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From: render@uiucdcsb.CS.UIUC.EDU
Newsgroups: net.wobegon
Subject: Re: 95 Theses 95
Message-ID: <17200009@uiucdcsb>
Date: Mon, 4-Aug-86 23:09:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcsb.17200009
Posted: Mon Aug  4 23:09:00 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 6-Aug-86 19:42:13 EDT
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Nf-From: uiucdcsb.CS.UIUC.EDU!render    Aug  4 22:09:00 1986


Written 10:30 am  Jul 28, 1986 by pds@tove.UUCP:
>     Having just finished reading "Lake Wobegon Days," I have an
> observation that I want to toss out for corroboration or denial.
> In general, I found the book to be enjoyable reading, often 
> hillarious, but just not quite the same as the man himself
> delivering a monologue.  Most of the stories were light-hearted,
> some semi-serious, approaching poignant.  BUT, the 95 Theses 95
> which appeared in a (longest I ever seen) footnote near the end
> bothered me tremendously.  They were almost venomous in tone, and
> very sarchastic in places.  I thought they were out of style with
> the rest of G.K.'s writing and monologue.  I don't think I had
> ever heard him do more than poke some fun at his upbringing,
> but here it seems that a lot more is boiling to the surface.
> 
> What say you shy persons?

Your question sparks a couple of comments.  Yes, the theses are angry,
but there have been several of his monologues in which characters express
the same kind of anger--teenagers wanting to go out on their own, spouses
getting fed up with one another, and neighbors acting less than neighborly.
I think that G.K. mentioned something about the book presenting the town
and its residents "warts and all", and I think that the theses are an example
of that.  Undoubtedly they echo some of Keillor's own feelings about growing
up in such circumstances, or else they would not be as effective as they are.

Personally, I thought the theses did a lot to give the book some emotional
depth.  I mean, hey, I loved my childhood, but it wasn't all wall-to-wall
laughs.  In fact, one of my favorite passages from the book is from the theses:

    "Under this thin veneer of modesty lies a monster of greed.  I drive
     away faint praise, beating my little chest, waiting to be named Sun-God,
     King of America, Idol of Millions, Bringer of Fire, The Great Haji, 
     Thun-Dar The Boy Giant.  I don't want to say, 'Thanks, glad you liked it.'
     I want to say, 'Rise, my people.  Remove your faces from the carpet,
     stand, look me in the face.'"

There are plenty of others, but I'm not gonna quote them here.  Anyway, I think
the "95 Theses 95" were more than appropriate--they are one of the best parts
of the book.

                                     Hal Render
                                     University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
                                     render@b.cs.uiuc.edu  (ARPA)
                                     render@uiuc.csnet     (CSNET)
                                     {pur-ee, ihnp4}!uiucdcs!render  (USENET)