I had only listened to McLean on the radio before, and I couldn't help but wonder if his captivating stories would maintain their charm when presented on the written page. Well, let me tell you, it is every bit as good as I had hoped.

McLean has this remarkable ability to paint vivid pictures with his words, just like Garrison Keillor. His writing is filled with the same warmth, humor, and keen observations of human nature.

Each story in this collection draws you in and makes you feel as if you are right there in the midst of the action. Whether it's a tale of small-town life, a humorous encounter, or a touching moment of self-discovery, McLean's words have the power to transport you.

He truly is the Canadian equivalent of Garrison Keillor, and this book is a must-read for anyone who loves great storytelling.

I absolutely adored the pet stories! They were truly a source of great entertainment for me.

Some of the anecdotes were so hilarious that I couldn't help but burst out laughing loudly. It was as if the pets themselves were right there in front of me, acting out their silly and endearing antics.

The way the stories were told made me feel a deep connection with these furry friends and their owners. Each story had its own unique charm, whether it was about a mischievous dog getting into trouble or a cute cat doing something unexpectedly funny.

Reading these pet stories not only brought joy to my day but also made me realize how much love and laughter our pets can bring into our lives. I can't wait to read more of them and share the laughter with others.

When I first picked up this book, I had some reservations.

I had just completed Vidal's Lincoln and was in need of some light entertainment. The initial couple of stories centered around the family pets, and I assumed it would be as fulfilling as watching America's Funniest Home Videos: moderately amusing but not truly worth my time.

However, I persisted and was nearly pleasantly surprised. McLean has an engaging writing style that managed to deviate most of the stories from the obvious or ordinary.

Just as I began to warm to his peculiar observations, he concludes with a couple of straightforward stories on ageing and death that verge on sentimentality.

By the end, it seemed as if the author had deliberately rounded out the subject matter in an effort to strike a deeper chord.

Nevertheless, this is rather light material, and the attempts at finding meaning were about as successful as, to borrow another television reference, a moderately entertaining sitcom that decides to tackle more serious subject matter in its third or fourth season to display the newfound maturity of the writers (or perhaps a lack of fresh material).

Overall, while there were some enjoyable moments, the book didn't quite live up to my expectations.

I have an absolute passion for the Vinyl Cafe stories.

They have a unique charm that keeps drawing me in. This latest installment was every bit as wonderful as the first two.

The characters are so vivid and relatable, and the stories have a way of touching your heart and making you smile.

The Vinyl Cafe has become a sort of literary haven for me, a place where I can escape from the hustle and bustle of the real world and lose myself in the charming tales.

I can't wait to see what other adventures the characters will go on in future stories.

Whether it's the humorous misadventures of the main character or the heartwarming relationships between the characters, there's always something to enjoy in the Vinyl Cafe stories.

They truly are a delight to read.

Around Christmas time, I found myself completely immersed in Stuart McLean’s stories that were read by himself on Spotify. I just couldn't get enough of them! The charm and warmth of his tales were simply irresistible. As a result, I decided to purchase this little collection of stories to further indulge in his wonderful world of words.

The family at the center of these stories - Dave, Morley, Sam, Stephanie, the dog Arthur, and all the supporting characters - are so incredibly relatable and inviting. They feel like real people that you could easily imagine having in your own life. I find myself completely engaged in each story, eagerly anticipating what will happen next, even when I'm right in the middle of one.

The stories have a way of evoking all kinds of emotions, especially love. Stuart's writing is truly masterful. His descriptions of people and events, even within the confines of a short story, are so exquisitely detailed and perfectly executed. It's as if he has a magical pen that brings everything to life on the page.

I wholeheartedly believe that every single person, at some point in their lives, should take the time to sit down and read Stuart’s stories about the family of Dave and Morley. You'll be glad you did. ❤️

Some truly down home humour!

If Pierre Berton is lauded as the premier Canadian historian, then we must bestow the laurel leaves upon Stuart McLean as the quintessential Canadian storyteller! VINYL CAFE UNPLUGGED, the third in a series, consists of a collection of short tales about a generic yet endearing Canadian family - Dave and his wife, Morley, along with their kids, Stephanie and Sam. More of a hobby than a genuine business, Dave dons a game face and enjoys pretending that he is productively engaged with his used record business, the Vinyl Cafe.

