-
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States
- Narrated by: Sarah Vowell, John Slattery, Nick Offerman, Fred Armisen, Bobby Cannavale, John Hodgman, Stephanie March, Alexis Denisof
- Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Historical
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Audible Premium Plus
$14.95 a month
Buy for $24.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Assassination Vacation
- By: Sarah Vowell
- Narrated by: Conan O'Brien, Stephen King, Dave Eggers, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sarah Vowell exposes the glorious conundrums of American history and culture with wit, probity, and an irreverent sense of humor. With Assassination Vacation, she takes us on a road trip like no other, a journey to the pit stops of American political murder and through the myriad ways they have been used for fun and profit, for political and cultural advantage.
-
-
extremely entertaining and informative
- By Rachel on 08-17-05
By: Sarah Vowell
-
The Wordy Shipmates
- By: Sarah Vowell
- Narrated by: Sarah Vowell
- Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sarah Vowell's special brand of armchair history makes the bizarre and esoteric fascinatingly relevant and fun. She takes us from the modern-day reenactment of an Indian massacre to the Mohegan Sun casino, from old-timey Puritan poetry, where "righteousness" is rhymed with "wilderness," to a Mayflower-themed waterslide. Throughout, The Wordy Shipmates is rich in historical fact, humorous insight, and social commentary by one of America's most celebrated voices.
-
-
I love Sarah Vowell
- By Audiophile on 10-25-09
By: Sarah Vowell
-
Unfamiliar Fishes
- By: Sarah Vowell
- Narrated by: Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, John Hodgman, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Enjoyable, but celeb narrations are distracting
- By darrin class on 05-02-11
By: Sarah Vowell
-
The Partly Cloudy Patriot
- By: Sarah Vowell
- Narrated by: Sarah Vowell, Conan O'Brien, Seth Green, and others
- Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sarah Vowell travels through the American past and investigates the dusty, bumpy roads of her own life. Her essays confront a wide range of subjects, 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 an engrossing audiobook, capturing Vowell's memorable wit and her keen social commentary.
-
-
One of the best surprises on AUDIBLE.COM!!
- By Doggy Bird on 04-14-04
By: Sarah Vowell
-
Lincoln in the Bardo
- A Novel
- By: George Saunders
- Narrated by: Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, George Saunders, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
February 1862. The Civil War is less than one year old. The fighting has begun in earnest, and the nation has begun to realize it is in for a long, bloody struggle. Meanwhile, President Lincoln’s beloved 11-year-old son, Willie, lies upstairs in the White House, gravely ill. In a matter of days, despite predictions of a recovery, Willie dies and is laid to rest in a Georgetown cemetery.
-
-
A Mixed Bag
- By Thomas More on 02-24-17
By: George Saunders
-
Marquis
- Lafayette Reconsidered
- By: Laura Auricchio
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A major biography of the Marquis de Lafayette, French hero of the American Revolution, looks past the storybook general and selfless champion of righteous causes who, at the age of 19, volunteered to fight under George Washington, casting aside fortune and family (from one of France's oldest families; his ancestors served in the Crusades and alongside Joan of Arc) to advance the transcendent aims of liberty and justice.
-
-
Lafayette: A Hit Abroad! & A Miss at Home!
- By James on 03-05-15
By: Laura Auricchio
-
Assassination Vacation
- By: Sarah Vowell
- Narrated by: Conan O'Brien, Stephen King, Dave Eggers, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sarah Vowell exposes the glorious conundrums of American history and culture with wit, probity, and an irreverent sense of humor. With Assassination Vacation, she takes us on a road trip like no other, a journey to the pit stops of American political murder and through the myriad ways they have been used for fun and profit, for political and cultural advantage.
-
-
extremely entertaining and informative
- By Rachel on 08-17-05
By: Sarah Vowell
-
The Wordy Shipmates
- By: Sarah Vowell
- Narrated by: Sarah Vowell
- Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sarah Vowell's special brand of armchair history makes the bizarre and esoteric fascinatingly relevant and fun. She takes us from the modern-day reenactment of an Indian massacre to the Mohegan Sun casino, from old-timey Puritan poetry, where "righteousness" is rhymed with "wilderness," to a Mayflower-themed waterslide. Throughout, The Wordy Shipmates is rich in historical fact, humorous insight, and social commentary by one of America's most celebrated voices.
