Assassination Vacation

Sarah Vowell's sweet "little-girlish" voice masks a very grown-up and sometimes slightly twisted perspective on the historical sights she visits. The premise of the book...visiting the sights pertinent to events surrounding Presidential assassinations...is kooky enough but she makes it a very entertaining trip. She recognizes the eccentricity of her approach, noting the eye-rolling and sighing of her companions, but she remains undeterred in her mission. I thoroughly enjoyed learning some of the lesser known facts about these pivotal points and confess to laughing out loud at a few of them. Does that make me twisted too? If so, I feel as if I am in good company. She's a good writer, holding the reader's attention through the same material that has most 11th grade students nodding off or texting their friends under the desk. Great job, Sarah! And can I come with you on your next trip, please?

This is a good listen, but I wish it hadn't been abridged. The voices were really funny. I just started to really enjoy it and then it was over.

...and a bit strange, which is expected from Ms. Vowel. However, the book is disjointed in an unpleasant way, yet reads like a travelogue, which it is. I felt a little like I was the roadster from monopoly being driven all over a map in a crazy zigzag pattern and in the process ripping the map up a little. I love Ms. Vowell's humor but this was a difficult listening. While her voice is engaging in most circumstances, it was annoying here.

Much like her real life personality, this book is a quirky journey. She makes the oddest of any vacations seem like fun. Though I assume this book would only interest those with an interest in history and an appreciation of her sense of humor. The guest voices also add to the fun by bringing the characters to life in a truly silly way. Jon Stewart as Garfield was especially interesting. Would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you, Sarah Vowell, for being the history teacher I never had. Vowell offers witty, engaging and critical accounts of American history as she reveals her quirky yet endearing affection for our founding fathers and texts. Funny, informative and provocative, I like a women who loves our country while at the same time recognizes its faults, and of course, someone who deeply respects Lincoln, but can admit that J. Wilkes Booth was kind of hot. Post-modern history is here!

Entertaining, Informational and Fun.

I enthusiastically recommend this book. The reader is not required to be interested in assignations, Lincoln or Garfield all that is required is an vague appreciation of history and excellent writing. Sarah Vowell writes history with the voices of humor and irony, and she is always entertaining.

I really like Sarah Vowell and she maximizes the humor in this book. But when it comes right down to it, her topic isn't that interesting. She writes about street corners and statues of ex and often dull presidents. There is a whole chapter written about her thoughts on the musical "Assassins." I was looking forward to all of the guest narrators (Stephen King, Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart & Conan O'Brian) but having famous narrators didn't add much to the story because they all read the lines straight.

A few parts that I did find interesting:
Charles Guiteau's time in the Oneida coop back when they were a sex cult and before they made china; Robert Todd Lincoln as the symbol of doom having witnessed two presidential assassinations.

If you enjoy America history and you like to smile this is a great listen.

I really enjoyed this one. The readers voice fits the content well, and there are great tid bits of history that spin off from the main topic, which are very enlightening.