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The Lake Wobegon Virus

A Novel

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The Lake Wobegon Virus

By: Garrison Keillor
Narrated by: Garrison Keillor, Richard Dworsky - instrumental soloist
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About this listen

Best-selling author and humorist Garrison Keillor returns to one of America's most beloved mythical towns, beset by a contagion of alarming candor.

A mysterious virus has infiltrated the good people of Lake Wobegon, transmitted via unpasteurized cheese made by a Norwegian bachelor farmer, the effect of which is episodic loss of social inhibition. Mayor Alice, Father Wilmer, Pastor Liz, the Bunsens and Krebsbachs, formerly taciturn elders, burst into political rants, inappropriate confessions, and rhapsodic proclamations, while their teenagers watch in amazement. Meanwhile, a wealthy outsider is buying up farmland for a Keep America Truckin' motorway and amusement park, estimated to draw 2.2 million visitors a year. Clint Bunsen and Elena the hometown epidemiologist to the rescue, with a Fourth of July Living Flag and sweet corn feast for a finale.

In his newest Lake Wobegon novel, Garrison Keillor takes us back to the small prairie town where for so long American readers and listeners have found laughter as well as the wry airing of our foibles and most familiar desires and fears - a town where, as we know, "all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average".

©2020 Garrison Keillor (P)2020 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Romance Small Town & Rural World Literature Fiction Comedy Funny
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Gary Keillor is not only a great writer but his delivery style perfectly matches his stories.
I am however, still waiting for my invitation to the Sons of Canute duck blind. Come on eh!

Beware - Genius at work

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Delightful, but WHY hasn’t someone responsible for this production arranged for Mister Keillor to get his TEETH fixed so that every ESSSSSSS isn’t HISSED into the microphone?

Oh God the whistling!!!

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I love all his books and his voice. This was slightly different in that it broke the fourth wall, or whatever the literary equivalent is. I quite liked that though. the majority of the book is the usual kind of subtle and very funny observational humour but with a more sentimental ending perhaps, than the average Lake Wobegone. Brilliant work. I enjoyed seeing how his perspective has shifted as he's got older and what he appreciates now that he once derided.

Bonkers but brilliant

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Lake Wobegon is a very special place. The characters are enchanting. You can never guess what is going to occur. There are laughs and shocks. And at the very end you are reminded why it is such a special place.

Good to be back at the lake

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It made me see the world differently. I enjoyed his books in the 80s when we were young. Now I am old this book resonates with how I feel now. Excellent! Somehow he makes me feel good about myself.

Gentle, philosophical humour

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