The stories are far from being deep and complex. In fact, they positively exude politeness, simplicity, candid joy, love, and the plain old down home niceness that characterizes the Canadian, who is unabashedly stereotyped worldwide. The humour is wry, sardonic, ironic, and subdued - only rarely of the out-loud belly laugh variety. However, McLean's tales in this witty collection never fail to amuse while also providing the occasional underlying moral text that never even approaches the realm of preaching.

Perhaps a comparison to Garrison Keillor's LAKE WOBEGON DAYS would offer a potential American reader a better understanding of the flavour of Stuart McLean's impressive repertoire of stories.

Highly recommended.

Paul Weiss

I picked up this book at the library the other day.

It was just because the cover caught my eye. Little did I know that I was about to embark on a wonderful reading journey.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had me laughing out loud at times with its humorous情节. And there were also moments when it was quite touching, tugging at my heartstrings.

One of the things I loved about this book was that it really felt like I was there with the characters, experiencing their lives along with them.

Another great aspect was that it took place around Toronto and mentioned places that I am familiar with. This added an extra layer of connection for me.

I couldn't help making a comparison to Dave Barry. I'm not sure if that is because I just read a few of his books recently, or because the main character in this book is also called Dave.

Either way, this book was a fun read all around. It kept me entertained from start to finish and I would highly recommend it to others.

Another wonderful book filled with humorous and sentimental stories by Mr. McLean has emerged.

This book is divided into five distinct sections. Each section contains two or three stories that have the power to make you laugh out loud one moment and bring tears to your eyes the next. They also have the ability to make you re-live memories from various stages of your life.

Some of the favorite stories within this collection include Arthur, Christmas Presents, Morley's Christmas Pageant, and Love Never Ends. These stories are not only entertaining but also deeply touching, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

If you have already read or listened to Mr. McLean's work and are familiar with his unique style and charm, then I highly recommend this book to you. It is sure to be another delightful addition to your reading list.

I just finished reading this for the third time in a year, and I also downloaded the audio book. It has some moments of gentle pathos and tragedy that made me cry. However, more often than not, it gave me so many belly laughs that it actually hurt. In fact, I was even kicked off a bus once for laughing out loud so heartily.

If you ever wish for a cure for a bad day, month, or year, this book provided me with one of the best antidotes I've known. The chapter on DIY alone is worth the purchase of the book. It's truly that good.

Within an hour of finishing it for the first time, I immediately went onto Amazon and bought every book Mr McLean had written. I was that impressed. The only drawback, if there is one, is that his newest book is not currently available in the UK. So it's either a patient waiting game or I might have to fly to Canada to get it. It might just come to that.

A truly charming, delightfully funny, and yet also deeply sad real-life story about the essence of living. It's the kind of life that so many of us can relate to, filled with the ordinary yet extraordinary moments that make up our daily existence. The author has a remarkable ability to capture the nuances of life, from the humorous anecdotes that bring a smile to our faces to the poignant moments that tug at our heartstrings. As I read this story, I found myself completely immersed in the characters' lives, sharing in their joys and sorrows. It was a truly engaging and thought-provoking read that left a lasting impression on me. I wholeheartedly recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a relatable and entertaining account of life.

I truly enjoyed this to the fullest extent.

It was a masterful display of natural and smooth storytelling. The tales of Dave and Morley were simply hilarious, capable of making you roll around on the floor, laughing until tears streamed down your eyes.

For those of you who have tuned in to The Vinyl Cafe on CBC Radio, you are well aware that Stewart's narration of the story is accompanied by that distinct McLean twang.

As I was reading this, I couldn't help but imagine Stewart's voice reading along with me, which added an extra layer of charm and authenticity to the experience.

This book was truly great and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good laugh and an engaging read.

This review is truly super funny!

It actually had me smiling and laughing out loud while I was reading it.

The author did an amazing job of creating characters that felt so real and familiar.

By the end of the book, I had this strange yet wonderful feeling as if I had known these characters for a very long time.

It's not often that a book can have such an impact on me.

The story was engaging, the writing was excellent, and the humor was on point.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good laugh and an enjoyable read.

Overall, I would give this book a solid 10/10. :)

It's definitely one of the best books I've read in a long time.