A national holiday in Lake Wobegon is always gaudy and joyful. But what is going on between Clint Bunsen and Miss Liberty?
Clint Bunsen is one of the old reliables in Lake Wobegon the treasurer of the Lutheran church and the auto mechanic who starts your car on below-zero mornings. For six years he has run the Fourth of July parade, turning what was once a line of pickup trucks and girls pushing baby carriages that hold their cats into an event of dazzling spectacle. Blazing bands, marching units, cannons, horses, a fireworks show, and the famous Living Flagone thousand men and women wearing red, white, or blue, standing in formationhave attracted the attention of CNN and prompted the governor to put in an appearance as well. The town is dizzy with anticipation. Until, that is, they hear of Clints ambition to run for Congress. Theyre embarrassed for him. They know him too wellhis unfortunate episodes involving vodka sours, his rocky marriage. And then there is his friendship, or whatever it is, with the twenty-four-year-old girl who dresses up as the Statue of Liberty for the parade. Its rumored that underneath those robes she is buck naked, and that her torch contains a quart of booze.
Its Lake Wobegon as its always beengood loving people who drive each other crazy.
Wait, two books about Lake Wobegon...in the same year?, impossible, but still true. After PONTOON's somber assessment of where the sidewalks end in Lake Wobegon, Kellior follows up with a rousing, often funny and troubled return to Lake Wobegon with LIBERTY; a satire on small town life, big dreams, empty symbols and the effort put in by one man to turn his town upside down once a year.
To be honest, if this had not been an election year I don't think we would have seen this book as fast as we did, but, with politics in the air the timing couldn't be better. As for the topic, though, it's hot, but not broad, and not one that will reach out and grab new readers, but just us old hands and long time fans of his fictional town. The pivot on which this novel turns is like all Kellior's works, growing older, seeing change not only coming, but arrive on your doorsteps, bags in hand and looking to move in. From cars that are more cyborg than spark plugs and oil, to the internet's effects on the BOOM generation, Kellior takes a tent pole name from Wobegon, Clint Bunsen, and throws him head first into a "change of life". He's getting older, everyone is getting younger and his marriage and his life are falling apart. And on top of that he's losing ground on the one thing in his life that really matters... the fourth of July. The parade and the idea that a celebration should be just that and not merely socialable or political.
Bunsen is all American (even after he learns that his heritage may not be as pure as he once thought early on in the book) and Kellior funnels his own views and fears of the crisis times in America with some spot on observations on the current state of our fears and terrors about both our country and ourselves. For some this is going to smack of being preachy and creaky, but, pushing past the finger wagging, you will find some tender ideas, sweet moments and some hardcore and bitter truths.
In fact, in the last third of the book there is a shocking (truly, no lie, nearly dropped the book, had to read the line twice just to make sure and yes, it's true, OMG!) moment when Clint makes a very serious threat against another character that crosses that bright line between fiction and reality and will send a cold shiver through you - Lake Wobegon, it seems, is truly no longer an avenue of fond memories, but a living and breathing street, present time, present place. On top of that Kellior continues with his LAKE WOBEGON: AFTER DARK style of writing, dipping into the minds and sex lives of his town in, sometimes, graphic style.
But change, as Kellior likes to point out time and again in LIBERTY, is neither good nor evil, and like liberty itself, it needs each and every one of us to take point and stand watch, to forever remain on guard and not take oursevles so seriously that we lose everything that we've worked so hard for over a moment of crisis. That idea works just as well, at home, sitting on the porch, as it does walking around the world at large and, at last, in Lake Wobegon, change is good... but never free.
For fans, LIBERTY is another hit in the LAKE WOBEGON series, for those just passing through, you'll enjoy the fuss but miss the party. So, stop, sit for a spell and take your time. We made plenty.
Wait, two books about Lake Wobegon...in the same year?, impossible, but still true. After PONTOON's somber assessment of where the sidewalks end in Lake Wobegon, Kellior follows up with a rousing, often funny and troubled return to Lake Wobegon with LIBERTY; a satire on small town life, big dreams, empty symbols and the effort put in by one man to turn his town upside down once a year.
To be honest, if this had not been an election year I don't think we would have seen this book as fast as we did, but, with politics in the air the timing couldn't be better. As for the topic, though, it's hot, but not broad, and not one that will reach out and grab new readers, but just us old hands and long time fans of his fictional town. The pivot on which this novel turns is like all Kellior's works, growing older, seeing change not only coming, but arrive on your doorsteps, bags in hand and looking to move in. From cars that are more cyborg than spark plugs and oil, to the internet's effects on the BOOM generation, Kellior takes a tent pole name from Wobegon, Clint Bunsen, and throws him head first into a "change of life". He's getting older, everyone is getting younger and his marriage and his life are falling apart. And on top of that he's losing ground on the one thing in his life that really matters... the fourth of July. The parade and the idea that a celebration should be just that and not merely socialable or political.
Bunsen is all American (even after he learns that his heritage may not be as pure as he once thought early on in the book) and Kellior funnels his own views and fears of the crisis times in America with some spot on observations on the current state of our fears and terrors about both our country and ourselves. For some this is going to smack of being preachy and creaky, but, pushing past the finger wagging, you will find some tender ideas, sweet moments and some hardcore and bitter truths.
In fact, in the last third of the book there is a shocking (truly, no lie, nearly dropped the book, had to read the line twice just to make sure and yes, it's true, OMG!) moment when Clint makes a very serious threat against another character that crosses that bright line between fiction and reality and will send a cold shiver through you - Lake Wobegon, it seems, is truly no longer an avenue of fond memories, but a living and breathing street, present time, present place. On top of that Kellior continues with his LAKE WOBEGON: AFTER DARK style of writing, dipping into the minds and sex lives of his town in, sometimes, graphic style.
But change, as Kellior likes to point out time and again in LIBERTY, is neither good nor evil, and like liberty itself, it needs each and every one of us to take point and stand watch, to forever remain on guard and not take oursevles so seriously that we lose everything that we've worked so hard for over a moment of crisis. That idea works just as well, at home, sitting on the porch, as it does walking around the world at large and, at last, in Lake Wobegon, change is good... but never free.
For fans, LIBERTY is another hit in the LAKE WOBEGON series, for those just passing through, you'll enjoy the fuss but miss the party. So, stop, sit for a spell and take your time. We made plenty.
Garrison Keillor puts the spotlight on Clint Bunsen in this latest Lake Wobegon novel. Clint feels unappreciated for his leadership as chairman of Lake Wobegon's July Fourth celebration. He has rubbed quite a few townsfolk the wrong way and Clint is having a rough time of it.
His brother Clarence wants Clint to buy out Clarence's share of Bunsen Motors, a business that isn't exactly thriving. Clint is bored with his wife and his life. He is turning 60 and he feels like he has missed out on his chance for happiness until he meets a lovely young woman on the internet....
Fans of A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION will enjoy this book. In contrast to PONTOON, the previous installment in the series, LIBERTY is much darker with a lot less laughs. Keillor's distinctive voice is there but where PONTOON was a romp, LIBERTY is more of a tromp. Clint's depressive persona drags the humor down. If you want to laugh check out PONTOON. If you want to indulge Clint's angst, check out LIBERTY.
