book data
262 ratings, 3.52 average rating, 40 reviews
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published
September 2nd 2002
(first published 2001)
by Faber and Faber
binding
Paperback, 256 pages
isbn
0571210244
(isbn13: 9780571210244)
description
The Doo Dads are singing "My Girl" on the radio and fourteen-year-old Gary is studying pictures of naked women, aware that Grandpa is lookin...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 341)
Read in May, 2008
I was going at a pretty good pace, reading books I had been putting off reading for too long and getting through them one per week or so. Until this book came along. I think it took me three months, maybe longer, to finally finish this book. It's not that it's a bad book, but I think I was just a little misinformed.
There's two things that I like that I thought I'd find in this book - fifties nostalgia and a nice coming of age story. I don't really think Lake Wobegon contains either of these....more
There's two things that I like that I thought I'd find in this book - fifties nostalgia and a nice coming of age story. I don't really think Lake Wobegon contains either of these....more
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Read in September, 2003
Finally finished listening to Garrison Keillor's reading of Lake Wobegon Summer 1956 - a possibly autobiographical look at a 14-year old boy's summer experiences - mostly vignettes, with a bit of a plot showing up here & there.
It's told in first person; Gary is an aspiring writer, with a smart-ass cousin he's partly in lust with, a crazy aunt and a strictly re...more
It's told in first person; Gary is an aspiring writer, with a smart-ass cousin he's partly in lust with, a crazy aunt and a strictly re...more
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Read in October, 2007
This book was actually a tad on the racy side! Young Gary amuses himself with a book, High School Orgies, given to him by his friend Leonard. He spins himself additional fantasies around this book and his cousin Kate, as well as spending time hanging out with his hero, Jim Dandy, member of the Doo Dads singing sensation and announcer at the local ballfield. The book has lots of Lake Wobegon charm and I suspect I'll probably read more in the series, but I was a tad surprised by the constant menti...more
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recommends it for:
guys
I found this book on the shared reading bookshelf at my work and thought it might be good to read while I was on vacation. I love it. The book is a collections of short stories about his life when he was around 14 y.o. Keillor has a great way of describing things and situations. I find myself laughing out loud many times. I think the book will be enjoyed more by the guys because we can related to his experiences as a fourteen year old. And the humor can be somewhat juvenile. "Here's a littl...more
Read in June, 2007
When you think of the Lake Wobegon oeuvre, you don't really think very profound thoughts, and nothing is really changing here. It's what you would expect: a quick, fun romp in someone else's shoes and troubled family life that leaves you, a few subway rides later, entertained but unchanged. The prose is exceedingly simplistic and not really notable, except for one page where, fittingly, Gary emerges as a self-aware writer/artist (unfortunately, the remainder of the book continues in the style of...more
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Read in June, 2008
Loved the book and was pleasantly surprised that I could relate to a high school freshman boy. Keillor's insights into the hearts and minds of the people surrounding "Gar" are written with his usual humor that hits the mark every time. Cried tears of laughter at the 4th of July, and laughed out loud throughout the book. Fun, too, to read about some of the people Keillor mentions on Prairie Home Companion. The disappointment comes at a very flat ending, but can't wait to read anothe...more
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Read in April, 2008
Thought I'd give Keillor a try, given my affinity to P.H.C., and my relative proximety to Lake Wobegon. Writing was good. However, I dislike stories that involve horny teenage boys, and their "coming of age". To me, it's like the guy who insists on pointing out the obvious constantly... Might have picked the wrong book for my first Keillor? (I needed a fiction fix after finishing a semester of Micro and Nano Physics, so I just grabbed something off the shelf.)
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2 comments
Read in April, 2007
I have listen to Keilors radio show for years the dry humor and over obvious puns made me laugh alot, but it was not until recently that I read one of his books. I was totally shocked and delighted by the filthiness in the book. something that you would have never heard on the radio show except in very subtle undertones. If you like story telling you will love Garrison. I can't wait to read the next one.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
An easy read--though I've been skimming it for several months--it is fun to hear Garrison Keillor's voice in my head as the voice of a horny 15 year-old kid. Oooh, that sounded kind of weird. Oh well, do with it what you will.
I found the religious stereotypes hilarious and scary. Also, the progression of the main character, Gary, as a writer was unexpected.
I found the religious stereotypes hilarious and scary. Also, the progression of the main character, Gary, as a writer was unexpected.
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Read in June, 2008
I had read this before, when I had picked it up from the sale shelves. This time, the beginning parts tickled me so that I was laughing out loud; the kind of laughing where your family stops what they're doing and comes from all parts of the house to regard you with concern. My eyes were closed and tearing up I was laughing so hard. I didn't remember it being so funny.
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Read in June, 2008
The back of this book tells of a conversation between a child's grandfather and God. God is questioning why the Grandfather would give a teenage boy with a dirty mind a typerwriter. The Grandfather says, "let's see what he does with it".
Another tale from Mr. Keillor, this one a coming of age story set of course, in Minnesota.
Another tale from Mr. Keillor, this one a coming of age story set of course, in Minnesota.
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Read in January, 2003
Without Garrison Keillor standing right there behind you, reading it out loud to you, I think his story loses some of it's charm...and you certainly don't get as many laughs out of it without his trademark dry,dry, soda-cracker-esque narration. Still, had it's moments, I would just like them vocalized by him.
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Read in October, 2008
I am an avid fan of Mr. Keillor's so anything I find written by him I tend to devour. This is a nice story but there are some things that the average person may find offensive which is something that you usually do not find in his writtings. Overall, quite an enjoyable read.
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Read in March, 2002
Memories of this have blurred together in my mind with the other Lake Wobegon books. I love them all (can't get enough of that dry, deadpan humour and the portrayal of smalltown life), but the first one, 'Lake Wobegon Days', was the best.
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Read in June, 2008
I really like listening to Garrison Keillor's radio show and I think his sense of humor is extremely dry and witty. But he's better to listen to than read. His dry tone and comedic timing don't translate as well on the printed page.
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Read in August, 2008
A slightly dull read. There were some pretty funny bits throughout the book. I enjoyed the view into a 14 year old boy's head. The skits with Jesus and grandpa looking down from heaven were good without being overdone.
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I'm fairly sure I've read most (if not all) of Keillor's books, and I consider this one my favorite.
If you're looking for a book to get a friend hooked on Keillor, this is the book you want give to them.
If you're looking for a book to get a friend hooked on Keillor, this is the book you want give to them.
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I'm not sure if this is filed under fiction, but I bet there's a lot of correlation to his own life when growing up. I love his depiction of his gloomy, glass-is-half-empty father and his pain in the neck sister.
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Read in January, 2006
This was an unusual read for me. The narrator was a teenage boy, and along with that all the teenage boys thoughts! it was humorous and a unique look into the inner workings of a boy's mind.
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Read in February, 2008
I couldn't get into this book. I couldn't find the plot line, and felt the book was just talking just to talk. I'm guessing you either love or dislike this author.
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currently-reading (on 19 people's shelves)
fiction (on 9 people's shelves)
own (on 4 people's shelves)
humor (on 4 people's shelves)
2007 (on 3 people's shelves)
general-fiction (on 2 people's shelves)
own_it (on 1 person's shelf)
essays-thoughts (on 1 person's shelf)
book-club-read (on 1 person's shelf)
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