Lake Wobegon Days (Lake Wobegon)
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Lake Wobegon Days (Lake Wobegon) Customer Reviews
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♥♥♥♥♥ |
Not even remotely funny or entertaining
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Being a Minnesota resident all my life, a paying member of MPR (the irony of which you'll see below) and the product of a family of artists, writers and musicians of many generations (another irony which you'll see below), you think I'd be just as arty and fawning when it comes to Keillor's non-existent humor as the rest of the local artsy-farsty crowd. However, I'm here to tell you that there are a few smug little local Minnesota myths that many self-styled Minnesotans need to experience a sad realization in lieu of:
1) "Minnesota Nice" isn't particularly any nicer than the "niceness" in any other state despite how smugly the anchor people here GUSH(!) about it on KARE 11 and WCCO Channel 4 News or WCCO AM 830 radio. However: MN polite? Sure. MN possibly just might kill you with kindness? Quite possibly. Just try making friends with those same local self-described MN Nice types, and you'll quickly see what I mean. Indeed, many outstate would-be transplants who got the cold shoulder (no pun intended) have instead learned to call it Minnesota Ice, for they described their MN experience as one of loneliness and isolation, and if possible they soon moved elsewhere because of how cliquish it is here.
2)During inclement weather, chances are anyone here who make the observation ("Nice weather, huh.") as their first example of alleged MN dry humor, clearly has little or no understanding of what dry humor actually is. Trust me, whenever many local types encounter the REAL DEAL they kind of go dull in the eyes at best, or think that you're being "negative" at worst. Either way, the recipients of your attempt at suble understated humor will be even be less inclined to act MN Nice.
3)And finally: Garrison Keillor isn't funny. GASP! Sorry folks but it's true. And this book is no exception. Despite all their MFA and liberal arts degrees, the "arty" and "whimsy" types at NPR and elsewhere still can't connect the dots enough to see the glaring and ironic parallel between Keillor's humor and the fable about the Emperor's New Clothes. But then again we're the state famous for that sixties folk singer who never could sing worth a damn, and let's not forget that kooky governor who couldn't work and play well together with others.
Don't get me wrong I love this state excluding its aforementioned smug self-deluded foolishness, and I've some wonderful friends and family here. Art is the one area of human endeavor that is wholly subjective. So if you like Keillor or not you don't owe anyone any justifications. But if you're anything like me, just the sound of Keillor's voice on NPR is enough to make me wince, groan and quickly shut off the radio. And you'd be surprised what some think of him at the Literary Loft Center. I was. It ain't good. |
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