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161st out of 420 books
—
946 voters
The Zombies of Lake Woebegotten
The town of Lake Woebegotten, MN is a small town, filled with ordinary people. Ordinary, that is, until the dead start coming back to life, with the intent to feast upon the living! Now this small town of above average citizens must overcome their petty rivalries and hidden secrets in order to survive an onslaught of the dead.
Paperback, 300 pages
Published
September 15th 2010
by Night Shade Books
(first published September 1st 2010)
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Mr. Geillor or Keillor, depending on the mood you are in, is one of the greatest story tellers ever. In general this book is very funny and made me smile a lot. There were a few parts that dragged here and there, but that's the nature of Lake Woebeggoten.
The dead decided to come back to life and munch on the living after a meteorological event causes some oddness in the atmosphere. People in the mortuary decided they weren't so keen on sleeping anymore and decided to chow down on the living. A...more
The dead decided to come back to life and munch on the living after a meteorological event causes some oddness in the atmosphere. People in the mortuary decided they weren't so keen on sleeping anymore and decided to chow down on the living. A...more
I got a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Being a native Minnesotan and fan of zombie books this book definitely caught my attention. It was a well done book and very entertaining.
When the town drunk finds that his dead fish are trying to bite him he suspects funny business. Soon news starts rolling in from the Twin Cities that the meteor shower last night caused everything dead to rise up (humans, animals, etc)...and once things rise they are very hungry. Th...more
When the town drunk finds that his dead fish are trying to bite him he suspects funny business. Soon news starts rolling in from the Twin Cities that the meteor shower last night caused everything dead to rise up (humans, animals, etc)...and once things rise they are very hungry. Th...more
An absolutely hysterical tongue-in-cheek piece by Keillor, the host of NPRs "A Prairie Home Companion". His description of the Minnesotan reaction to a zombie uprising simply should not be missed. His dead pan, satirical humor are the perfect recipe for creating a zombie story that's more real-life than horror. A meteorite strikes earth one day and all mammals (as far as anyone can tell) that were once dead now rise from their graves. Well, any mammal that still has any semblance of brain matter...more
Nov 14, 2012
Julie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of Prairie Home Companion
Anyone who is a fan of Garrison Keillor will get a huge kick out of this book. Unlike other recent parodies (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies springs to mind) this novel is more than a one-trick pony. In fact, the zombie part of the book is pretty straight on. Maybe it’s because I am from the Midwest, but the characters in this book felt extremely real to me and the way they dealt with the zombie apocalypse seemed more realistic than in many other zombie/post apocalyptic novels I have read (and I...more
When I picked up this book in the bookstore, I thought it was meant to be a zombie parody of Garrison Keillor's books/radio show. It was but I didn't realize the book was actually written by Keillor himself as a parody of his own work. I've never listened to or read any of Keillor's book but it was clear in the first chapter that it was meant to mimic his rabbling style. The prologue is full or run on sentances and train of thought writing. As the book progresses, that style gets toned down into...more
I stumbled across this in the paperback section of the library. It's a fun idea in the vein of the P&P&Z mash-up genre--what if zombies shambled into the cozy world of Lake Wobegon, and Garrison Keillor obviously enjoyed upending the fictional world he has created and repopulating it with doppelgänger characters and finding a way to include himself. In the end, a lot of beloved (and not so beloved) townspeople get offed by the zombies and each other and a new world order is established....more
I was surprised at how good this book was, based off of the ridiculous title and cover art. It's straightforward zombie yarn. It repeats many of the common elements, with gory details and headshots galore. But it does so shamelessly and lightheartedly, and it's enjoyable despite being unoriginal. The wide ensemble cast are all more than skin deep, if not exactly in depth or memorable characters. My personal favorite was the addition of a serial killer to the story, one of the most complex and in...more
This book was an impulse borrow from the local library, and quite aptly served its purpose as a break from cheerful Book Club books starring plucky heroines who always get their man. It was not much more than that. I could have used a lot more zombie-drama. I realize the author was playing a fine line between the homage to Keillor's Wobegone and the action of the zombies, but for my taste, there was a bit too much of the boring Minnesotans, and not enough chomping. (It reminded me of the 2003 Hu...more
When the dead begin to rise and consume the living, the residents of the small, quiet town of Lake Woebegotten, although alarmed, are confident that the long, harsh winter ahead of them poses more of a threat than the shambling corpses wandering the woods around town. What the Lake Woebegotten residents didn’t take into consideration, however, are the shocking secrets harbored by many of the small town’s inhabitants — parishioners, friends, even family members — and the consequences these secret...more
Horror parody is a new genre and not everyone's cup of tea. If you are culturally literate, horror motif aware, and slightly warped this is the book for you!
