the twenty-four-year-old girl dressed up as the Statue of Liberty for the parade. It’s rumored that underneath those robes she is buck naked, and that her torch contains a quart of booze. It’s Lake Wobegon as it’s always been – good, loving people who drive each other crazy.
Astonished to learn that her impeccable mother led a secret life marked by her passionate love for a Las Vegas man and a private commitment to pleasure, Barbara elects to end destructive patterns in her own life while honoring her mother's final wishes, an effort that coincides with a veterinarian's efforts to marry her reluctant fiancé. Reprint.
