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amber_lea84's review
4.0
I was really thinking I was going to give this three stars most of the way through, and I felt guilty about that because it's not as mediocre as three stars, it just has less-than awesome parts and lulls, but it picked up toward the end I decided to go ahead and give it four stars.
I love Sarah's wit. I wish we shared a taste in music. And I'll never understand how someone who shares my disdain for just about everything loves sports and America so much, but I do feel a great deal of affection for Sarah and her writing, and I'll probably read all her books.
She's just so goddamned clever and funny.
I love Sarah's wit. I wish we shared a taste in music. And I'll never understand how someone who shares my disdain for just about everything loves sports and America so much, but I do feel a great deal of affection for Sarah and her writing, and I'll probably read all her books.
She's just so goddamned clever and funny.
sethsam's review
3.0
Enjoyable, occasionally funny but overall rather toothless. Could be my fault for reading this right after Jesus' Son? Good airplane fare.
mara_miriam's review
4.0
I really appreciated the essay "What I see when I look at the face on the $20 bill." It left me struggling with what it means to be a white person in this country, the reality that we're living on occupied land, a reality which is infrequently if ever acknowledged; the essay is a thumbnail of a fascinating and distressing history. Also, the line, "We are flawed creatures, all of us. Some of us think that means we should fix our flaws. But get rid of my flaws and there would be no one left."
hacktrose's review
5.0
I love Sarah Vowell's voice. Thoroughly entertaining, by turns hilarious and heartrending. I like her best when she writes about history--her recap of the travesty that was the Trail of Tears will have you shaking your fist at the ghost of Andrew Jackson--but her personal testimonials are what convince me we could be best friends, if only she'd give me a chance. Sarah, please call me.
lizakessler's review
3.0
I'm sort of conflicted about Sarah Vowell; she's funny, but she's irritating, she's off-beat and quirky, but that's so trendy now. Every time I read a book by her, it takes me at least 50 pages to stop thinking her voice. Many of these essays were tinged with such sadness, though, that the only way they'd be Sarah Vowell-funny is if they were read in her voice.
mrz_owenz's review
4.0
This collection of stories is a memoir of not only the author but of America. Vowell's writing is insightful, funny, and elegant. The only drawback for me was that I couldn't really find a through-line to the stories. No clear theme to tie them all together. As a representative of the conflicting natures of people and America, it certainly succeeds but it also made for a bit of a disjointed read.
maniereads's review
5.0
What an awesome book. Her essays are always funny and charming and sprinkled with interesting historical tidbits. It was interesting reading on the page what I'd already heard on the radio (many of these pieces were originally broadcast on "This American Life.")
I loved the chapter where Ira Glass teaches her how to drive.
I loved the chapter where Ira Glass teaches her how to drive.