[bookshare-discuss] Re: Garrison Keillor, 5 books in collection and brilliant new movie
- From: "Suzanne Wilson" <suzannewilson@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 01:02:34 -0400
Lissi,
You are a very talented writer. Your review was a pleasure to read.
Sue
----- Original Message -----
From: Estelnalissi
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 9:28 PM
Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Garrison Keillor, 5 books in collection and
brilliant new movie
Dear Friends who Enjoy Garrison Keillor,
If I'm the only Garrison Keillor fan on the Bookshare Lists, then please
delete now, but there is encouraging evidence that some of you may be
interested in my news.
First off, there are 5 books by this mellow voiced, very shy, champion of
Midwestern culture and folk, gospel, Celtic, jazz and blues music in the
Bookshare collection. They are, in case you don't already have enough to read,
Happy To Be Here
Lake Wobegon Days
Leaving Home
Love Me
and
Me: Jimmy (Big Boy) Valente
This afternoon I saw the new movie, "A Prairie Home Companion." Don't miss
it! Yes, some of it is visual, but the dialogue is so engrossing and the music
so heartfelt with hilarious and tender lyrics, you won't feel you are missing
anything by not seeing the screen.
I expected it to be nostalgic, warm and fuzzy. I expected it to celebrate
Keillor's enormous success in bringing grass roots humor and music to a portion
of the American population, including myself, who were hungry for the
companionship and talent Keillor orchestrated so brilliantly. I expected that,
reailistically, the dear man was beyond his creative prime.
The movie delivered dashes of what I expected on the first and second counts,
but I was completely wrong on the third. It was no rehash of Keller's career
and personal highlights. It was an ingenious interpretation of the truth, "To
Every thing there is a season." Keillor went beyond collecting and cleverly
presenting anecdotes on the colorful characters he has known. All of his jokes,
tall tales, and music making and appreciation have taught him wisdom far
greater than the sum of its inspirations.
The appeal of The Prairie Home Companion is fading as American culture has
made sweeping, fundamental, lightning fast changes. Baby Boomers are beginning
to believe in their mortality and Keillor accepts the passing of his brain
child. He has written a grand metaphor for death and change, understanding he
can't be the one to write the metaphor for rebirth. He prepares us for his
demise and the demise of the Prairie Home he made for us, with humor, grace and
a personal detachment no one, no matter how much they love him, have been able
to fathom.
My friend, who'd heard his name and never heard his radio show or read his
books, laughed and laughed during the movie, and liked the characters. The
acting and music was wonderful. I laughed, too, but I also cried. Keillor
touched my soul in unexpected ways. The Prairie Home Companion, the radio show
many scheduled their weekends so as never to miss, is a cultural phenomenon of
decades.This movie, is a theatrical creation which will touch and inform
humanity for centuries.
Garrison, I feel wrenchingly wistful, but so very proud of you.
Always with love,
Lissi
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