-
-
I love Sarah Vowell
- By Audiophile on 10-25-09
By: Sarah Vowell
-
Unfamiliar Fishes
- By: Sarah Vowell
- Narrated by: Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, John Hodgman, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Enjoyable, but celeb narrations are distracting
- By darrin class on 05-02-11
By: Sarah Vowell
-
The Partly Cloudy Patriot
- By: Sarah Vowell
- Narrated by: Sarah Vowell, Conan O'Brien, Seth Green, and others
- Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sarah Vowell travels through the American past and investigates the dusty, bumpy roads of her own life. Her essays confront a wide range of subjects, 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 an engrossing audiobook, capturing Vowell's memorable wit and her keen social commentary.
-
-
One of the best surprises on AUDIBLE.COM!!
- By Doggy Bird on 04-14-04
By: Sarah Vowell
-
Lincoln in the Bardo
- A Novel
- By: George Saunders
- Narrated by: Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, George Saunders, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
February 1862. The Civil War is less than one year old. The fighting has begun in earnest, and the nation has begun to realize it is in for a long, bloody struggle. Meanwhile, President Lincoln’s beloved 11-year-old son, Willie, lies upstairs in the White House, gravely ill. In a matter of days, despite predictions of a recovery, Willie dies and is laid to rest in a Georgetown cemetery.
-
-
A Mixed Bag
- By Thomas More on 02-24-17
By: George Saunders
-
Marquis
- Lafayette Reconsidered
- By: Laura Auricchio
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A major biography of the Marquis de Lafayette, French hero of the American Revolution, looks past the storybook general and selfless champion of righteous causes who, at the age of 19, volunteered to fight under George Washington, casting aside fortune and family (from one of France's oldest families; his ancestors served in the Crusades and alongside Joan of Arc) to advance the transcendent aims of liberty and justice.
-
-
Lafayette: A Hit Abroad! & A Miss at Home!
- By James on 03-05-15
By: Laura Auricchio
-
Me Talk Pretty One Day
- By: David Sedaris
- Narrated by: David Sedaris
- Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
David Sedaris' collection of essays - including live recordings! - tells a most unconventional life story. With every clever turn of a phrase, Sedaris brings a view and a voice like no other to every unforgettable encounter. You can also listen to Sedaris in an interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air.
-
-
Great Sedaris - Not for everyone
- By Michael on 06-05-20
By: David Sedaris
-
At Home
- A Short History of Private Life
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 16 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bill Bryson and his family live in a Victorian parsonage in a part of England where nothing of any great significance has happened since the Romans decamped. Yet one day, he began to consider how very little he knew about the ordinary things of life as he found it in that comfortable home. To remedy this, he formed the idea of journeying about his house from room to room to “write a history of the world without leaving home.”
-
-
Another wonderful Bryson
- By Tina on 10-23-10
By: Bill Bryson
-
Sabrina & Corina
- Stories
- By: Kali Fajardo-Anstine
- Narrated by: full cast
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kali Fajardo-Anstine’s magnetic story collection breathes life into her Indigenous Latina characters and the land they inhabit. Against the remarkable backdrop of Denver, Colorado - a place that is as fierce as it is exquisite - these women navigate the land the way they navigate their lives: with caution, grace, and quiet force. In “Sugar Babies,” ancestry and heritage are hidden inside the Earth but tend to rise during land disputes.
-
-
Absolutely wonderful
- By Brady on 05-21-19
-
Heads Will Roll
- By: Kate McKinnon, Emily Lynne
- Narrated by: Kate McKinnon, Emily Lynne, Tim Gunn, and others
- Length: 4 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Heads Will Roll is an Audible Original from Saturday Night Live star Kate McKinnon and her cocreator/costar (and real-life sister) Emily Lynne. Produced by Broadway Video, this is not an audiobook - it’s a 10-episode, star-studded audio comedy that features performances from Meryl Streep, Tim Gunn, Peter Dinklage, Queer Eye’s Fab Five, and so many more. Please note: This content is not for kids.
-
-
Must live in a green friendly place for this
- By PygmyOcelot on 11-06-19
By: Kate McKinnon, and others
-
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
- By: Benjamin Alire Saenz
- Narrated by: Lin-Manuel Miranda
- Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship - the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.
