Customer Reviews

State Fair: The Great Minnesota Get-Together

5 star:		(2)
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2 star:		(1)
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I was disapointed in this book, the pictures were colorful -but would like to have seen more in detail...Plus thought it was a book more about fairs as a novel.....but it was mostly just pictures that did not really show any fair much...

Susan Lambert Miller is an observant and talented photographer with a flair for capturing a scene's humorous essence. This photo book puts the Minnesota State Fair (affectionately known as "The Great Minnesota Get-Together") on display in all its kitschy, quirky, good-natured, warm-hearted glory. There's food-on-a-stick, animals, midway rides, and a slew of favorite landmarks.

This volume is a real page-flipper, meaning with the exception of seven pages of lovely (and quite funny) anecdotes from fair participants aged 13 - 85, there's almost no text. Every page features one or two of Miller's uniquely engaging photographs, often with a astute and humorous juxtaposition on the facing page. For example, one page features a mouth watering photo of a man's hand holding a juicy (and sure to be delicious) ear of corn-on-the-cob with the caption, "Favorite Fare." On the opposite page is a splendid shot of one of the Fair's icons, the Space Tower, featuring the caption, "Fair Favorite." Clever, eh?

The photos are quite current based on the beauty queens' sashes which are dated 2006. The Fair has a certain timeless, nostalgic quality that Miller has somehow captured as well. The only down side I can think of is that it leaves me wanting more. If she could have kept the quality at the same level presented here, she could have effortlessly doubled the pages, photos, and triggered memories. My initial flip-through lasted only about 20 minutes, but this book's got great replay value.

For anyone who has been to and fallen in love with the Minnesota State Fair, this book will be a welcome trip back down Memory Lane.

This is a delightful book! The photos are wonderful and the captions are full of humor. Susan Miller captures the essence of the fair and the spirit of Minnesota. Her love of people is evident on every page.