556 reviews for:

Unfamiliar Fishes

Sarah Vowell

3.57 AVERAGE

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

Fantastic audiobook, I wish I’d listened to it before I went to Hawaii. Does a great job of explaining the history of the now-state in a funny but honest way

glennvance's review


Wanted to love it but didn't

Really more like 3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book. Sarah Vowell is a funny writer and because of all my "This American Life" exposure I always hear her amusing distinctive voice in my head when I read her work. The topic, the history of Hawaii, is also something I knew very little about and so I learned a lot from the book. I would even recommend it to anyone who is about the visit the islands. It was a quick read too! But even saying all that, it still dragged a little, which is something I have never thought about any of Vowell's other books. So while the book is worth reading (especially if you're about to go to Hawaii), I would recommend all of Vowell's other books before this one.
funny informative sad fast-paced

angiec13's review


This is due back at the library soon, but it's not worth renewing. The book has no structure and the writing is very meandery. Not crazy about the author's flippant attitude toward Christianity, either.

aaronwilder's review

5.0
funny informative fast-paced

jmpm's review

2.25
funny informative medium-paced
funny informative reflective sad fast-paced

cdasher's review

3.0

A scattershot but informative history of our 50th state and how it was stolen from the Hawaiian people.

clare_xo's review

3.0

An excellent read for my Hawaii trip. Glad I found it in our condo. :) Definitely won't be the last Vowell book I read. <3