-
-
One of the best novels I've listened to in years.
- By Rain on 10-27-13
-
Evil Has a Name
- The Untold Story of the Golden State Killer Investigation
- By: Paul Holes, Jim Clemente, Peter McDonnell
- Narrated by: Paul Holes, Jim Clemente
- Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For his victims, for their families and for the investigators tasked with finding him, the senselessness and brutality of the Golden State Killer's acts were matched only by the powerlessness they felt at failing to uncover his identity. Then, on April 24, 2018, authorities arrested 72-year-old Joseph James DeAngelo at his home in Citrus Heights, Calif., based on DNA evidence linked to the crimes. Amazingly, it seemed, evil finally had a name. Please note: This work contains descriptions of violent crime and sexual assault and may not be suitable for all listeners.
-
-
Couldn’t put it down!
- By Esoul on 05-25-19
By: Paul Holes, and others
-
The Glass Hotel
- A Novel
- By: Emily St. John Mandel
- Narrated by: Dylan Moore
- Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the award-winning author of Station Eleven, an exhilarating novel set at the glittering intersection of two seemingly disparate events - the exposure of a massive criminal enterprise and the mysterious disappearance of a woman from a ship at sea. Rife with unexpected beauty, The Glass Hotel is a captivating portrait of greed and guilt, love and delusion, ghosts and unintended consequences, and the infinite ways we search for meaning in our lives.
-
-
Not a mystery
- By Sandi from Oregon on 03-28-20
-
The Best of Me
- By: David Sedaris
- Narrated by: David Sedaris
- Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For more than 25 years, David Sedaris has been carving out a unique literary space, virtually creating his own genre. A Sedaris story may seem confessional, but is also highly attuned to the world outside. It opens our eyes to what is at absurd and moving about our daily existence. And it is almost impossible to hear without laughing. Now, for the first time collected in one volume, the author brings us his funniest and most memorable work.
-
-
Almost No New Material
- By Lizardectomy on 11-05-20
By: David Sedaris
-
One by One
- By: Ruth Ware
- Narrated by: Imogen Church
- Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Getting snowed in at a luxurious, rustic ski chalet high in the French Alps doesn’t sound like the worst problem in the world. Especially when there’s a breathtaking vista, a full-service chef and housekeeper, a cozy fire to keep you warm, and others to keep you company. Unless that company happens to be eight coworkers...each with something to gain, something to lose, and something to hide.
-
-
Decide for yourself
- By Breezybealle on 09-10-20
By: Ruth Ware
-
Catch and Kill
- Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators
- By: Ronan Farrow
- Narrated by: Ronan Farrow
- Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 2017, a routine network television investigation led to a story only whispered about: one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers was a predator, protected by fear, wealth, and a conspiracy of silence. As Farrow drew closer to the truth, shadowy operatives, from high-priced lawyers to elite war-hardened spies, mounted a secret campaign of intimidation, threatening his career, following his every move, and weaponizing an account of abuse in his own family.
-
-
Narration full of bad imitations, like he's on SNL
- By Andrew on 10-19-19
By: Ronan Farrow
-
A Promised Land
- By: Barack Obama
- Narrated by: Barack Obama
- Length: 29 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency - a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.
-
-
Obama is a great man, but is this book romcom?
- By Nooncaps on 11-24-20
By: Barack Obama
-
Born a Crime
- Stories from a South African Childhood
- By: Trevor Noah
- Narrated by: Trevor Noah
- Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this award-winning Audible Studios production, Trevor Noah tells his wild coming-of-age tale during the twilight of apartheid in South Africa. It’s a story that begins with his mother throwing him from a moving van to save him from a potentially fatal dispute with gangsters, then follows the budding comedian’s path to self-discovery through episodes both poignant and comical.
-
-
Nonchalant comments about animal abuse
- By Liesel Wallace on 06-11-19
By: Trevor Noah
Publisher's Summary
From the best-selling author of Assassination Vacation and Unfamiliar Fishes, a humorous account of the Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette - the one Frenchman we could all agree on - and an insightful portrait of a nation's idealism and its reality.
