Pontoon

A Novel of Lake Wobegon

By: Garrison Keillor

Narrated by: Garrison Keillor

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Garrison Keillor's latest book is about the wedding of a girl named Dede Ingebretson, who comes home from California with a guy named Brent. Dede has made a fortune in veterinary aromatherapy; Brent bears a strong resemblance to a man wanted for extortion who's pictured on a poster in the town's post office. Then there's the memorial service for Dede's aunt Evelyn, who led a footloose and adventurous life after the death of her husband 17 years previously. Add a surprise boyfriend and a band of newly arrived Mormon missionaries, and the gently rendered chaos is complete.

©2007 Garrison Keillor (P)2007 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Winner, Narration by the Author or Authors, 2008

"There's plenty of fun to be had with the well-timed deadpans and homespun wit." (Publishers Weekly)

Wonderful

Garrison Keillor writes & narrates as only he can. This is a wonderful story, funny sad but we all know people like those of Lake Wobegon. I’ve listened over and over again. Feel good book at its best.

An amazingly simple AND complex slice of life!

Humorous yet poignantly describes all of our us! Life, Love, Loss, Family, Crazy, Sane
Alphabet soup in the wo serous town of Lake Wobegon.
Garrison Keeler delivers his work magnificently.

Enjoyed, but not great

Good, but I've enjoyed his other books more. Great narration, but the story didn't engage me quite as much as he normally does.

Loved it

G.K. is the master of writing - and narrating - profound and poignant stories of human relationships and personal growth through seemingly simple people in a humble nowhere town leading what, to the outsider would appear to be, benign lives. But there is nothing benign about this work. It will infect you with its humour and humanity and take you on a journey into yourself and your own relationships, without even knowing you've left home. But, sans that sticky sentimentality of many writers. A most gifted contemporary story teller! A delight to listen to every time!

Started out good but, then....

Saying it's not for me means there was too much information of an intimate nature which surprised me for Keillor. I tried to like it hoping it would improve but, it just got worse. I was actually relieved when it ended.

pontoon

Better than the rest of his stories and the ending is worth it all

Geezer-Lit . . . in a good way

Is there such a category as “geezer-lit”? If not, this book could start a new literary genre as I expect only those over the age of 50 have sufficient life experience to appreciate the humor and insights that make this wonderful tale hilarious, poignant, wise and affectionate all at the same time.

Introduced to Evelyn on the last evening of her life, enjoying a somewhat raucous dinner with her best friends, I was laughing so hard I had to pee. Then she was gone and her daughter Barbara had to pick up the pieces and plan Evelyn’s unique memorial according to instructions left in a wonderful letter that actually begins Barbara’s awakening (and ours too if we have the ears to hear).

There are other story lines that are outrageous and revealing in their own ways, but it’s Evelyn’s spirit winding through the tale that keeps some grounded, some inspired, and often both at the same time. As one rapidly reaching geezer-hood, I enjoyed the connection to family and community, and the message of living life to its fullest on your own terms. Life has no dress rehearsal and once the curtain comes down the play is over and regrets are wasted time. That message was Evelyn’s best gift to Barbara.

GK’s reading has his usual quirky pauses and breaths, and it took at bit to get used to. But really, there is no other voice that can tell a Lake Wobegon tale. It was a perfect match.

Well, That was Interesting . . .

I've enjoyed Garrison Keillor from way back in his days of Prairie Home Companion. His dry wit and ability to weave a wandering tale used to thrill me every Saturday night as I'd dial in PBS to catch his show.

Oddly enough, I'd never bought one of his books. So, I anticipated this one would be a treat for me.

The opening chapters were about what I'd expect from Garrison. He laid down a firm foundation upon which to weave. I began to eagerly anticipate where the story may go.

By the middle of the book, I was thinking: Okay, maybe the passing years have left an over-romanticized memory of Keilllor's melancholy Lake Wobegon yarns.

The ending of this book left me laughing out loud. It was so funny, I had to listen to the end a second time.

In short, it's a great little story with a brief snooze in the middle. If you buy it, don't give up. The ending is worth the price (and the time).

Any Keillor Fan Will Love This Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Anyone who enjoys the stories on Prairie Home companion will chuckle their way through this off beat adventure about death and hidden secrets in Lke Wobegon.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Pontoon?

The finale of Pontoon is hard to listen to without bursting into tear inducing laughter. While the bizarre conclusion was appropriately hinted at thorughout the story, Garrison brings it home like the master he is.

Which scene was your favorite?

While each of the scenes has appropriate build-up of character it isn't until they all come together at the end that the story reaches the level of hillarity that Keillor is known for.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Death has never been so hilarious

Interesting characters

Took a while to finish but I kept coming back to hear the strange day to day goings of these generational lake dwellers.