Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell
Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell
Audio CD (paperback 258 pages)
published in 2005 by Simon & Schuster Audio
ISBN-13: 9780743540056
Type: {Impress Your Friends Read: notable; prize-winner or all around intelligent crowd conversation piece}
Rating: {I’m Lovin’ It: Very entertaining!}
Why You’re Reading It:
- You’re a proud history buff
- You’re a secret history buff
- You’re a HUGE fan of Sarah Vowell and wish she would be besties with you (ahem, I’m just saying… maybe YOU feel this way)
- You want to know more about history but just can’t take reading another dry history book; you want something that will keep your attention
What I Thought:
Sarah Vowell is one of my favorite authors. I know I can pick up one of her books and, pretty much, no matter what she says I’m enthralled. I like to listen to her; to take her for walks and drives with me, and pretend that she is telling me her stories just because I’m an old friend. Two like-minded geeks just hanging out talking about how very cool it is that we can actually go to the places where history happened. Alas, we are not together and the conversation is one-sided… but don’t think that stops me from laughing loudly to myself as I’m walking down the street or exclaim, me too!, out loud even though fellow neighborhood walkers think I’m strange. Oh Sarah, how you get me.
As with all of her books, Vowell takes us through history as though we are a buddy she has taken on the trip with her. In Assassination Vacation she delves into the assassinations of Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley. Her colloquial, witty, and intelligent way of talking about not only the historical timeline of events, but also her adventures and travels in re-discovering these events, makes you feel as though you actually want to know more about the deaths of these three presidential men. You will spend your time reading this book being entertained and will leave the book smarter than when you entered it. Vowell somehow always finds the things you never knew you always wanted to know about a particular subject. She uses her own curiosity to propel her research and in doing so unearths details that one’s normal historical non-fiction doesn’t excavate. Though Lincoln’s section was by far the most interesting, Garfield’s wasn’t far behind. By the time we got to McKinley it wasn’t that I was sick of hearing these morbid accounts (because, honestly, you just don’t get sick of Sarah Vowell telling you stories — no matter what they are), but rather that poor McKinley just didn’t grasp my attention (so sorry, old sir). However, Vowell (or her editor) did a pretty good job of arranging this book with the meatiest stories first, taking up the most pages.
Like I’ve said before, I propose you listen to this work so that you can hear Vowell’s most unique voice and hear the words delivered with her perfect inflection and timing. But regardless of how you read it, read it.
I keep hearing wonderful things about Sarah Vowell’s work and really want to try some of it one day. This sounds marvelous!
I highly recommend her! She has a new book coming out this month: Unfamiliar Fishes. It’s about Hawaii.
Oh my goodness how have I never heard of this author before? From this cover I never would have guessed that this is what this book is about but it sounds really fascinating!
For some reason she isn’t incredibly well known. I was just introduced to her within the last year and a half and am already in love with her style of writing and the content of her books.
This is my favorite Sarah Vowell book. I’m glad to see you liked it. If you’re ever in Maryland, you should go visit Dr. Mudd’s house (the signage is good– it’s not really that hard to find
). The volunteers who run the place are longtime residents of the county who are just incredibly giving with their history (this is true all over southern Maryland). They make the tour a fun experience.
I’m also really looking forward to Vowell’s new book.
Will do. That’s the house that his descendants run, right? Are you a fellow history lover/ plaque reader?
Guilty on both counts! Whenever I can, I like to have small adventures and visit different historical sites.
Sounds intriguing. Are there any other books of hers that you would recommend?
Yes, I’ve reviewed The Wordy Shipmates and am currently listening to The Partly Cloudy Patriot. Both good!
I’m definitely going to listen to this on audio since you recommend it. I’ve wanted to get into Sarah Vowell but a lot of my reading is audio based right now– sounds like that works out perfectly!
Yea, Sarah vowell! This was my introduction to her work away back when and I remembering loving every minute. This is my favorite of her’s, but mostly for sentimental reasons…they’re all good!