On August 16, 1824, an elderly French gentlemen sailed into New York Harbor, and giddy Americans were there to welcome him. Or, rather, to welcome him back. It had been 30 years since he had last set foot in the United States, and he was so beloved that 80,000 people showed up to cheer for him. The entire population of New York at the time was 120,000.
Lafayette's arrival in 1824 coincided with one of the most contentious presidential elections in American history. Congress had just fought its first epic battle over slavery, and the threat of a Civil War loomed. But Lafayette, belonging to neither North nor South, to no political party or faction, was a walking, talking reminder of the sacrifices and bravery of the revolutionary generation and what they wanted this country to be. His return was not just a reunion with his beloved Americans; it was a reunion for Americans with their own astonishing, singular past.
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States is a humorous and insightful portrait of the famed Frenchman, the impact he had on our young country, and his ongoing relationship with instrumental Americans of the time, including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and many more.
John Slattery as the Marquis de Lafayette
Nick Offerman as George Washington
Fred Armisen as Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
Bobby Cannavale as Benjamin Franklin
John Hodgman as John Adams
Stephanie March as Evelyn Wotherspoon Wainwight and Linda Williams
Alexis Denisof as The British Leadership
Patton Oswalt as Thomas Jefferson and Sherm
Critic Reviews
"An A-list of recognizable voices, including those of John Hodgman reading John Adams and Nick Offerman portraying George Washington, delivers dozens of quotes from our forefathers. Vowell deftly stirs together tones of satire, superlative research, and, yes, patriotism to make American history irresistible. If she isn't a national treasure, she should be." (AudioFile)
More from the same
What listeners say about Lafayette in the Somewhat United States
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Michael
- 10-25-15
Already waiting for Sarah Vowell's next adventure
America is a fascinating place and Sara Vowell takes us along with her as she explores our founding generations and their impact on our life today. Lots of authors do that as well but Ms. Vowell also brings humor, irony and a little spark to the journey that makes me listen to and/or read her books again and again.
Having read Chernow's extensive biography of George Washington, I couldn't help but be interested in the life of one of his closest friends, Lafayette. Lafayette pricked Washington's conscious about one of Washington's most difficult conundrums - slavery. All the while, being a true friend to Washington, the Revolution and the country that became the United States. I'm happy I got the chance to know him better.
53 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- William L. Scott III
- 06-04-16
You likely haven't heard it this way...
I'm largely conservative and the author at a minimum is not. That said, it's refreshing to hear the perspective presented here. The research was clearly thorough, and while her liberal leaning is clear, it's neither distracting nor offensive. Her wit and sarcasm are entertaining and for the most part, spot on. Her conclusions whether correct or incorrect, are at a minimum, plausible. She really drives home the point that the average American of today has no idea of the sacrifices of France to establish our country and has forgotten our huge debt to them. A good read for anyone, regardless of political persuasion so long as your comfortable listening to someone whose opinion/interpretation of events may be different than the old story of yesteryear.
93 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- S. Paterson
- 11-02-15
Hilarious History
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I would absolutely recommend this audiobook to a friend. I'm sure I would have enjoyed this book in Kindle or paperback, but just as I prefer to hear David Sedaris read his books aloud, Sarah Vowell and the cast of characters have voices that make the book come to life. I think I will always want to experience Sarah Vowell's books in her unusual voice.
What other book might you compare Lafayette in the Somewhat United States to and why?
This book tends to be in a class by itself. While one could make the case to compare it to other stories about history, no other history book I have read cracks wise like Vowell does. And while it could be considered a humor book, it is an in-depth, well researched biography of a great historical figure.
What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
John Slattery provides a charming, authentic voice to the main character. Nick Offerman does a believable job as George Washington. Their voices have the gravitas and warmth that you would imagine the actual people to have. The quotes that Vowell incorporates for them to say are so evocative of the characters that I want to listen again and again.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Toward the end, when the visit of Pershing to Paris in 1917 is described, his declaration, "Lafayette, we are here" brought tears to my eyes. I would love to one day visit Paris to find his grave and say the same thing. What a pivotal person in American history - I had no idea.
Any additional comments?
