This book is great for those little boys (or girls) that like "gross" stories. The story, told in a great rhyme, is about a man who eats only cheese in various icky forms, with great adjectives describing the cheeses.

Garrison Keillor shows a great sense of humor, great rhythm in this odd tale. Let me first warn you though, read it to yourself first once, before trying to read it aloud to a child. If you are not familiar with gourmet cheeses you will be completely tounge tied. My husband and I both love it, our 4 sons have all loved it, as have any friends who have sat on our couch reading it to their children. The detail in some of the illustrations catches the eye of the slightly more sophisticated readers, while still appealing to the little ones. I would say, for oral reading, due to the number of foreign words that this is for the adult to read to the child.

In true Garrison Keillor fashion, this book spins a tale about a man totally obsessed with his love for cheese. Keillor is so good at poetry. I learned how to pronounce many an odd-named cheese from this book. It's got a couple of mildly objectionable lines in it, but otherwise is just perfect. My kids just love this book during our reading time. It's fun to read aloud!

This collection of moments from Christmastime broadcasts of "A Prarie Home Companion" is a very good one. It features excellent music, much of it by the "Hopeful Gospel Quartet". It also has wonderful skits, including Tom Keith's amazingly funny sound effects version of the twelve days of Christmas, and a re-telling of the Christmas story by Garrison and the other actors. The only complaint that I would have about this CD set is that Garrison's brilliant storytelling is not the feature of this compilation. Nevertheless, this compilation is without question worth getting for all of those who enjoy "A Prarie Home Companion".

I like this book. I like how the Hopeful Gospel Choir does most of the songs. I also like the story about the Christmas Oratorio. I also like the news from Lake Wobigan. It's cool along with the rest of the story. This is the best holiday Cassette ever found in the history of mankind. This is highly recommended to all future fans of Garrison Keillor.

I originally bought this CD as a gift but was curious enough that I opened it and played it. I love it. Obviously, I'm keeping that copy and buying another! I am from the Midwest and haven't been back for Christmas in years. Garrison Keillor's wit and homespun stories, the music and the humor all make me anxious to get back there this year. A Prairie Home Christmas is just the kind of down-to-earth Christmas we all need....

This is a compilation of two of Prairie Home Companion's famous joke shows. The single cassette is filled with about an hour of rapid-fire, mostly short jokes. Content varies from fun but silly knock knock jokes and puns, to more adult topics such as doctor, lawyer, light bulb, and relationship jokes. Nothing too bold or dirty, just some old fashioned fun with at least a few memorable one-liners for everyone. A nice mix of rolling eye groans and belly laughs. I often had to rewind to catch the joke that was proceeding during my laughter at the previous one.

Using the style of old-time one liners that just keep you laughing and the interaction of musical introductions, this CD keeps you laughing.

Keillor draws on his usual subjects, Norwegians, "Olly and Lena", jokes that could apply to any ethnic group for some of the time, but the 3rd grader jokes are especially funny and useful for a family "uplifter". Some are groaners, some slapstick style, but all are funny, even if you heard them before.

A good buy!

i found this audio book funny and very impressive because he really tried to make the listener feel he was in each situation.

Where do I start?

(A pretty good impersonator of) Mr. Rogers tells little kittens everywhere that "when you get that special feeling inside, that means it's time to visit Mr. Litter Box" in the "Mr. Rogers Catbox Video".

Guy Noir, the sardonic private eye, makes yet another appearance (minus the wise-cracking, tongue-twisting Pete), being handpicked by an ex-con-turned-poet to publish some poetic parodies in the Paris Review, including a hilarious take-off on Robert Frost's "Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening".

"Cold Weather" tends to cheer you up on those super-cold December evenings when the apartment has no heat (hopefully that's just me). Cold weather, according to Mr. Keillor can come in many forms including, but not limited to, your teenage son kicking you out of your own house because he's afraid of his friends coming over and finding the dad in the house.

"You come to New York looking for one thing, and you find another. And Bob Dylan and Carol Channing found each other," in this spoof of the young sixties generation livin' for today in New York City, hanging out with Truman Capote, Larry King, Kirk Douglas, Paul Harvey, and Mr. Rogers ("Found the mushrooms that were so amazing...right here in the neighborhood.").

"Little House On the Desert" is a guarantee side-splitter for any "Little House" enthusiasts out there, when Ma fakes tuberculosis in order to convince Pa to load up the wagon and get the heck out of Minnesota.

For Mother's Day, be sure to take your mom to "Mel's Big Boy Cafe" at the mall. Chewing is optional.

"Newt" is a toe-tappin' little tune about the former Speaker, which is sure to draw laughs from conservatives and liberals alike. Likewise, the Bemidji Boroughway [sic?] song provides a strong warning to ice-fisherman everywhere about the dangers of mistaking cigars, brautwurst, and dynamite.

