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)

Brilliant

Me like Sarah.
Sarah, friend.
Me laugh and laugh.
Me buy next book for sure.
Me recommend Sarah to everyone.

Sarah Vowell is my new best friend

OK, I've never met her but I want her to be my new best friend. (Ms. Vowell: if you are reading this, don't worry, I won't stalk you, I just think you are amazing). Her love of all things historical, the joy she takes in quirky experiences at historical sites and events and her humor bring me absolute joy. I see much of myself in her and I have enjoyed everything she's written. This collection of essays takes you from the Dakotas to Paris to WA, DC. She shares her thoughts, experiences and family and it just makes me think that she could be my friend. Well done, Ms. Vowell, I'm ready for more!

Clear Reasons to Read

I just read Vowell's new book, The Wordy Shipmates, and loved it so much I immediately picked up the The Partly Cloudy Patriot. If Assassination Vacation was available unabridged at Audible I read that next.

Partly Cloudy Patriot is good fun....but nowhere near as smart or well developed as her latest book. You can see her maturity as a writer between the books, as Vowell is finding her voice in Patriot. In Shipmates, Vowell moves from a humorist (or essayist) to a historian.

Still....I enjoyed spending a few hours with Vowell - and came away feeling better about my own geek, history loving cred.

Funny, irreverent, and impossible to

OK, so Ms. Vowell is frank about her political position. Rather that than the stealth bombing insurrection of so many authors. But get over it! I am quite conservative, and enjoyed this book, and her others, thoroughly. Her funny voice adds character, and I cannot imagine another reader. Her quirky sense of humor underscores her detailed knowledge of historic trivia. I would love to spend a vacation with her, and have already mapped out several excursions on the basis of this book. David Sedaris has met his match!

Nobody reads Sarah Vowell like Sarah Vowell

What made the experience of listening to The Partly Cloudy Patriot the most enjoyable?

I have to admit, one of the reasons I bought this audiobook was because of the guest vocals by Stephen Colbert. The cameos were certainly amusing, but the highlight of this charming book is Sarah's reading voice.

I had previously read her Hawaiian history book "Unfamiliar Fishes" and found myself wishing I'd had it read to me by the author in her deadpan style instead.

Audiobooks are definitely the medium of choice for me with any forthcoming production from Vowell.

Any additional comments?

I listened to this on a several thousand kilometer road trip around New Zealand in 2011. Vowell's journey through America's past will forever be linked with Lord of the Rings landscapes for me. Bizarre, but cool!

anything but un-american

This book was wonderful! Her essays make me me want to be a better patriot. Wether she is trying to make sense of Tom Cruise or exploring the beauty of an underground lunchroom, her themes and voice are beautifully, undeniably American.

If you are a strict conservative with no tolerence for liberal politicians, you might not be able to stomach her measured reverence for the likes of Clinton, Gore, ect. I never found her overly liberal, however, or even overly political. And her voice is simply her - i couldn't imagine it any other way.

I've Become a Full-fledged Fan

My first Sara Vowell experience was The Wordy Shipmates, and I came away from it very pleasantly surprised and happy to try more. The Partly Cloudy Patriot more than fulfilled my expectations. While I think I appreciated the focus on historical events and figures in Wordy Shipmates more than the Patriot's more personalized essayistic style, I enjoyed the voice of this book completely. While I didn't completely agree with every (sometimes outrageous) opinion stated by Vowell, I did find that I could relate to them--and to her--as a long-time, reflective, questioning, brilliant, opinionated and pationately sincere friend, just talking thngs out. I learned, of course, many interesting facts and events concerning our Nation's development, but I also found myself questioning similar observations I have made, and thinking that a good intellectual visit back to some of the formative events in my life would be quite a good--if not fun!--activity.

Reading this book was an intellectual exercise, and also one of the more entertaining few hours I've spent in a long while.

funny and interesting

I like the writing and the author's wit. I found myself laughing out loud on my commute. Just when I though I was getting used to her voice it got more choppy. I got over it though - it's a great read/listen.

Fun Book, but Please - Lose the Musical Interludes

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

I have enjoyed Sarah Vowell's works - and this wasn't an exception. Her writing is funny, and as a former (?) nerd, I can relate. What really irritated me was that this isn't a very long book - and it contained several minutes of musical interludes that didn't add to the experience - in fact, they felt like filler! A couple were related to the topic, but many were just musical pieces to connect two stories which weren't related. The performances of the folks reading were solid, and the stories cute. But the music . . . please, no more.

Suspiciously, this may be my fav S. Vowell book.

Not as much historical content to be found in this one folks, but what is offered is a large amount of humor in everyday observation as the author describes her journeys from Carlsbad Caverns (personal fav) to North Dakota and beyond. When I purchased this book, I was just beginning a vacation from my home here in Oklahoma (Cherokee Territory) to Indiana. I needed something to focus my mind on during the 11 hr drive and I new a S Vowell audio would do it. Her travels inspired me for my own trek, even if it was just to visit New Albany.