I felt like I was taking a chance downloading this book. Sarah Vowell's voice is not the smooth, polished voice of your typical narrator. I wasn't sure I would want to listen to her for nearly 8 hours. What happened? As soon as the book finished, I started it again. The story was so compelling, and the performances (including the author) were so textured and enjoyable that I didn't want to say goodbye. Her writing style is so whimsical and witty that it was an approach to history that was fun. Some people may say that her sometimes snarky style makes light of the events, but quite the contrary, I say that her style makes the people easier to relate to - it makes them like people and not like crusty stiffs in an old oil painting. I felt like I got to know and love Lafayette.
28 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- William
- 10-27-15
Great story and easy overview of the American Revolution
Sarah Vowell's voice takes a bit of getting used to but once accustomed to it I found her delivery strangely addictive. Her semi-sarcastic narrative supported by separate voices of the main figures in the story was highly effective and entertaining.
The voice of Parks and Rec's Ron Swanson as George Washington is an epic choice.
23 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- SophisticatedBrowser
- 12-10-17
I wanted to love this
What three words best describe the narrators’s voice?
Sarah Vowell is a great author, but she really should let someone else narrate. It's hard to listen to her voice for hours at a time. What's worse about this book is that there are some other excellent performers lending their voices to this production, so you get to listen to some amazing performers and then you go back to Vowell's unique voice. It's not even just that her voice is a little grating. She's not enthusiastic about her own work. She's reading it like she's annoyed with the world. No one wants to listen to that for hours.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No.
85 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Stephen T. Coomes
- 11-17-15
Narration is this book's downfall
What did you like best about Lafayette in the Somewhat United States? What did you like least?
Though author Sarah Vowell is a solid and clever writer, narration is not her strength, despite what her radio background may say. I don't want this to sound personal at all, but her voice sounds like that of a female Peanuts character: fine for conversation, but not for the necessary faster pace of narration. Also, the voices of actors added to bolster the historicity of the book only interrupt any rhythm of the story and the narration. This is such an unpleasant listen that I didn't finish the book. I rarely bail out on books early.
Would you be willing to try another book from Sarah Vowell? Why or why not?
Not if it's marketed as a history book, only to be one filled with this much of her own opinion and numerous distracting asides. The book was well intended and had lots of funny and interesting moments, but those were far outweighed by the book's other faults.
What didn’t you like about the narrators’s performance?
Her voice is not for me and her pace is far too slow.
Was Lafayette in the Somewhat United States worth the listening time?
I did not finish it because the narration was so challenging.
17 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Paula
- 11-12-15
Enjoyable history, if you can get past narrator...
The author is well informed and witty. The subject is well researched and the book is well written. With her tongue planted firmly in her cheek, the author narrates her own book. She does her written word a disservice. The author has a voice for movies - silent movies. I have a certain tolerance for voices and unfortunately for me the author's voice falls outside of my acceptable limits. She is described as droll, I read it more as nasal, flat and monotonous, there are barely perceptible glimmers of a tonal change when she is delivering a witticism. BARELY perceptible. It is a good thing she has some help here, the other narrators break up the sameness of her pitch. So, I loved the subject matter and her writing style and approach, but she should steer clear of future narrative endeavors. She should literally take her tongue out of her cheek when she talks, stop narrating her own books and keep writing in her own sardonic way. Love what she has to say on the page, I just don't enjoy having her read it to me.
39 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Gerard Toenjes
- 04-09-19
Annoying voice and not funny
I was looking forward to more history and less of Sarah’s personal political views.she really sounds so superior to all who don’t align with her views. It got so annoying that I couldn’t quite finish listening. Stopped 2 hours short.
25 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kristin
- 07-25-17
Quickly becomes an opinion piece
First mistake - narrated by the author with a poor voice and no talent with vocal arts.
Second mistake - perhaps more important, the well researched and often witty author quickly turns an amazing story of Lafayette into an opinion piece on a myriad of tppics important to the author but unrelated to the story of early America. Halfway through, it is impossible to continue. A big tease and a crying shame that the story is subjugated to the the author's soap box.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Laurie Gilmore
- 01-16-16
Extremely opinionated
I found the reviews to be misleading. The author was unknown to me, so therefore I was surprised to hear how opinionated that text was. I would not recommend this book. I suppose if one is inclined to believe the professors in the universities these days, this book would be appealing.
4 people found this helpful