Unfamiliar Fishes

By: Sarah Vowell

Narrated by: Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, John Hodgman, Catherine Keener, Edward Norton, Keanu Reeves, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph, John Slattery, Sarah Vowell

Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Many think of 1776 as the most defining year of American history, the year we became a nation devoted to the pursuit of happiness through self-government. In Unfamiliar Fishes, Sarah Vowell argues that 1898 might be a year just as crucial to our nation's identity, a year when, in an orgy of imperialism, the United States annexed Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam, and invaded Cuba and then the Philippines, becoming a meddling, self-serving, militaristic international superpower practically overnight.

Of all the countries the United States invaded or colonized in 1898, Vowell considers the story of the Americanization of Hawaii to be the most intriguing. From the arrival of the New England missionaries in 1820, who came to Christianize the local heathen, to the coup d'état led by the missionaries' sons in 1893, overthrowing the Hawaiian queen, the events leading up to American annexation feature a cast of beguiling, if often appalling or tragic, characters. Whalers who will fire cannons at the Bible-thumpers denying them their god-given right to whores. An incestuous princess pulled between her new god and her brother-husband. Sugar barons, con men, Theodore Roosevelt, and the last Hawaiian queen, a songwriter whose sentimental ode "Aloha 'Oe" serenaded the first Hawaii-born president of the United States during his 2009 inaugural parade.

With Vowell's trademark wry insights and reporting, she sets out to discover the odd, emblematic, and exceptional history of the 50th state. In examining the place where Manifest Destiny got a sunburn, she finds America again, warts and all.

Read by the author a cast that includes Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, John Hodgman, Catherine Keener, Edward Norton, Keanu Reeves, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph, and John Slattery. Music by Michael Giacchino with Grant Lee-Phillips. The score contains excerpts from "Hawai'i Pono'i" (words by David Kalakaua and music by Henri Berger) performed by Grant-Lee Phillips.

©2011 Sarah Vowell (P)2011 Simon and Schuster

Critic reviews

"Vowell makes an excellent travelling companion, what with her rare combination of erudition and cheek." ( The New York Times Book Review)

Good, but her other books are better.

It was good, but I found my mind wandering a lot. Also, while I appreciate the use of various narrators to read quotes from key figures, I usually missed out on what they were saying initially because I was trying to identify which celebrity was speaking.

Never wanted to go to Hawaii....and dang it, now I do!

Seen the author a time or two on TVs The Daily Show and found her personality to be quite peppy (is that even a word?). Anyhow I swore I would give one of her books a chance and boy am I glad I did. I enjoyed her narration as I don't believe it would work any other way. Now, aside from her funny delivery on certain topics there a lot of information to consume so I'm eager to listen to this audible twice. Now, I randomly picked this book, as I needed a distraction from my job. Turns out, unbeknownst to me, much of this book makes references and comparisons between Hawaiians and the Cherokee Tribe. Irony of this...I am and happen to work for cherokee tribe 😕so this became a weekend reader 😏. Still yet, I much enjoyed this one and intend to purchase another of her books.

Fabulously interesting

I didn't even know this book was about Hawaii when I turned it on. I had just heard Sarah Vowel on NPR and was immediately compelled to get one of her books. This history kept me fascinated from the beginning and turned me into a Sarah Vowell addict. I suddenly feel educated.

THE UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICIES CONTINUE TO BE ANCHORED IN MANIFEST DESTINY

This book was an eye opener regarding the history of our foreign policies in the Pacific and our disregard for native peoples and their cultures.

Enjoyable, but celeb narrations are distracting

At first, I found the author's voice a bit distracting, but over time, I came to enjoy her voice, especially when she was doing dead pan irony. What became painful as the book progressed were the celeb readings of a sentence to a paragraph. There would be a lead up to a quote, a lengthy pause and then a quote read by a celeb. Sometimes the pause seemed to go on and on with a tiny section (7 words or so) read by the celeb. These became so distracting, and were often times difficult to hear due to difference in volume, that I just tuned them out. The use of celebs to read quotes seemed to be too gimmicky.

All in all, I enjoyed the book and the author's voice. I have stopped listening to a small number of books because of painful narration. The negative reviews seem too harsh especially the ones that complain of "America is always the bad guy." Looking back at this period through modern perspective makes it hard to justify our prior actions. One just needs to accept the difference in perspectives and move on.

Honest attempt falls short

This book should not have been read by the author. She sounds like she loves the culture of Hawaii but cannot pronounce the names and has a grating voice. She would draw more people to her opinion if the recording were warmer - like the islands.

Not for Tourists

From the arrival of Captain Cook, to the missionaries, to the businessmen and politicians who orchestrate the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, Vowell's book is a fascinating and upsetting in-depth look at the Americanization (and eventual annexation) of Hawaii. This is not your typical tourist fare.

I knew what to expect from Vowell's reading, and don't have any issues with her voice (if you're not familiar with Vowell, definitely check out the sample to see if it'll be too much for you).

The supporting cast is generally fine, but Keanu Reeves is shocking great as David Malo. I think I could listen to him read Malo's Hawaiian Antiquities and be content.

Definitely worth checking out if you're at all interested in the history of Hawaii.

Well done...

Would you listen to Unfamiliar Fishes again? Why?

This book was very well-researched, and provoking. Growing up in Hawaii, the historical trauma hits close to home, and I appreciated the way Vowell approached it. Respectful, factual, and smart... I recommend this book to everyone. Especially those ignorant of the State's tragic and tumultuous history. My only complaint - and I feel weird even sayingn this, as normally I prefer an author to read their own work; however, PLEASE don't let Sarah Vowell narrate her own books anymore. I'm begging you. Her voice is great in a cartoon, but it wrecks the impact of this material.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Not read a single word of this story aloud.

Female Ben Stein

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This book took forever.

What was most disappointing about Sarah Vowell’s story?

The story jumped around too much for me. While the book was based on true accounts, the continuity of the read could have been better.

Would you listen to another book narrated by the narrators?

I actually liked the author's dry, sarcastic humor. But this was not the book for her. It felt like 10th grade social studies all over again.

Was Unfamiliar Fishes worth the listening time?

If you have the patience, it may be worth your time. But if you're looking for something to capture your interests and satisfy your curiosities, pick something else.

Absolutely Fantastic

Far and away one of Sarah Vowell's best books. Informative yet funny. She has a style all her own. She absolutely owns it in this book. It is worth buying once for yourself and then again for your friends. You should also try Assassination Vacation.