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)

Manifest Destiny Engulfs the Sandwich Islands

Hawaii has always been a mystery to me, a Midwest native. The rest of Manifest Destiny seems as reasonable as spilled milk spreading over the surface of a table. But islands in the Pacific? Well, now I know a great deal more about Hawaiian history than I do about, say, Oregon history.

Sarah Vowell has the kind of voice that you either find a pleasure or you don't, I suppose. Fortunately, I do. I often don't like when authors read their own works because writing and reading aloud are not the same skills, but Vowell definitely knows how to do both. She writes with a sly sense of humor and has the timing to make it work in an audiobook. There were moments I laughed aloud.

She does an excellent job of bringing the history to life and linking it to the present with her own time spent on the island. What a great gig, huh? Write a book about Hawaiian history. Spend a couple of years there researching. I wish I'd thought of it.

So, why do I give the story only 3 stars? Well, I think much like the history of Hawaii itself, it goes out with a fizzle more than a bang. There's not much even an author of Vowell's caliber can do with the material. Those hooeys just end up taking power from the natives until there isn't much for the Polynesian natives to do but eventually go along with it, much like native Americans. The sexy story is when the natives fight back, not when they've given up, by choice or by force. It's like that in Hawaii, too. A handful of people in the present protesting that they aren't Americans is nothing compared to someone killing Captain Cook on his way back to the sailing ship.

I would hope those 3 stars wouldn't discourage anyone from choosing this book. It is beautifully written and you'll come away with a richer awareness of the history of Hawaii.

Men: who needs them? Not Sarah Vowell.

Sarah Vowell's inimitable voice, actual and literary, is the reason to listen to her focused histories. That twang and nasal pitchiness define her, and carry her thoughtful,snarky but well-researched take on the subject of Hawaii'an history. She does not need John Hodgeman, Keanu Reeves, or any of those other guys to read the quotes of the men who crop up. The gimmick of bringing in other voices appears to drive the use of quotes, as the quotes themselves do not add much to the substance, which could be conveyed by narrative in many cases. Despite these occasional distractions, Unfamiliar Fishes is a good listen. It does not allay the suspicion that she wrote it just to have an excuse to write off frequent trips to Hawa'ii, but it does not have to. Vowell makes the most of it.

wow!!!!! :-) :-) :-)

I'm speechless Sarah and am looking into more or your wonderful creations in litwrature. keep writing!!!

History Made Personal

More history from Sarah Vowell, who has an almost unique gift for mixing history with personal insight and acid humour. Better than her "Wordy Shipmates" (on the Puritan colonists) but not quite as entertaining as "Assassination Vacation" (on presidents Lincoln, McKinley, and Garfield). This book is similar in tone to the McKinley chapter of "Assassination Vacation", focussing as it does on the shift in US policy during the McKinley/Roosevelt years toward increasing influence over its neighbours.

For myself, I like Vowell's irony-heavy delivery, but it should be noted that her voice is not for all tastes - Vowell herself compares it to Lisa Simpson's so be warned! If you think her high-pitched nasal tone will grate I recommend you buy the paperback, not the audiobook.

As for complaints that her book is anti-US - this is clearly nonsense. History at its best is fact divorced from patriotic spin and it should come as no surprise to anyone who has any knowledge of history that stronger, larger nations dominate their smaller neighbours - to pretend that the US is exempt from this rule is to be absurdly blinkered.

Not her best book but still great

If you like history with a little snark and sarcasm you should listen to Sara Vowell.

This is not her best book. With that said...if you are a fan of Sara Vowell you will like this look.

If you are new to Sara Vowell, start with Assassination Vacation.

Gentle, Humorous, and Politically Liberal

Yes, the first listen-through it would have been better if performed by a professional voice actor. And I don't care. I love the book, and I love the author. I'm glad for the additional intimacy of hearing her words in her own voice. Think of her as an aural political cartoonist; a kinder, gentler Molly Ivins.

A full meal deal with just a small edgy bite

I read Shoal of Time and then listened to this to learn more about Hawaiian history from two perspectives. This book seemed well researched but is unliked by many kama'aina. All the timeline connections and references really helped. I always zoned out in history class - who knew there was a big land grab of the Phillipines, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Cuba in 1898. I am glad I own it so I can listen again; too much in one pass to absorb. The sarcastic wit kept my attention enough to mostly overlook the bit grating timbre in Sara's voice. I recommend it.

BrendanIsQuiet

Really enjoy listening to Sarah's point of view on history. Focusing on Hawaii was a nice change of pace from her other books. One of those books I'll enjoy reading even though I listened to it already.

Interesting and descriptive perspective on the history of Hawaii

Finally a really well performed book on the history of Hawaii. Loved every minute of it.

Tremendous!

What a great book. So insightful. So personal. Great research and so accessible. The audiobook production is terrific. A powerful tale of caution.