I could go on and on and on about how great a collection of laughs this is, but I'll end my rambling with "Getting Older", my personal favorite from the three compact discs. This monologue warns us about the dangers of getting older: your grown children getting you as a present one of those stupid books about "the joys of aging"; similar to "Cold Weather", the teenage son lectures his dad on not dropping him off at the front door of school anymore; the vegetarian waitress goes ballistic when her patron orders "the 47-ounce beef-butt in the hot lard sauce" with french fries and butterbrickle ice cream.

In short (a little late for that), this collection has something for everyone.

What more to say? His analyses of the differences between life in the Midwest and life in New York are spot on.

I'm a Midwest boy who moved to NYC and this is the absolute best description of how it is. I gave a copy to my Dad (still back in the Midwest) so he'd understand what it's like for me to live in Manhattan. Everyone who doesn't live on the coasts should own a copy -- it would bring this country back together again!

The late Joseph O'connell was a master sculptor,craftsman andartist,whose main work, it appears was liturgical.thereby consigning him to a lesser place among artists in this era. Too bad,for his work leaps off the page,full of life and mirth,celebration and deep pathos. He seemed to understand suffering in a way that was not self-indulgent,and portrayed it in stone,magnificently.He did hands very well, touching, probing holding caressing, and for me they seem to hold the key to some of his works. My only complaint is that this book is quite expensive,though handsomely done.Funny when reading this I felt more comfortable listening to Count Basie and Louis Armstrong then Ambrosian chant or William Byrd. Perhaps that too, is a tribute to this fine, wonderful artist.

Joe O'Connell was a freelance sculptor and carver in central Minnesota who made a life out of wood and stone, carving for churches mainly, and his work is quite a wonder to behold. This book is the most complete so far and includes some fine photos, but of course O'Connell work encountered in the real world ---- the crucifixes, the BVMs, the marvellous carvings in which he represents Ellington and Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong as angels ---- the real thing is even more astonishing. He was a folk artist and a fine artist and the book is an homage to him.

My father was an incredible sculptor. He lived his life to create the work you see in this book. I am honored by all that was written about him and I am thrilled to see this book put together with such care.

Now, I am a huge Keillor fan. I laughed myself hoarse over ... "Casey Strikes Out" and once climbed over twelve rows of seats in order to get his autograph on my dogeared copy of "Lake Wobegon Days."

But I've got to say, this wasn't up to his usual standard of excellence. Sorry, Mr. Keillor. I really wanted to like it. But the "magic" was missing.

I disagree with the earlier reviewer who said something is missing. . .perhaps these stories are not pure comedy, if that is the only "something" you are interested in. This collection is deeper, more thoughtful, the best of all GK's collections for insights into the human condition.

I may be biased--I own nearly every tape and CD set Keillor has put out!! As expected, "Mother (etc.)" does not disappoint. I find his voice a tonic, curing me of everything from insomnia to pessimism. His stories are bittersweet ("Ronnie and the Winnebago" and "Love While You Dare To"), nostalgic and thought-provoking ("The Flood"). Keillor is not forcing morality and religion on us, he is speaking from the heart as he always does, regardless of subject matter.

Even though all we ever see of Keillor is an older, reserved looking character in photos, I can actually picture him as he worries, dreams and gets into trouble as a child and young man. His descriptions and delivery are nothing short of remarkable and his closing lines are poignantly sublime. Maybe that's why so many listeners actually think Lake Wobegon is real, or just wish it were....

Like I suspect with other readers, my enjoyment with this book had a lot to do with identification to its places and characters. Born and raised in small town - leave to live in big city - come home again - yada. Being my first Wobegon book, I don't know the extent that Keillor reuses characters, but such continuity would also add to reader interest.

The main character's family relationships were thoughtful, funny and at one point made me cry (a rarity). His new romance was sometimes confusing but satisfying. His wit and sarcasm about everything else was on target, especially from a guy's perspective. Gave me many chuckles

I recommend this book to those aged from mid-life crises on, who have lived at least some of their life in a town where you can count on one hand the number cafés, bars, gas stations or traffic lights. For everyone else, if your only view of small town life is that of quirky, untapped artistic, unsophisticated-by-choice residents like those depicted in the old CBS series Northern Exposure, this book will give you a truer perspective. I probably won't go back and read Keillor's previous books in the series, but I would consider a sequel to this one.

More stories of the stoic Norwegian Lutherans of Lake Wobegon from America's favorite humorist. I was amazed that a book with such a straight-man low key sense of humor was able to make me laugh out loud so many times.

Some of the things (living in New York City, life in academia) I could relate with; in these areas I found his views funny and at times even insightful. More interesting, however, was the fact that I was so compelled by those things with which I have nothing in common (Scandinavian immigrant culture, Minnesota in general). Keillor is a great communicator who reaches across cultures.

