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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Fan-freakin'-tastic. It doesn't get 5 stars, only because I didn't laugh out loud quite as often as I did with her other books. But it's just the expected mix of insight, humor, and poignancy that makes Sarah Vowell great.
Listened to this prior to traveling to Hawaii and was glad I did. I like Sarah Vowell and thought this was another entertaining, informative read.
The colonization and exploitation of people and resources is hardly a cheery topic, but Ms. Vowell's deadpan humor got me through this book, although only barely. This is about how Hawaii changed from an isolated island kingdom to one of the fifty states. Disease, greed, and lying play a big part. I'm glad I read this. I now have my awareness raised.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
I really love Sarah Vowell, but this wasn't her best. Assassination Vacation still remains my favorite!
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
As always, Sarah Vowell makes history interesting and fun. In Unfamiliar Fishes, she teaches us about how New England Christian missionaries travel to Hawaii in the early 1800s to convert the "savages." She recounts the events following those early missionary trips, the significant influence the missionaries had over a beautiful island paradise, ultimately leading up to the overthrow of Queen Lilioukalani and the annexation of Hawaii to the United States. Alternately fascinating and heartbreaking, no Sarah Vowell book would be complete without her trademark wit and snark. This is not my favorite of her books, but still definitely worth a read.
funny
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced