The Bottom Line: Recent eye surgery severely limited my mobility and kept me from my love of reading. These tapes made the restrictions less onerous and served to salvage my sagging spirits.
In early October I underwent two additional surgical procedures on my right eye. During one session in the OR, my surgeon performed a membranectomy to remove the scarring on my retina and a vitrectomy to repair a full-thickness macular hole. The final surgical step involved inserting a perfluorocarbon or perfluoropropane gas to help the hole to seal. To maintain the gas bubble positioned against the wound, I had to keep my head parallel to the floor for 16 days. I had four, 15-minute periods each day to break out of this "positioning". Hence, no books, Epinionating, or films.
Audio books and music CDs were my salvation. Stories was one of my favorites.
Gary Edward (Garrison) Keillor was a frequent contributor to The New Yorker and those writing assignments eventually led to the airwaves. Many are most familiar with Keillor from tuning into "A Prairie Home Companion" which he originated on Minnesota Public Radio. A master storyteller, his down-home Midwestern style and distinctive delivery led to national renown. He has also authored numerous books, including several for the juvenile audience.
Stories is a two-audiocassette set that includes an appealing mix of folk tales, poetry, and - well, stories! (It is also available in CD format ISBN 1-56511-009-9). Many of the vignettes are funny, some are sad, but all are interesting. Keillor is at his best in a live audience setting. That element is missing from Stories but his rich narration was clear and strong. Keillor did not affect different character voices but even "dueling dialog" pieces were easily distinguishable.
The selection of Stories should accommodate most listeners' tastes. Titles include Attitude, Drowning, Family Honeymoon, and The Babe. Death, fame, human interaction, life, sports - each tale serves as another audio thread in this enchanting vocal tapestry.
Keillor's voice transported me to distant venues and entertained me with both the familiar and the exotic. Running time is @ 3 hours and, even with my head immobilized and vision restricted, Stories let me escape the confines of my recovery.
I received Stories from a friend - thank you Linda - so I do not know its actual cost. The published price is $18.95 but http://boolloob.com listed nine on-line sources with prices ranging as low as $10.92. (Epinions even identified used copies for under $5.00.) Some works in the collection run but a few minutes so Stories would be an ideal companion for harried commuters traversing Washington's beltway or other congested arteries. Additional details can be found at http://www.epinions.com/Stories_by_Garrison_Keillor/display_~full_specs.
Write On!
Stories
Garrison Keillor
Highbridge Audio
Audio Tape
01 August 1992
ISBN 0-942110-43-9
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