Life among the Lutherans

If you are a regular listener to A Prairie Home Companion, you will likely have heard some of these stories or ones like them, but still, this collection of vignettes is as charming as it is humorous. There is no one better to relate happenings about everyday occurrences and people and yet make them seem special and extraordinary. Keillor is indeed an accomplished storyteller, and the only thing that would have made this book better would be an audio version read by the author. You don’t have to be Lutheran to appreciate these stories, but if you are, you will like it even more: it goes a long way in explaining why those people you see Sunday after Sunday in your own Lutheran church are the way they are.

A collection of Garrison Keillor's writings about the lifeblood of his literary inspiration, the Lutherans among whom he grew up. Many of these I already have; several seem new to me.Every piece has a wry self-deprecating humor, and a few are quite touching. The biggest hoot was a passage from a description of a Memorial Day ceremony: "This was the year that they forgot to put blanks in the honor guard's rifles, so when they fired the salute, several chickadees fell out of the tree they aimed at, which was also the tree that the boy who played taps sat in. He did not fall out, but when he played taps, it was shakier than usual and the high note was a half-step high -- it was more like the cry of a carnivorous bird." The pieces here are show more all quietly humorous, some quite touching, and all are above average. show less

A collection of humorous vignettes. Anyone would see truth or themselves in some of them but they truly resonate with those from the northern, Midwest.

Possible gift idea for Chris's parents or my grandma. I found myself nodding in more than one place, and chuckling regularly. Keillor really gives shape to Lutheran sensibilities and Midwestern attitudes and values in this collection of humorous essays. A quick read.

garrison keillor is always entertaining...a select audience of lutherans will always enjoy his stories of the faithful. these are fun to read at a slow pace.

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