Garrison Keillor is at it again with another whimsical story in his Lake Wobegon series. This time lifelong resident Evelyn Peterson dies unexpectedly. But that isn't the only shock her daughter Barbara (who tries to please everyone) suffers. Evelyn's death reveals a secret life of gallivanting around (and heaven only knows what else) with her boyfriend Raoul who resides in Las Vegas. And Barbara thought she was visiting relatives all those times! Then there's Evelyn's funeral request: no church service, no singing, no prayers. Just have the body cremated, place the ashes in a hollowed out bowling ball given to Evelyn by Raoul, seal it, and then drop it into Lake Wobegon. And if things couldn't get worse, Barbara's son Kyle decides it only fitting for him to drop the bowling ball for Barbara as he parasails over the lake.
While Barbara is busy learning about her mother's secret life and making the funeral arrangements, the Detmer's strange daughter Debbie, who has made millions as an animal aroma therapist in California, returns home to Lake Wobegon to get married which involves a pontoon boot, two giant fiberglass ducks, a hot air balloon, and a flying Elvis, at the same lake and on the same day as Evelyn's funeral. And to top it off, 26 Danish Lutherans ministers stop in town as part of their U.S. tour. And guess when this is take place? You guessed it! On the same day as Evelyn's funeral!
It's a laugh-out-loud look at small town life, complete with colorful characters, the nosy neighbors and gossipers. You know. All those folks you want to get away from and when you do, you kind of miss them? We do learn a moral or two along the way, something to make us pause and reflect upon our own lives, but laugh until our sides hurt and tears pour down our faces.
Read-Alikes (NoveList Plus): Tom Bodett's End of the Road series and Phillip Gulley's Harmony Series.
Similar Authors (recommendations from libraries): Rita Mae Brown, Peter DeVries, Clyde Edgerton, Fannie Flagg, Lorna Landvik, Billie Letts, Howard Frank Mosher, Cathie Pelletier, Adriana Trigiani
Hey, I have a copy of his Wobegan Boy that I'm not going to read -- would you like it? I can bring it to you on Thursday if you are interested. Just let me know.
ReplyDeleteJenn
I love Garrison Keillor on the radio but I have never read any of his books, just his newspaper column. Thanks for mentioning this one. Hope to try it in my free time. :)
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