Lake Wobegon Family Reunion

Even to the uninitiated, the "news from Lake Wobegon" inspires familiar feelings of coming home and catching up. Garrison Keillor's breathy baritone, complete with a periodic nasal whistle and his folksy stage presence, maintains the intimacy of the live listening experience. This latest compilation of monologues highlights the meaning of the mundane in family and community life for the familiar characters of Lake Wobegon, Minnesota. Keillor is a master of the understated, and his comedic timing is impeccable. Spanning nearly four decades, this compilation showcases Keillor's evolving accent, and while his vowels lose some of their trademark elongation, the monologues continue to unfold comfortingly. Topics range from decrying the degradation of potato salad to lamenting the loss of a well-loved resident, so there's something for everyone. A.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine