Customer Reviews

Gospel Birds: And Other Stories of Lake Wobegon

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of 2 collections of monologues (the other being "Fall") that (to me) comprise the absolute best of Garrison Keillor's recorded Lake Wobegon stories. Some of the later collections have a more uneven feel, but "Gospel Birds" and "Fall" don't have a weak moment on them. The stories range from hilarious to touching to heartbreaking, and many times are all three at once. You'll laugh at these whacko Minnesota characters, but you'll also see yourself in them, and feel along with them as well. This is time well spent.

I was looking for humor that wasn't bawdy or raucous and this tape more than delighted: I also found a great American storyteller. I barely knew the name having seen a taping of Garrison Kiellor's radio show on TV once; so I wasn't familiar with the style or content. What makes his wide appeal is his vocal ability to get you on the edge of your seat, and his remarkable talent for impersonating any age or gender, and any relationship. A couple of the stories are merely poignant; with the majority being situation comedy of everyday life. My favorites: Pastor Inkfest's Trip to Orlando, The Beeler Boy, and The Fishing Dog.

I have virtually all of Keillor's Lake Woebegon works, and this is his finest! "On Meeting Donny Hart" is perhaps the finest tragi-comedy of them all! You'll bust a gut listening to Mazumbo, Gospel Birds, Pastor Ingquist's Trip to Orlando, Mammoth Concert, and Babe Ruth Visits Lake Woebegon-- the whole set is superb. I can't say enough good about this excellent product.

Garrison Keillor is to the spoken story what Mark Twain was to the written - a kind and intelligent sense of humor mixed in with a wickedly insightful knowledge of human nature. His monologues, the "News from Lake Wobegon", have always been the centerpiece of PBS's wildly successful Prairie Home Companion, and I have found none of his stories to be superior to those contained within this collection.

Pastor Inqvist's Trip to Orlando is worth the price of these cassettes alone with the story of the humble Lutheron Minister and his desire to please his Church Deacons and Mrs. Inqvist at the same time. The Gospel Birds is another "church" story, but you'd be wrong if you came to a listen thinking that Mr. Keillor is simply a "holy roller" trying to pound his version of "the gospel" into anyone.

His stories are about what makes us human - our nobleness and our failings - and his storytelling is so skillful, he allows us to hear that our shortcomings are as important in who we are as our triumphs.

This is a fine collection of monologues from the period during which Keillor was most popular, and it also has gorgeous guitar links provided by Chet Atkins, whose trademark arpeggios are beautifully rendered on an acoustic guitar with a rich, mellow sound. I was moved by these recordings to buy several Chet Atkins CDs. "Meeting Donny Hart at the Bus Stop," "Pastor Inqvist's Trip to Orlando," and "Mammoth Concert Tickets" contain all of the elements that earned Keillor his loyal following -- an affection for the Minnesota region, fallible human characters, hope and compassion, all told with a twinkling sense of humor.

I think "Gospel Birds" is one of the best written and best delivered stories that Garrison Keillor has ever told, and the other stories in this set are also delivered with the patience and ease that Keillor has in his most enjoyable work. It's a must-have.

In a time when reality television programs are wildly popular, with their narcissistic, silly people who think fame will make them important, these stories are about life. As so many other reviewers have noted, Garrison Keillor's Lake Woebegone stories look at human nature with all of its frailties and hidden dreams and hilarity and moments of grace. He can make you laugh out loud and cry in one story. I've had this cd collection for about 13 years now, and I still don't get tired of it. All the stories are good, but Bruno the Fishing Dog remains one of my all-time favorites. Try it, you won't be disappointed.

Another great collection of Keillor's stories of Lake Wobegon,"His home town". I love listening to these on the way to work...puts me in a good mood!

I first owned this recording when it was available on a set of cassette tapes back in 1985. That was 26 years ago, and I remembered liking it, but not the specifics of many of the monologues. We wore the tapes out, so I should have had an inkling that this is one of the very best collections of his News from Lake Wobegone stories. Luckily I added it to my Wish List, and my sister selected it as my Christmas present this year. Each one is a gem on its own, and there is a lovely variety of poignant and comedic stories. I laughed, and I cried, and I didn't want it to end -- really. (Another reviewer cites Fall as his other best work. Originally Fall was one of four "seasons" on tape in a butter box, and I'd add that collection as one of his very best, although I don't agree that Fall is better than the other three. Each season includes at least one fantastic story I'm grateful for having heard.) I'll end on a practical note: my two kids, aged 9 and 10, listened attentively on two two-hour car trips on the same day -- a record (their behavior, not two trips in the same day).

This collection of Garrison Keillor's masterful story-telling is great listening for people of all ages. The stories are funny, touching, wise, and surprising. There is a unique and brilliant quality to Garrison's delivery, as he spins these yarns spontaneously before a live audience at the Prairie Home Companion, as he has done for thirty years. In my opinion, Gospel Birds And Other Stories of Lake Wobegone is one of the finest collections of Keillor's work over his long and distiguished career at National Public Radio.