Riding on Garrison Keillor's Pontoon

I think Garrison Keillor is a true American literary genius. But I'm not all that thrilled with the way he attacks conservatives in general and Republicans in particular. By doing that, he automatically alienates about half his readers and listeners. I know, I know, he's a dyed-in-the-wool liberal Democrat -- there's nothing wrong with that -- but his brand of sarcasm would be much easier to swallow if he would take aim at Democrats and liberals, thus providing some semblance of balance to his political polemics. Just so you know -- I consider myself an independent, sort of a fiscal conservative and social liberal. I guess that puts me squarely in the political mugwump camp and if it does, so be it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get back to "Pontoon" before retiring for the night.

Scot, I agree with your assessment of Keillor. I too enjoy the way he spins a yarn, but could do without the crassness. Lake Wobegon is my favorite, as well as the News from Lake Wobegon from the Prairie Home Companion. I've taken to sharing a "It's been a quiet week at GCoC" at our annual December Banquet. The segment comes complete with commercials ("Boiled Peanuts" to remind you that life could be worse) and the main characters drawn from our little congregation.

I have not read Keillor. But I love his radio program. I'm guessing the public media keeps him from airing the same sensual excess he does in his books. Thanks for the recommendation, Scot.
On the subject of novels, I just finished "The Shack" last night, and wonder if you've heard of this yet. If you haven't I'm guessing you will. It's one of those books that's bound to catch on. If you have read it, do you have plans to review it? There's lots of anecdotal theological commentary that I'm sure will appeal to a broad audience, both Christian and non. But I'm wondering where most readers will see reality end and fiction begin. (The author claims the events actually take place...)
Penny for your thoughts? :)

English prof. Paula Carlson talks about "unexpected unsettledness" of Christianity in Keillor's stories: the people of Lake Woebegon want their religion to be safe, neat and predictable (the sheet cake at confirmation) and yet it breaks into their lives in unexpected ways (eg, faith crisis of the soon-to-be confirmed teen). It challenges, surprises and transforms them, Carlson argues.

Oddly, although I love fiction and I love Keillor, I haven't read any of his novels. I like Prairie Home Companion, and I'll open the op-ed page of the Baltimore Sun every Thursday just to read his column. I'm usually astonished at how good it is. I picked up Pontoon in the book store when it came out, read a few pages in the bookstore cafe and decided I just wasn't in the mood for it. I may try again. As we say, "so little time, so much to read."

not read his books (maybe a part from LWD), but this one sounds a lot like his News from Lake Wobegon show, which i've been listening to almost religiously again, and which is - b/c the holidays - referring to lutefisk an awful lot.

Like others I have not read many of his novels, but am a great fan of his radio program and read his columns when I find them. I appreciate his ability to not take any part of life too seriously. Even as he satirizes it, he values tradition. I believe his religion went into the mix from which his politics (which I would call liberal/libertarian) evolved, and I identify with that as well. I have yet to be offended by his satirization of religion, but occasionally find some (not all) of his bathroom humor gratuitous, perhaps even juvenile.

On the whole I think the work of Garrison Keillor captures some of the best aspects of American culture.

I am a huge Lake Woebegone fan - my love for this imaginary place has been reignited in recent months by the discovery of weekly free podcasts at iTunes of just this segment of Prairie Home Companion. I've read and reread Lake Woebegone Days, and would camp out at a bookstore to grab a new sequel if ever one was released.

On the other hand, I can't abide Keillor's other stuff.

I enjoy Prairie Home Companion when I catch it on the radio. Having spent a good portion of my life in the upper NW corner of Minnesota, I enjoy his satiric commentary on the Catholic and Lutheran conflicts and the Scandinavian culture/lifestyle. If I didn't live in the area and weren't surrounded by Scandinavians (I am also half Norwegian), I would find his humour dull and boring. I like the Guy Noir, Private Eye segment of PHC more than anything else.
as for his books...haven't read any. I tried reading LWD and couldn't get through it. For the most part, I do enjoy his editorials in the Tribune. They're so random and strange. He takes mundane things in life and makes them interesting. Maybe it's just in small doses that I can read Keillor. I think he has gotten cynical as he's aged though--a common Scandinavian trait. ;-)

I've been a Prairie Home Companion fan since it began. There was just a short time period that it wasn't quite the same and he must have been reigned in, to return to our first love of the program style. I have a few of his books. I might have to read Pontoon.

I've been reading your blog for quite awhile now and of all my RSS feeds, yours is one I usually read in full. I read the Divine Embrace and relived it as I read your book reports.

... er... make that "or both?"

Darren - Yes, I've read quite a bit... followed Keillor since he appeared on the cover of TIME... many years ago. For awhile there, he was an "evangelical" favorite; with the Gospel Birds and all. But clearly, he wanted to differentiate himself from an adoring religious following, so he went "in your face" on a couple of levels - you know, political left, steamy sex, bad jokes, etc. But he covers the religious left and right as a target for chuckles; from Our Lady of Perpetual Responsibility Catholic Church to the Brethren to LW Lutheran to Unitarians. Most of it is pretty funny, actually.

I love Keillor, though I've never read any of his books, just listened to his radio program. The News from Lake Woebegone segments are great. I have all the CD's.

I guess being from a small town in the upper Midwest myself, I can really relate to the stories he tells. I see a lot of my own hometown in Lake Woebegone.