Pontoon cover art

Pontoon

A Novel of Lake Wobegon

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About this listen

 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 Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Fiction Funny Comedy

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)
All stars
Most relevant
This book has a number of threads and keeps you listening right to the end.

Unusual thought-provoking story

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Looking to examine the Lake Wobegon effect I start from having seen my family become addicted to the weekly ?News From Lake Wobegone podcast? and hugely enjoyed the Audible offering which reflects Garrison Keillor?s weekly twenty minute monologues. Here again, unfortunately, I feel that the punchy, pithy, featherlight whimsy that is Lake Wobegon has become prey to ambition hence the four star rather than five stars. When'all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average,' all the novels are going to comfortably reach into that upper quartile ? but as with the film adaptation I was left with something of a Lutheran rapture feeling simply: ?It could have been worse.?
Huge praise indeed, in its bachelor Norwegian way and if this review intrigues you then its time you ventured to Lake Wobegon.

A more succinct Pontoon might not have sunk

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What I remember from reading Lake Wobegon Days when it first came out is the everyday absurdity; its humour. What struck me in Pontoon is that ther's so much more there. Perhaps as a young man I missed the way the author looks at that absurdity, which is in an understanding, compassionate way. Loved the book and its reading!

Getting re-acquainted

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I love Garrison Keillor’s gentle wry humour and insight into the lives of ordinary people. I love his use of language and the way he reads. Having been brought up among Brethren myself, albeit across the pond in the U.K., I totally get where he’s coming from and his gentle pokes at religion are delightful!

Wonderfully written and read!

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When your Mum dies and her secret life comes alive, hold it to you with all your heart.

The Kids of Our Beloved Characters

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