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Summary
Sarah Vowell travels through the American past and, in doing so, investigates the dusty, bumpy roads of her own life. In this insightful and funny collection of personal stories Vowell -- widely hailed for her inimitable stories on public radio's This American Life -- ponders a number of curious questions: Why is she happiest when visiting the sites of bloody struggles like Salem or Gettysburg? Why do people always inappropriately compare themselves to Rosa Parks? Why is a bad life in sunny California so much worse than a bad life anywhere else? What is it about the Zen of foul shots? And, in the title piece, why must doubt and internal arguments haunt the sleepless nights of the true patriot?
If you're the type of person who evaluates stories based on the author's political affiliations or the tonality of their voice, then maybe you should consider relocating to Texas with Lindley (Seriously, Lindley?!?! Are you joking?!?!) where they prefer a limited government and limited brain capacity. Sarah Vowell is undoubtedly one of the most exceptional storytellers of this era. Her wit and humor are far too nuanced to fit onto a simple bumper sticker.
Why do writers think they can actually pull off reading their own work out loud? I was all set to buy this book until I listened to her attempt at "narration". Please, spare us the illusion that your skills go beyond writing. Her delivery is like nails on a chalkboard, and I mean it's seriously cringe-worthy.
The inclusion of additional narrators was quite bothersome and felt forced and unnecessary. Sarah Vowel's unique voice, which I eventually grew fond of, perfectly matched her words. It wasn't necessary to have other people enhancing her narration, especially with "Assassination Vacation." Nonetheless, I found immense pleasure in the writing, the attitude, and the humor, not to mention the wealth of historical information.
An interesting perspective on reality from the Gen X generation. This account delves into various leftist causes, though some may view it as more of a personal outburst against her upbringing rather than a thorough analysis. The unabashed display of nihilism is intermittently interrupted by her admiration for individuals who share her political and emotional beliefs, as well as her longing to emulate them. Setting aside the content, the narration leaves much to be desired. The stiff delivery could be seen as a unique style, although I personally found the somewhat disjointed delivery to be distracting.
This audiobook will likely resonate with NPR enthusiasts. In fact, if you are a fan of This American Life, you may have already heard much of this repetitive content before (as I have). So, if you enjoyed it previously, you may want to think twice about spending money on it again.
I had a good time reading the book, but I was expecting a little bit more from it. I've really liked her contributions on This American Life. Essentially, it's just a compilation of stories that will make you giggle or bring a smile to your face. By the time I reached the fifth hour, I was ready for it to come to an end.
After devouring this audiobook, my first instinct was to rush back to service.com and snatch up any other titles by Sarah Vowell! Let me tell you, this book is absolutely mind-blowing! Don't pay any attention to those reviewers who claim it's just a left-wing political manifesto or that Sarah's voice is whiny and grating. Trust me, neither of those things are true. The book is incredibly personal and doesn't push any particular political agenda, at least from what I could gather. And let's not forget about Sarah's voice, folks. She's a seasoned professional in the voiceover and radio industry! Being an American myself, the content resonated deeply with me, and the fact that the author herself narrates the book adds a whole new level of intimacy. Seriously, give this book a shot!
I just finished reading Vowell's latest book, The Wordy Shipmates, and I absolutely loved it. It was so good that I immediately decided to read The Partly Cloudy Patriot. If Assassination Vacation is available in its unabridged version, I will definitely give that a read as well.
The Partly Cloudy Patriot is a lot of fun, although it's not as intelligent or well-developed as her most recent book. You can clearly see how Vowell has grown as a writer between these two books. In Patriot, Vowell is still trying to find her voice, whereas in Shipmates, she has transitioned from being a humorist or essayist to a historian.
Nevertheless, I still enjoyed spending a few hours with Vowell and it made me feel proud of my own geeky love for history.
Sarah Vowell brings a fresh perspective to the world of contemporary literature. Whenever I listen to her ideas, I find myself thoroughly engaged, even when our viewpoints don't align.
After being thoroughly impressed by "Assassination Vacation," I decided to purchase "The Partly Cloudy Patriot." I was pleasantly surprised to find that despite the different narration, tone, and intent, it was equally as entertaining.
I want to disclose that I share similar political views with the author, although I am not an atheist. However, I found enjoyment in this audiobook on various other levels. The production value and narration added a delightful personality to the presentation, and I always prefer it when authors narrate their own work.
Despite its title, this book is not solely focused on politics. It delves more into the belief in the ideal of America, its history, and the citizens' sense of identity. Contrary to expectations, it is not heavily centered on contemporary politics. When it does touch on present-day issues, it does so without resorting to fiery invectives and rants. The author maintains an even-headed and lucid approach throughout.
It's refreshing to come across a political discussion that is amusing without being mean-spirited or clever without being smug. I've noticed that other reviews have compared the author to Al Franken or even Fidel Castro (?!). However, she is nowhere near as abrasive or mean as the self-proclaimed "Smug A**hole," Al Franken. To my knowledge, she is also not an aging communist revolutionary dictator. It's both amusing and disheartening to think that such a well-crafted piece of work could be casually dismissed as mere "liberal wacko" folly.
In my opinion, this audiobook is definitely worth a listen and has become one of my personal favorites.
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