Based on the idea that every town has secrets, the book proceeds to then rip down the walls to reveal in comic and bizarre ways the nature of those secrets. There is sex, murder, greed, lust, hate - and that is BEFORE the zombies attack! As the zombie population grows the pragmatic inhabitants of Lake Woebegotten face it with their normal pl...more
Based on the idea that every town has secrets, the book proceeds to then rip down the walls to reveal in comic and bizarre ways the nature of those secrets. There is sex, murder, greed, lust, hate - and that is BEFORE the zombies attack! As the zombie population grows the pragmatic inhabitants of Lake Woebegotten face it with their normal pl...more
The redeeming plot characteristic is the spoof on Lake Woebegone & Garrison Keillor's NPR show. If you're going to read a funny zombie book, this is the first I'd recommend. At least there's the usual stupid human tricks to explain how easily we become food for the living dead. And this book offered a few new ideas, such as living dead fish heads and everyone needing to become vegetarians. I mean, a zombie bear? That's an awesome concept! And I enjoyed how the 2nd half of the book isn't writ...more
What really made this book were all of the resident's skeletons in the closet (pun halfheartedly intended). I thought I was going to have to give up on it in the first 50 pages because of their country bumpkiness, but old man Levitt changed all that. One thing I couldn't wrap my head around, though, was that the animals turned into zombies, too. Except for old man Levitt's dog, it added nothing to the story and mostly detracted from it. Zombie purists unite and agree with me!
Small footnote - I'v...more
Small footnote - I'v...more
Having listened to this book while driving back and forth across the great state of Minnesota, I got the chance to be more irritated by the reader who made each character like a toothless Sarah Palin with a mouth full of paste. Pronouncing Leinenkugel's as LEEN-ees and Shakopee as Sha-COP-ee left me three beats behind knowing what the hell was going on.
Although the assertion that "Minnesota nice" would cause folks to take an exceptionally long time to react to crisis and begin killing zombies ma...more
Although the assertion that "Minnesota nice" would cause folks to take an exceptionally long time to react to crisis and begin killing zombies ma...more
If you love A Prairie Home Companion and the real Garrison Keillor, likely truth is you will enjoy this book. Full disclosure: I actually thought I was reading the real guy until something off occurred to me about a quarter way through. The tone of the book was just a tad more biting than Keillor ever has been. But, the spirit of his respect and affection for the people of Minnesota is here. It's endlessly funny and moves along. It's worth it to get away from the other Zombie tales that might ta...more
This was a pleasant surprise. The reviews were good, but I'm not a big zombie fan at all, and despite the reviews I was still expecting another Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or other silly kind of parody. But this one was very clever and witty without being silly, a fine line to walk. The small town characters started out charming and likable, but almost all soon revealed hidden depths, with secrets and schemes to rival any big city slickers. The zombies added a level of horror that balanced o...more
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Zombies have invaded Lake Woebegotten on the edge of the prarie. This send up of the most famous fictional small town in Minnesota is quite enjoyable to fans of the braodcast, but if you don't see the pun in the name of the book or the author, this isn't for you.
I enjoyed it, though it was a bit rough in parts, the strength is in the middle secton of the book, covering the winter, which is told in 20 sections, in no particular order, certainly not chronological.
Recomended if you get the joke.
I enjoyed it, though it was a bit rough in parts, the strength is in the middle secton of the book, covering the winter, which is told in 20 sections, in no particular order, certainly not chronological.
Recomended if you get the joke.
This book is about the lake Woebegotten and over night a zombie apocolypse accurs and the dead rises.
The book is probably one of the best book I have ever read, it's funny, cool, exiting, you always want to read more even though your tired. I reccomend you read this book it has some lanuage but it was so cool you would zip through it so I didn't catch most of it probably.
