Liberty (Garrison Keillor)

Well written book about Wobegon Lake by one of my favorite writers,Garrison Keilor. Has some very funny spots in it along with both believable and unbelievable persons living in this fictional town.You will enjoy reading this easy to read book.

Liberty is the sixth book in the Lake Wobegon series by Garrison Keillor. In this installment of hijinks from the northern land, Clint Bunsen is having a mid-life crisis, or maybe it's a 3/4-life crisis. He just turned sixty, and his fellow citizens don't appreciate his talents as Chairman of the Fourth of July committee anymore. A DNA test told him his ancestors aren't who he thought they were, which means he's not who he thought he was. And to top it all off, he's lusting after the redhead who dresses as Miss Liberty for the parade- she's young enough to be his daughter. Keillor's portrayal of small town life in Minnesota is rich and hilarious. Within the context of the Fourth of July parade, the reader meets so many flawed, but lovable characters and is taken on so many detours through the history of the town that one can't help but feel that he or she has known this place for a long time. I have not read the other Lake Wobegon books. This book is dark at times. Keillor is ... Read more

Garrison Keillor puts the spotlight on Clint Bunsen in this latest Lake Wobegon novel. Clint feels unappreciated for his leadership as chairman of Lake Wobegon's July Fourth celebration. He has rubbed quite a few townsfolk the wrong way and Clint is having a rough time of it. His brother Clarence wants Clint to buy out Clarence's share of Bunsen Motors, a business that isn't exactly thriving. Clint is bored with his wife and his life. He is turning 60 and he feels like he has missed out on his chance for happiness until he meets a lovely young woman on the internet.... Fans of A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION will enjoy this book. In contrast to PONTOON, the previous installment in the series, LIBERTY is much darker with a lot less laughs. Keillor's distinctive voice is there but where PONTOON was a romp, LIBERTY is more of a tromp. Clint's depressive persona drags the humor down. If you want to laugh check out PONTOON. If you want to indulge Clint's angst, check out LIBERTY.

All the community is back once again in Lake Wobegon. Clint falls in love with a young red headed girl who is trying persuade him to come back to California with her. The annual fourth of July parade become a fiasco with the governor. There are many unexpected twists and turns through out the book. One thing I notice with this book as with his past previous books, Keillor has written a lot of crude, explicit sexual innuendos throughout the pages. I guess Keillor is trying to keep up with the now modern Lake Wobegon. I do have to say that his early writings of Lake Wobegon are better. Liberty is a good book, and will keep you laughing and guessing what is going to happen to Clint, Clarance, Irene, and the gang at the Chatterbox Cafe.

While I really enjoyed Pontoon, this book lacked Pontoon's hilarity and just didn't do much for me. I felt kind of depressed when I'd finished it. To me, the book's humor seems slanted towards men, particularily men undergoing mid-life crisises??? Maybe it's just me... Are there any women out there who enjoyed this book? I'm curious as to what you thought.