The Partly Cloudy Patriot

By: Sarah Vowell

Narrated by: Sarah Vowell, Conan O'Brien, Seth Green, Stephen Colbert

Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

In The Partly Cloudy Patriot, 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 narratives 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?

Her essays confront a wide range of subjects, themes, icons, and historical moments: Ike, Teddy Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton; Canadian Mounties and German filmmakers; Tom Cruise and Buffy the Vampire Slayer; twins and nerds; the Gettysburg Address, the State of the Union, and George W. Bush's inauguration.

The result is a teeming and engrossing audiobook, capturing Vowell's memorable wit and her keen social commentary.

This audiobook is read by Sarah Vowell, Conan O'Brien, Seth Green, Stephen Colbert, David Cross, Paul Begala, Michael Chabon, and Norman Lear.

©2002 Sarah Vowell (P)2002 Simon & Schuster Inc. All Rights Reserved. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This is a humorous, insightful, and informative look at one individual's sense of patriotism." (Booklist)
"Droll, intelligent, and persuasive." (Entertainment Weekly)

A must-read writer

Sarah Vowell speaks, and writes, for all of us, finding obscure details to illuminate just about anything. I can't recommend her highly enough as a historian, social critic and writer. It's fun to get those extra voices in, too. They probably line up to be able to read a few lines on her audio book! Loved this listen.

Sarah Vowell

The best listening for humor and insight as well as relaxation.

Entertaining and sweet read

We listened to this on a school trip to Gettysburg and Williamsburg. Kids and adults enjoyed ourselves while we learned about the presidents and contemplated various philosophical questions.

OK, not great

What did you like best about The Partly Cloudy Patriot? What did you like least?

Funny in parts, annoying in others

Would you be willing to try another book from Sarah Vowell? Why or why not?

It depends.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I do like her reading style.

Was The Partly Cloudy Patriot worth the listening time?

Any additional comments?

A great listen

Sarah's a bit of a liar; she was not, in fact, the biggest music nerd in high school; at best, she was fourth or fifth in line for that distinction. But aside from that inaccuracy, this audio presentation of her popular essay collection is absolutely delightful. Whether her voice smacks of Lisa Simpson (other reviewer's comparison) or Abe Lincoln (Sarah's own conjecture), her timbre and pacing instantly recall that warm sense of comfort and ease we get each year when Linus starts reciting the story of Christmas to Charlie Brown. Regardless of whether you agree with her politics, this commentary is intelligent, the thoughts insightful, and the timing & prose easily skip between "poetic" and "hilarious".

Sarah has apparently Hit the Big Time, bringing along Conan O'Brian, Seth Green, and... Norman Lear?!?... to provide additional voices. Fortunately, the high-powered talent never overwhelms or distracts from Sarah's content, and perhaps only Conan COULD deliver the "F'ing Meade..." line appropriately. But the real stars of Sarah's guest list are They Might Be Giants, contributing not just funny little transition ditties, but some truly catchy songs as well (Gallows's Hill & Andersonville may seem the obvious favorite, but Pop-A-Shot's hook just won't leave my head...).

Kudos and Thanks, Sarah, on/for this wonderful audio presentation of your work. It's nice to hear an author and publisher taking the time to make their audio book something unique and special.

Deluxe

Even if you have read the book already, if you liked it at all, you may just love this audiobook. The producers of this really get it right as far as "value-added" on to a fairly straightforward essay/memoir kind of book. Most chapters end with original music by They Might Be Giants based on the topic of the chapter, and these are funny enough in the context of the book, but just plain surreal if you listen to them and you haven't read the book. There are many guest voices that read some of the parts from the book, impersonated historical figures and what-not. And everything from the book is just so much funnier with Sarah Vowell's cadence and delivery.

If you are not familiar with her style of writing, Sarah is a less snarky Sedaris, more wholesome and midwestern. Very honest and likable. Many of her essays, and nearly all in this book are based on her hobby of travelling to American historic sites as an unabashed nerd for history. Very deadpan and "sneak up on you" funny. I would have given in five stars, but if you don't like her style, if you find her too subtle or ironic, you would probably find little to like at all in her ruminations. But for me, it's the Bee's Knees!

The Droning Rant

Like the labels on music CDs that warn of Explicit Lyrics, this book should carry one that warns of Droning Political Rant. I remain a fan, but I glazed on about 1/3 of the book. I'll stick with Sarah via This American Life.

Very funny and engaging

This books was a great listen. I lost track of the number of times I laughed while listening or the number of times I had to stay in my car while parked in the parking lot just to hear the end of the current chapter.

Great Fun!

While its true that Sarah Vowel doesn't have a great radio voice, I don't think this matters at all. I enjoyed this book immensely.

The first description that comes to mind is that she is the Annie Lammott of the Nerds.

Most of the essays in this book are interesting but the two I enjoyed the most were the one about Gettysburg (because I had just finished Killer Angels) and the one about how Al Gore should have used Willow of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a model for how to turn being a Nerd into an asset.

Best of all, Vowel shows that one can be a liberal Democrat and passionate history buff, but still have a great sense of humor

funny at times but mostly when she quotes others

this book is like an extended blog, which could've been tolerated if it wasn't for her voice. it's just not pleasant to listen to her voice. the story itself is actually not very consistent or interesting, as it is too personal. i would probably be much more impressed if i bothered to read it rather than listen to it.