Garrison Keillor's "Homegrown Democrat"

[Democrat 4 Ever]

Received my copy yesterday from Amazon. Finished reading it about 30 minutes ago. Anybody here read Keillor's latest book?

I read a lot of politically slanted books - buy and support the liberals - check out the neocon wingnuts from the library - damn if the neocons will get a penny of my money, but I digress...

This book actually moved me in his definition of what are Democrats and liberals. He managed to put into one small book all of the values, strengths, and beliefs of the Democratic party. He gets a couple of good swipes at the Repubs (as well as taking a few at the Dems from time to time.) He related so many things that reminded me of my childhood of a liberal family. He grew up in Minnesota, me in a small town in Kentucky - but we both were fortunate to come from good, salt of the earth families. We both were taught the principles of living your faith, wanting to see everyone do well, education is the golden parachute for everyone and and talking "good" is not the same as living good.

I recommend this book to anyone who occasionally is stumped for an answer when a right wing zealot gets in your face, makes crazy claims to socialism or you just get tired of the rhetoric and want to take a rest from the political wars for awhile. This year is not the year to rest.

Two very briefs excepts -

"Republicans have perfectly nice manners, normal hair, pleasant smiles, good deodorants, but when it comes right down to it, you do not want them to be monitoring your oxygen tube or running your child's school."

"On Sunday morning you sat in the Brethren meeting hall, which was plain, unadorned, with no pictures or statues or gold or expensive things because the Brethren lived by the Word and didn't parade their Christian faith for effect. My father thought the baccalaureate "service" at the high school was silly on the face of it, mere religiosity, an attempt by the indifferent to play at religious ritual and thereby assuage their guilty conscience. And that's the Republican Party: its Christianity is about half fake because it scorns Jesus' command to love they neighbor as thyself and it abuses any who take the commandment seriously. Better to be a principled atheist than a Christian for show."

Please forgive any typos -

[gmoney]

1. Yoink!

Love that last line... swiped for my sig, if you don't mind.

I've been on the fence about buying this, but I think I'll go ahead and spring for it based on your review. Thanks!

[Democrat 4 Ever]

5. Use the line all your want, I don't even think Keillor would mind!

[ComerPerro]

2. My friend has it, I have read most of it

It is an outstanding book

[RandomKoolzip]

3. It's small enough to read in one sitting....

Which I did yesterday at Borders. If you can take Keillor's cutesy epigrammatic limericks poking fun at liberals (which I can), then I'd recommend you read it.

[southlandshari]

4. A stunning Keillor article from August

Probably posted on DU earlier, but for those who missed it:

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0831-02.htm

About the horrific hijacking of the Republican Party - originally published by "In These Times" and picked up by Common Dreams.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

6. That article is in the book under Chapter 2

titled "We Have Become the Tedious Conservatives" - brilliant

[a new day]

9. That's the closing of the book

I want to win, but Keillor puts it into perspective:

"Dante said that the hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who in time of crisis remain neutral, so I have spoken my piece, and thank you, dear reader. It’s a beautiful world, rain or shine, and there is more to life than winning."

If anyone want a preview, you can read the first four chapters here:

http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/features/deskofgk/2004/08/10_homegrown.shtml

[LosinIt]

7. Excellent, excellent, excellent!

Never have I so thoroughly enjoyed a piece of nonfiction. I love Garrison K. Took the book with me to read on the plane last week for a business trip. It's a nice size for that. I couldn't recommend it more highly!

[a new day]

8. I hesitated to buy it

I didn't know if I could get through it. I have bookmarks in Clinton's "My Life", The 9/11 Commission Report, and about three others, so getting another one going didn't seem smart. I found a CD of Keillor reading it on eBay for $11.00 and decided to listen. If I didn't like it, I figured it would put me to sleep. It came in the mail yesterday, and I put it on the Wave as I went to bed.

It was just outstanding! I listened to the whole 4.5 hours before I could rest. It was like a mind meld.

I really enjoyed his device of the non-Starbuck's coffee house in St. Paul where he watches the world go by. The pricipled atheist line was a standout for me, too.

Keillor's avuncular style as he rips Bush and the Republicans for putting a trade mark on 9/11 is just awesome.

Highly recommended. He and I are about the same age, but I don't think his world view is age dependent. It is a matter of what you value.

[a new day]

10. n/t

[progressivebydesign]

11. I'm thinking it'll make great holiday gifts this year!

Can't wait to buy it!! Thanks!

[Eloriel]

12. KILLER last line

Love it:

"Better to be a principled atheist than a Christian for show."