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onetrooluff 's review for:
Unfamiliar Fishes
by Sarah Vowell
Oh, Sarah Vowell. I always laugh right out loud at your books, and I learn so much!
This one was especially interesting to me as I had just started to learn about Hawaii's annexation before I heard this book was coming out. It took me longer to read than it needed to just because I kept finding quotes I wanted to make sure to save before moving on.
I think that Vowell really did a good job of presenting a balanced picture, describing events from our present-day perspective, but trying to point out how the viewpoints of the time informed the participants' decision-making. She isn't forgiving them, exactly, but she tried not to dehumanize them into monsters, and I think that's important.
(Of course, some of those people were just jackwads out for personal gain, and she certainly didn't shy away from showing that, either.)
I also think it was important to show that Hawaii's ruling class was not just taken over unawares or out of nowhere. They were willing participants in the Americanization of their government and nation, to a point. Despite the influx of Protestant missionaries, the native religion was destroyed not by Europeans, but by King Kamehameha (the first), and his descendants often requested the help of these missionaries, the American and British military, and other haole advisors in their decision-making process.
I'm glad to see that Hawaii is making more attempts now to hold on to its traditions, including the native Hawaiian language. I really, really want to visit there now, and see many of the sites described in the book - an experience that would mean so much more than a typical tourist trip having gotten some background on the situation.
This one was especially interesting to me as I had just started to learn about Hawaii's annexation before I heard this book was coming out. It took me longer to read than it needed to just because I kept finding quotes I wanted to make sure to save before moving on.
I think that Vowell really did a good job of presenting a balanced picture, describing events from our present-day perspective, but trying to point out how the viewpoints of the time informed the participants' decision-making. She isn't forgiving them, exactly, but she tried not to dehumanize them into monsters, and I think that's important.
(Of course, some of those people were just jackwads out for personal gain, and she certainly didn't shy away from showing that, either.)
I also think it was important to show that Hawaii's ruling class was not just taken over unawares or out of nowhere. They were willing participants in the Americanization of their government and nation, to a point. Despite the influx of Protestant missionaries, the native religion was destroyed not by Europeans, but by King Kamehameha (the first), and his descendants often requested the help of these missionaries, the American and British military, and other haole advisors in their decision-making process.
I'm glad to see that Hawaii is making more attempts now to hold on to its traditions, including the native Hawaiian language. I really, really want to visit there now, and see many of the sites described in the book - an experience that would mean so much more than a typical tourist trip having gotten some background on the situation.