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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Ever since I first understood that there were people and places outside of my home state, I’ve been intrigued by those outsiders’ impressions of Hawai’i. So for me, Sarah Vowell’s latest historical spree Unfamiliar Fishes is a trove of mainlander commentary, but it should also interest her fellow continentals as an introduction to the islands’ complicated, and often troubled, history.
Vowell doesn't attempt to hide her outsider status, presenting herself as a tourist who just happens to spend a lot of time in libraries, and this allows her to keep her informal and personable style mostly intact, even as she navigates touchy subjects. Occasionally this casualness chafes, but Vowell is a quick study and she usually recognizes she’s getting close enough to still-delicate issues to tone down the irreverence. This astuteness also leads her to several insights into the local culture that makes Hawai'i so unique but sometimes difficult to convey to those who haven't seen it. These observations and asides about modern-day Hawai'i, the end product of that tumultuous, not-so-distant past, are among the best moments of the book and they go a long way to make up for the more somber tone.
Vowell doesn't attempt to hide her outsider status, presenting herself as a tourist who just happens to spend a lot of time in libraries, and this allows her to keep her informal and personable style mostly intact, even as she navigates touchy subjects. Occasionally this casualness chafes, but Vowell is a quick study and she usually recognizes she’s getting close enough to still-delicate issues to tone down the irreverence. This astuteness also leads her to several insights into the local culture that makes Hawai'i so unique but sometimes difficult to convey to those who haven't seen it. These observations and asides about modern-day Hawai'i, the end product of that tumultuous, not-so-distant past, are among the best moments of the book and they go a long way to make up for the more somber tone.
Wow! I have learned a lot. So sad none of this is taught in schools. Should be a required reading before you step foot in Hawaii.
Sarah Vowell's book are getting increasingly less interesting, but deep loyalty to her work and the fact that they're still sort of funny (and certainly educational) keep me coming back for more.
That said, I recommended this book to a friend of mine who is from Hawai'i, and he said it was the greatest book EVER. Which goes to show that really, it's all in who your audience is (if she wrote a book entirely about Maryland or California, I'd probably love it, too).
That said, I recommended this book to a friend of mine who is from Hawai'i, and he said it was the greatest book EVER. Which goes to show that really, it's all in who your audience is (if she wrote a book entirely about Maryland or California, I'd probably love it, too).
As always, Sarah Vowell brings a unique and personal perspective to some overlooked areas of American history. I can't say that I loved this as much as some of her earlier endeavors, but only because (as a north easterner), I think I have more context to place works such as Partly-Cloudy Patriot and Assassination Vacation. Nonetheless, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and Vowell's unique voice brings some entertaining commentary to what is, in actuality, the fairly horrible history of our treatment of the Hawaiian people.
A history of Hawaii from a mainlander USA viewpoint. Beginning is refreshingly snarky and cynical; the middle of the book becomes more emotionally detached; the final chapters move toward outrage, and then acceptance. Interesting that this book does not actually have "chapters" in the 1-2-3-4 sense. It just flows along with little decorative print marks to separate themes and essays, and so many times I lost track of what date where things were happening. It presented a feeling of everything happening at once, which was maybe the author's intent, I'm not sure.
The beginning point focuses on the New England missionaries who traveled to Hawaii, and light is shed upon the noble yet baffling resolve of those people. As I paraphrase Sarah Vowell: missionaries are people who travel hundreds or even thousands of miles, risking their lives, in the attempt to tell other people that their ancient cultures and beliefs are wrong.
First-world countries have wanted Hawaii for its convenience, simply because it is a piece of land in the Pacific Ocean. Again paraphrasing Vowell, these conquering nations thought it a good idea to claim the land, and then they supposed that they should also "persuade the natives at gunpoint that self-government really isn't for everyone." I love-hate this. Love it because it's funny; hate it because people are mean.
This book is a review of highlights of Hawaiian history that most appealed to its author, and I enjoyed it as well, since my sympathies and cynicism are on similar terms. But this is a beginner's intro to Hawaii, not authoritative.
The beginning point focuses on the New England missionaries who traveled to Hawaii, and light is shed upon the noble yet baffling resolve of those people. As I paraphrase Sarah Vowell: missionaries are people who travel hundreds or even thousands of miles, risking their lives, in the attempt to tell other people that their ancient cultures and beliefs are wrong.
First-world countries have wanted Hawaii for its convenience, simply because it is a piece of land in the Pacific Ocean. Again paraphrasing Vowell, these conquering nations thought it a good idea to claim the land, and then they supposed that they should also "persuade the natives at gunpoint that self-government really isn't for everyone." I love-hate this. Love it because it's funny; hate it because people are mean.
This book is a review of highlights of Hawaiian history that most appealed to its author, and I enjoyed it as well, since my sympathies and cynicism are on similar terms. But this is a beginner's intro to Hawaii, not authoritative.
Better than her last book, but no where near here earlier works. The subject matter was great, and I enjoyed learning more and more about Hawaii's history. But, the books just seemed very disjointed. I couldn't really pick up what angle she was coming from. It seemed, for the most part, to rest of the colonization of Hawaii by New England missionaries, which left me fairly bored.
Vowell seems to be moving in the wrong direction with each book. Her signature humor from The Partly Cloudy Patriot and Pass the Connoli is much less prevalent. These seem more like long form college essays. They're short on what makes Sarah Vowell great: her personality.
I'm still a fan, but I'm losing interest. I hope she goes back to essays and offers more of herself in the future.
Vowell seems to be moving in the wrong direction with each book. Her signature humor from The Partly Cloudy Patriot and Pass the Connoli is much less prevalent. These seem more like long form college essays. They're short on what makes Sarah Vowell great: her personality.
I'm still a fan, but I'm losing interest. I hope she goes back to essays and offers more of herself in the future.
Sad and full of dirty politics.
I wish I were half as articulate as Sarah Vowell!
I wish I were half as articulate as Sarah Vowell!
I had absolutely no knowledge about Hawaii before reading this book, and I'm glad I started here. Sarah Vowell always makes history reading much more fun than usual - but I feel that her presence is lacking in this book. I liked to imagine her narrating her previous books in her wonderfully sarcastic tone, but she seems to take a back seat to the material for this one.
Despite Vowell's trademark wit and breezy writing style, and an inherently interesting story, I did not find this as enjoyable as her last book The Wordy Shipmates.