Rhubarb: Stories from the Collection (Lake Wobegon U.S.A.)

Rating:
Summary: Rhubarb comes alive under Keillor's direction
Review: "Rhubarb" is a collection of four stories from Garrison Keillor which take simple things in life and make them profound, in an absurd sort of way. Appropriately, the first story is called "Rhubarb". In it, Keillor basically gives his take on the history of rhubarb and tells how the plant affected its discoverers. Next, Keillor ventures into the "Sweet Corn" market by explaining how the vegetable saved, and ruined at the same time, the relationship between a mother and her son. Next comes "The Sun's Gonna Shine Someday", a story in which Clarence Bunsen rises above a miserable week. And finally, "Yellow Ribbon" explains how a teenager uses the opportunity to get away from Lake Wobegon to understand "his people", as well as himself, better. Overall, four very good, well told stories.