Mother Father Uncle Aunt

By Garrison Keillor

Book Overview

"...where the women are strong, the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average." There's a reason all those children in Lake Wobegon are above average. It might be the clean prairie air. It might be the wholesome wheat that's grown by the Norwegian bachelor farmers. And it just might be their strong, good-looking parents.Garrison Keillor's collection of "News from Lake Wobegon" monologues-all taken from live broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion-is an extended meditation on the joys, sorrows, challenges, and humor of raising children. The tales include "Ronnie and the Winnebago" about a young man, his rock-star girlfriend, and his long struggle to earn his father's understanding; "Love While You Dare" the story of August Johnson, who, after losing his brother in a gambler's prank in Copenhagen, flees to America rather than face his mother--who later comes to visit him in Lake Wobegon; and six more splendid, unforgettable accounts of how, in Keillor's words, "the meek shall inherit the earth, and when we have done all we can with our children, it's time to step back and let them inherit it." Contents: Ball Jars, Love While you Dare To, Saturday Morning in The Bon Marche, Family Trip to Yellowstone, The Flood, Bob Anderson's Last Dance, Children Will Break Your Heart, Ronnie and The Winnebago, Carl's Christmas Pageant, The Tombstone

• Format: Audio CD
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565112695
• ISBN13: 9781565112698
• Release Date: December 1997
• Publisher: HighBridge Audio
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.4" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Garrison Keillor Fan

Bought this for my father for a Christmas gift. He loved it and has just loaned it to me. If you enjoy Garrison Keillor and his wonderful story telling, you will love these tapes.

Insights into the human condition

I disagree with the earlier reviewer who said something is missing. . .perhaps these stories are not pure comedy, if that is the only "something" you are interested in. This collection is deeper, more thoughtful, the best of all GK's collections for insights into the human condition.

Voice of understanding, reassurance and wise humor

I may be biased--I own nearly every tape and CD set Keillor has put out!! As expected, "Mother (etc.)" does not disappoint. I find his voice a tonic, curing me of everything from insomnia to pessimism. His stories are bittersweet ("Ronnie and the Winnebago" and "Love While You Dare To"), nostalgic and thought-provoking ("The Flood"). Keillor is not forcing morality and religion on us, he is speaking from the heart as he always does, regardless of subject matter. Even though all we ever see of Keillor is an older, reserved looking character in photos, I can actually picture him as he worries, dreams and gets into trouble as a child and young man. His descriptions and delivery are nothing short of remarkable and his closing lines are poignantly sublime. Maybe that's why so many listeners actually think Lake Wobegon is real, or just wish it were....