A review by megdom
Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell

3.0

Missionaries, whalers, sugar plantations, naval bases, and American imperialism are some of the unfamiliar fishes that came on a big wave to Hawaii's shores. While interesting and devastating to read this history, it was also, for me, a slow read and hard to keep track of dates and details (goes in search of a timeline to get a grip). What will stick with me: "I'm not sure what is more disturbing - that the annexation of the Philippines, along with Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam in 1898 is a betrayal of self-government established in 1776 or Lodge's allegation that principle of self government was, is, and always will be a delusion."