READ THIS BOOK!
The book is probably one of the best book I have ever read, it's funny, cool, exiting, you always want to read more even though your tired. I reccomend you read this book it has some lanuage but it was so cool you would zip through it so I didn't catch most of it probably.
READ THIS BOOK!
If you’re a fan of Garrison Keillor’s Lake Wobegon and also of zombies, this is the book for you! While it certainly contains the usual brain eating zombies, head shots, and gratuitous violence and gore, there’s also plenty of kinky sex (mostly off-page) psychopathic serial killers, a viking, a bear, a bible thumping (emphasis on the thumping) priest, an ex-Israeli commando, and a conspiracy theorist survival nut, not to mention the usual assortment of small town Minnesotan characters.
While gen...more
While gen...more
The story is told well and is amusing. I liked the way the Narrator refers to himself in parts of the story, as if to remind us there is a narrator living the Lake Woebegotten as well. I could almost picture this taking place in my hometown and the reaction being very similar. Not a life-changing book by any stretch of the imagination, but a good read if you're looking for something light.
I have read several zombie related novels his year, and this one settles comfortably in the middle. It is mildly comical (with it's use of zombie dogs and pocket gophers giving it slight edge over the two star mark). I loved the town Viking. He gave the book character. There were some great zombie kills, making this a worthwhile read for anyone who enjoys zombie mayhem.
I'm a big fan of Garrison Keillor's News from Lake Wobegon so I thought I'd see what this spoof would be like. It's pretty funny and has the same style of going off on tangents that NLW does. Gets a bit old after a while and I noticed that some reviewers decided that 50 pages or so was enough. I thought it funny enough to finish but I can easily see the wisdom of bailing out early.
Sep 20, 2010
Ceridwen
marked it as to-read
Even though I'm sure, just bone-positive, this is going to be as shitty as Bored of the Rings or similar, I am going to get my hands upon it and eat its brains. Minnesota Nice never looked so good.
As much about the dark secrets of a small town as it is about a zombie infestation. Even though I've quickly tired of the zombie trend, the contrast of the small-town friendly tone of this book and its gruesome subject matter makes it well worth a read. I'm looking forward to the next one, a TWILIGHT pastiche. UPDATE: Not a TWILIGHT fan, and couldn't get into the Lake Woebegotten version, either.
This book was a real hoot! Very unusual humor, albeit with a touch of Zombies. Obviously a spoof on Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon, but a good one nonetheless. Lots of interesting characters, no issues with the surprise death of some of them when called for, and a villain that you love to hate, and must know if he gets his in the end...but you need to read it to find out. The author has done a spoof on Twilight, which I may just pick up after reading this one.
I got this book after reading some reviews. I love the different story line in this zombie book, the fact that the zombies are pretty much second compared to the plot that's going on. Each character will grow on you as well as make you laugh.
I really enjoyed this book.
I really enjoyed this book.
This was a good solid zombie story with a few good yuks. I wouldn't say it's as funny as some of the other comedy-zombie options out there, but it was certainly a good read. It had some interesting characters, and unique scenarios.
This worked both as a zombie story and as a Prairie Home Companion parody. The author nailed the tone of Keillor, and also the history of zombie lore. It's a quick, silly read that I'd only recommend if you like zombies or public radio.
This book was so great! zombies and humor, and a really great story. The only way I could have liked this book more is if I knew more about the lake woebegone stories it is satirizing. I loved this book!
I have to admit that I prejudged this book, dismissing it as pastiche early on, but it's a damn good story, and I recommend it now. The author made an interesting stylistic choice by letting the story run chronologically at the beginning, then breaking into a series of out-of-order vignettes in the middle before returning to the timestream for the denouement.
I still wish I knew who the real author behind "Harrison Geillor" is.
I still wish I knew who the real author behind "Harrison Geillor" is.
If zombies came to attack my house = would surround my house with tredmills facing out.
I couldt get into it... I. Have read Max Brooks 2 zombie books and thought I would give this a try...sentence structure was rather long a lot of comma usage
I couldt get into it... I. Have read Max Brooks 2 zombie books and thought I would give this a try...sentence structure was rather long a lot of comma usage
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Jun 16, 2013 05:55am