Book Review
Pontoon By GARRISON KEILLOR
Reviewed by PEGGY BARNETT
Fans of A Prairie Home Companion, the radio show and movie, will recognize the style and kinds of characters in Pontoon, Garrison Keillor's latest novel. Keillor is a man of many talents, creator and star of the show and writer of novels and children's books.

The first character we meet in Pontoon is Evelyn, who has just died. "Evelyn was an insomniac so when they say she died in her sleep, you have to question that." She sounds like a most likeable person, but we move on to her daughter Barbara, less likeable but interesting, who finds her mother's body. Barbara has a bit of a drinking problem and it takes her a while to let people know about her mother's death.

She finds an envelope labeled "Arrangements," with Evelyn's rather unorthodox requests for her funeral. Evelyn's note also mentions Raoul, whom Barbara has not heard of, but who turns out to be a boy friend. Evidently, Evelyn had more than one secret. Later we meet Kyle, the grandson, and Evelyn's two sons, Roger and Bennett.

Meanwhile, Debbie Detmer has arrived in town. She is visiting her parents and planning her wedding. Like Evelyn's funeral, Debbie's wedding is to be unusual. (and this is where the pontoon comes into play.) "Playful" is probably a good word for this novel. One supposes that there might really be people like this, who do things like this, but one is doubtful.

Debbie's past might be said to be checkered. She has been living in California since she left Lake Wobegon after high school. The ladies tend to say things like, "Well, she tried out enough men, let's hope she found a good one." We get the feeling that Brent may not be such a good one, but Debbie seems determined. In addition to the challenging nature of her wedding plans, Mr. Detmer has fallen recently and gotten religion as well as some odd ideas.

Complications in the lives of the Detmers and Kyle and girl friend Sarah, not to mention Barbara's struggles, keep the story going. It is really Keillor's quiet humor that holds our attention till the very funny climax at the lake.

Pontoon is available at the Mary Willis Library.

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