Clint Bunsen is one of the old reliables in Lake Wobegon. For six years he has run the Fourth of July parade, turning what was once a bunch of pickup trucks and girls pushing baby carriages with cats in them into an event of dazzling spectacle. The town is dizzy with anticipation— but Clint himself is having second thoughts about his life.
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"Another fun book about Lake Wobegon. Clint Bunsen tries to solve his mid-life crisis in the time-honoured way: by taking a mistress half his age. Of course it doesn't go well, but it is fun while it lasts. Probably more for the reader than for Clint, though. "
— Stig (4 out of 5 stars)
" I really enjoy Garrison Keillor and his stories from Lake Wobegon. The characters in NFLW are always entertaining and while not always "laugh out loud" funny, they are amusing. That's why the horribleness of this book was so shocking. I was determined to finish it or else it would have gotten tossed out after the first few chapters. The story was not entertaining or cohesive. The characters felt like total strangers. There was no humor in this book at all. The one nice thing I can say about the book is that it was short. "
— Joanna, 2/17/2014" An amusing, quick read. More of a character sketch of the town, than a real novel. "
— Erin, 2/11/2014" I learned from this book that although I usually hate Keillor's radio show, he is an incredible writer. And god can Minnesota be funny. It's a must read if you consider yourself a Minnesotan. For anyone who's ever been to Minnesota for that matter. "
— Nicholas, 2/5/2014" Meh, it's good enough for the subway. I really enjoy "A Prairie Home Companion" on the radio, but this is not anywhere near as good as the radio show. "
— Molly, 1/26/2014" Wry, witty, dare I say Keilloresque? All the usual touches that characterise Lake Wobegon stories are present and correct. The central dilemma for our hero: whether to make up for a "wrong turn" he took decades ago by suddenly doing something rash and headstrong which he could live to regret. This against the backdrop of a very colourful 4th Of July parade which he has organised - for the last time. The last two-thirds of the narrative, or thereabouts, take place on the day of the parade itself and the compression of the narrative is very skilfully done. Well worth a read. "
— Derek, 1/20/2014" Another good book with quirky characters that only Keillor could create. Never knew Fourth of July could be so labor intensive or such a challenge to plan! "
— Peggy, 1/20/2014" I usually enjoy Garrison Keillor books. He is the one author that I hear his voice when I read his words. When reading other authors, I hear a voice that I just create and assign to the specific characters. "
— Linda, 1/13/2014" I admit that I didn't finish the book, but I really had no desire to finish it. There were a few hilarious moments, but then some turns to the story I really didn't care for. "
— Holly, 1/9/2014" I would rate it higher save for the ending, which I will not divulge. "
— Ron, 1/7/2014" Let's put it this way: if I were married to Garrison Keillor, I'd be a wee trifle concerned by his sudden fascination with adultery. This one (like the last) is pretty well focused there. C'mon, Garrison: this isn't what we read your books for! "
— Tracy, 1/1/2014" Didn't enjoy as much as his other Lake Wobegon stories "
— Peze, 12/15/2013Garrison Keillor is America’s favorite storyteller. For more than forty years, as the host of A Prairie Home Companion, he has captivated millions of listeners with his weekly News from Lake Wobegon monologues. A Prairie Home Companion is heard on hundreds of public radio stations, as well as America One, the Armed Forces Networks, Sirius Satellite Radio, and via a live audio webcast. Keillor is also the author of several books and a frequent contributor to national publications including Time, the New Yorker, and National Geographic, in addition to writing his own syndicated column. He has been awarded a National Humanities Medal from the National Endowment of the Humanities. He is the winner of nine AudioFile Earphones Awards, several of which were for his own books. When not touring, he resides in St. Paul, Minnesota.