Although I'm familiar with Keilor from NPR, this is the first novel of his that I've read. One is forced to like the flawed protagonist John Tollefson; and I found myself appreciating the low-key dry humor of Minnesota Lutherans as well.

An easy, entertaining read. Funny. Occasionally insightful. Recommended.

A trivia note: in discussing Norwegian National Day Keillor gets the date wrong!

This a brilliant comic novel, featuring the adventures of John Tollefson. He has escaped Lutheran Minnesota to live in upstate New York, where he has taken the job of a local radio station manager. In between return visits to the mythical Wobegon, John romances historian Alida Freeman and embarks on a disastrous business venture with a New Age builder. And that's the plot, such as it is. There isn't a strong narrative thread running throughout this book, and I think that this is one of its strengths. Like many people's lives, John Tollefson's doesn't run to order. This might make for a very incoherent novel, but Keillor carries this off exceptionally well. The humour and wit are exceptional, and make 'Wobegon Boy' a huge pleasure to read. I was sorely disappointed that the book actually had to end, since it had easily put me into a very buoyant mood. Exceptional.

Want a book with an adventurous twist? Then Huckleberry Finn is the book for you. Not only is Huckleberry Finn an adventurous book, it is also can be comical and light, though the book has a grave meaning, showing the wrongs in society at the time in the late 19th century.
The book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer precedes Huckleberry Finn, where in the beginning of Huckleberry Finn, Huck lives with the widow Douglas, though doesn't like the high class living, and frequently leaves to see his father, who's always drunk, or just hangs out in the woods. While in the woods, Huck meets Jim, a slave who escaped and needs to cross the Mississippi River to the freedom on the other side, in Illinois. Although this book portrays a serious meaning, it can also be funny and witty.
I liked this book because it was witty and comical, though it had an important message at the same time. I really liked this book because of this, though the southern accent complicates the understanding of the book. Overall, I thought this book is definitely a classic and a must read for all age levels.

I wasn't too looking forward to the reading Huck Finn at first, particularly after glancing at the dialect of the first couple pages, but once I got started and more used to how the characters spoke, I loved the tale! Huck Finn is an extremely well-written novel that uses silly situations to explain how living was back then, and how slaves were treated. Jim is in the beginning of the book coming across as the stereotype of a slave, but as the novel continues, you really begin to see the real person, not just how Jim was "supposed" to be... Also, throughout the book, you see Huck mature and begin to get his own mind; among other things, Huck develops his own set of morals different from those of society... The Adventures of Huck Finn is a funny, exciting, and at times sweet book that everyone should have the chance to read... :):)

After reading many of the reviews below, I have come to the conclusion that perhaps this novel should not be taught at the high school level. Personally, when I read "Huckelberry Finn" my junior year, I thought that it was an enjoyable break from reading other early American classics, but judging from some of the reviews, others didn't agree. I don't understand exactly what was considered so "boring" about this novel. This book provides the reader with action, humor, and morals; what any 'classic' should do. For those who think of themselves as highly intellectual and felt that the novel didn't have a point, you may want to check your IQ, because I think your ego is in for a massive let-down. Although Twain clearly states at the beginning of the novel that he doesn't want his readers to try to find a point in his 'coming of age' story, the theme of the novel almost smacks the reader in the face. The 'point' is that friendship is more important than social standards and sometimes you have to put yourself at risk in order to save those that you care about. This classic will remain so as long as those who are forced to read it lighten up a little and actually open their minds to a great piece of literature.

I like books that make me laugh out loud, though they're way too few and far between. This one had me laughing throughout, and for that reason alone it is well worth the read. And no, I don't think you'd have to be a guy to enjoy this one.

Keillor's writing, besides being very funny, is very literate and clever. Many of the stories come across in much the same way his radio skits and monologues do. But - I wouldn't say that he's quite mastered the written short story genre just yet. Quite a few of the stories have endings that read like Keillor just decided that the story had gone on long enough, so let's see if we can wrap it up in the next 20 words or so. They kind of leave you hanging.

However, stylistic demerits aside, this is one very funny book!

Garrison Keillor is an excellent storyteller. I have loved my visits to Lake Wobegon, both through his books and his radio broadcast.

"The Book of Guys" is the kind of funny, well-crafted storytelling you would expect from Keillor. However, he is not at his best here.

These short stories tend to explore some areas that Keillor does not seem to be as comfortable in. They seem, at times, to be an exercise in which G.K. stretched his own limitations, experimenting with different types of characters and situations.

It's a very good book -- very funny, and very well-written. But if you haven't read Keiller before, I would recommend "Lake Wobegon Days" first.

Yet, even Keillor at his absolute worst (and "Book of Guys" is certainly not this!) would probably be worth reading. The man is simply a great storyteller!

This is easily the funniest book I've ever read. I'm a totally devoted Prairie Home Companion fan and have been following Garrison Keillor's work for years. It's funny and I laughed out loud at almost every story. This is a priceless book and I recommend it highly.