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dja777's review
4.0
Fun, I really like Sarah Vowell's voice. Sadly, I read [b:Assassination Vacation|3110|Assassination Vacation|Sarah Vowell|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432678421s/3110.jpg|824686] first, and nothing else of hers has ever measured up to that one.
reflectiverambling_nalana's review
3.0
While I enjoy essays I am not frequently a reader of collections. While this was entirely entertaining and will tickle any history buff's sweet spot, it never excelled beyond being simply that: entertaining. Now with a work like this I don't expect or want anything else. But something I look for in rating very niche work if it is not for technical merits that I feel even remotely qualified to speak on, is how accessible and appealing is a work to the general public.
I do believe Sarah Vowell's voice is accessible to the multitudes, but I don't think it had the cross over appeal that would have this sky rocket and be universally endearing to a broader audience. The Partly Cloudy Patriot is by no means bad, I would recommend it to any general US history fan who's also politically aware. Or a writer. But it's just simply a decent time.
I do believe Sarah Vowell's voice is accessible to the multitudes, but I don't think it had the cross over appeal that would have this sky rocket and be universally endearing to a broader audience. The Partly Cloudy Patriot is by no means bad, I would recommend it to any general US history fan who's also politically aware. Or a writer. But it's just simply a decent time.
darthgrim's review
4.0
Great production on the audiobook. I'm currently mildly obsessed with Sarah Vowell because she also seems to infodump and over share presidential history. I clapped and laughed when she mentioned bonding with people over Ulysses S Grant.
punkystarshine's review
4.0
I'm giving this book four stars for quality/Goodreads reasons, because it's a well-written book. It's just not for me. I'm reading it for my office book club and if I have to read about history I AM glad it was in this personal/anecdotal/fun format but I was having horrible history class flashbacks. (Most people's brains are split so they either excel at/love English/history or math/science...I'm a weirdo and my brain is split so I'm good at/love English/math and less so history/science.) Also it was really hard to read about presidencies where the biggest scandal was having a mistress or whose greatest accomplishments were freeing slaves when our current administration is such a fucking disaster. I'm sorry Sarah Vowell, you did a great job. It's not you, it's me.
not_mike's review against another edition
4.0
Audiobook.
Sarah handle's politics, nerdom, life essays with a similar humor and grace as Colbert.
Sarah handle's politics, nerdom, life essays with a similar humor and grace as Colbert.
talypollywaly's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
Side-eyeing a couple comments Vowell made (not related to politics as most other reviews have grievances with), but overall a decent listen. Can't decide if I like this one or Assasination Vacation more just yet though.
austinstorm's review against another edition
3.0
Ok, I probably could've figured this out from the dust-jacket recommends (blurbs from David Sedaris and Nick Hornby) but Sarah Vowell is a producer for This American Life. There's a solid TAL / McSweeney's vibe to these essays. I enjoyed them enough to find myself wishing they were a little longer. They are bite-sized, and while pleasant reading the book felt like eating an entire package of Oreos in one sitting.