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)

Pontoon

Although pontoon was hilarious, you have to slog through lots of unnecessary prose to get there

Stoic Scandinavians with Style

A hoot from start to finish... Lutheran Style! I have read the print version as well, but nothing beats Garrison reading it to you.

Loved it!

Great story as usual. At the ending, I was laughing so hard I like to have peed myself.

My first "Trip" to Lake Wobegon but I'll be back

If you could sum up Pontoon in three words, what would they be?

Funny. Sad. Great.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters of Evelyn and Barbara. Though I did not like Barbara's thoughts about her composer brother, she is an interesting character.

Have you listened to any of Garrison Keillor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I am vaguely familiar with Garrison's Prairie Home Companion stories about Lake Wobegon and particularly remember one memorable

If you could take any character from Pontoon out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Though I enjoyed Evelyn, I think I would be embarrassed by her in public. Maybe Raoul ... I don't really know.

Any additional comments?

The subjects of sex and death are throughout the book. The subject of negative side of being a Lutheran also runs through the story. These three subjects might turn off a number of reader/listeners. Even so, while characters blame God for the

Woe - Be - Gone

I know the Wobegon stories have become classics. If I read this one instead of listening, I very well may have liked it. The narration didn't work for me. I typically listen in my car. Garrison speaks way to softly to hear while in the car with ambient sounds. And his cadence will entrance you - literally, put you in a trance. I did love that old lady!!!

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.