THE DOG SAYS HOW

Kevin Kling's a fine storyteller. His Minnesota accent makes it impossible not to compare him to Garrison Keillor, but, really, they don't have that much in common. Kling's stories are more personal. He takes his own life experiences, hones and embroiders them, and shares them with listeners. He's often funny, but not usually laugh-out-loud funny. Listeners are more likely to smile and nod in recognition. One of Kling's stronger qualities is that he doesn't force stories to any specific length, or even to false resolutions. Some stories are very short, and some are simply bright snippets he wants to share. He stays mostly on the personal topics—family, boyhood mischief, food—but these occasionally bump up against politics and a changing society. G.T.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2008]