This was the only Sarah Vowell collection that I had not yet read.

Although I don't recommend this one as highly as Assassination Vacation, there are still some truly great essays within its pages.

I found her exploration of the Trail of Tears to be both fascinating and eye-opening. The piece about life in the Chelsea Hotel, which has also come up in a significant amount of my recent reading, was equally engaging. And the essay about making mix tapes brought back a flood of memories for me.

I have long had a bit of a crush on Sarah Vowell, and this book only served to deepen that feeling. Her unique writing style, filled with wit, intelligence, and a passion for history and culture, is truly captivating.

Overall, while this collection may not be her absolute best, it is still well worth reading for anyone who enjoys Vowell's work or is interested in learning more about the topics she explores.

Sarah Vowell would have been my absolute favorite American history teacher. What makes her so special is her remarkable ability to connect the dots in history, thereby making it truly meaningful.

She delved deep into her own family history regarding the Trail of Tears. I vividly remember a paragraph from my middle school days and perhaps a question on a follow-up quiz about it. Her extensive research shows that she really gives a great deal of love and attention to this heinous chapter in America's history.

Especially since it was before my time, I was completely captivated by her musings on Sinatra.

This book is a wonderful collection of her works. Some of them are rich in history, as mentioned above, while others focus more on her personal life, such as her struggles with insomnia and stories about her family. I found the personal aspects to be passable reading, but the sections on American history were truly phenomenal.

I thoroughly enjoy her work and will most definitely continue to look for her books, with a particular inclination towards her writings on history.

This book is not my favorite among the works of one of my favorite authors.

Perhaps it is because some of the essays are rather old and don't seem as relevant to the present day.

Or maybe it's simply that the subjects didn't really capture my interest.

I didn't find myself as fully engaged as I have been with other essays by this author.

However, that's not to say that I didn't get any enjoyment out of this book.

In fact, I did manage to get a few chuckles here and there.

But I felt like those moments of laughter were more spread out and not as intense or frequent as in some of the other books.

Overall, while it had its moments, this particular book didn't quite live up to my expectations.

It's possible that upon a second reading, or with a different mindset, I might discover more to appreciate.

But for now, it remains a somewhat underwhelming addition to my collection of this author's works.

Reading Sarah Vowell always evokes in me the identical response as observing/listening to an extremely cool kid did in high school (or, well, even now): I am desperately eager to associate with her.

(Particularly since she is also friends with the fellow essayist David Rakoff, whom I idolize; one of the pieces in this collection is about the two of them visiting DisneyWorld, and I had to resist the urge to jump up from my couch, waving my hand and shouting: 'Ooh, take me! Take me, too!')

In these essays regarding growing up/living in America and attempting to make sense of American history and culture, Vowell captures the essence and soul of (this frequently impossibly messed up) country in a manner that is remarkably similar to the way I perceive it—remarkable, among other reasons, because Vowell's experiences are predominantly centered around living in Oklahoma, Montana, and Chicago, while mine are around Vermont and California.

It is pleasant to think that there are still certain aspects of American life that can be regarded as inclusive, whether in a red state or a blue state. And although Vowell (quite appropriately) does not sugarcoat any of the nation's nastier aspects, she treats all her subjects with respect and humor—qualities that we could definitely utilize more of.

I laughed out loud quite a bit at first.

However, the difficulty with things like this is that reading them straight tends to diminish the fun. It's like a once-vibrant party that loses its sparkle when observed too objectively.

She did change gears significantly with the Trail of Tears road trip, though. This was a welcome shift that added a new dimension to the story. It was as if a new chapter had been opened, filled with unknowns and possibilities.

I really appreciated that. It showed her ability to adapt and explore different themes.

Moreover, she also inspired my next year's challenge with her comment on her need for random learning. Her words planted a seed in my mind, making me think about the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing new experiences.

Overall, her writing had a profound impact on me, both in terms of entertainment and inspiration.

This is the early work of a truly outstanding essayist.

Ms Vowell possesses a highly unique perspective on the world, presenting her opinions with a snarky yet enthusiastic charm.

Her take on the history of the US, especially as seen from the Michigan Avenue bridge, is truly captivating.

It offers a fresh and engaging look at the nation's past, filled with interesting anecdotes and thought-provoking insights.

The way she weaves together history and her own personal observations makes for a truly enjoyable read.

It's the kind of work that not only educates but also entertains, leaving the reader with a newfound appreciation for the subject matter.

Overall, this is a remarkable piece of writing that showcases Ms Vowell's considerable talent as an essayist.

It's truly an even more enjoyable experience reading her essays when one knows what her voice sounds like.

Her writing style is a perfect mirror of her speaking manner. She employs the same start-and-stop deadpan sarcasm in her written works as she does when she speaks.

This unique combination of writing and speaking style gives her essays a distinct charm. It allows the reader to not only engage with the words on the page but also to imagine her delivering those lines with her characteristic tone and expression.

It's as if she is right there in the room with the reader, sharing her thoughts and opinions in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Whether it's a humorous anecdote or a serious observation, her essays come alive through her writing style, making them a pleasure to read again and again.

I have heard wonderful things about Sarah Vowell. I thought she would be great because she was so funny on Gigantic, that documentary about They Might Be Giants. I’ve never heard her on This American Life, but Ira Glass and This American Life are great, so I bet she is too. However, I didn't like her book.

I must admit that toward the end, I left huge chunks unread. I'd get to a boring chapter and think "aw, hell no. Next!" and then start reading the next one, only to be equally disappointed.

I was excited for about ten seconds when I saw the chapter that started "I am standing on Disney World’s Main Street, U.S.A…" but ended up just getting pissed. Of course, she has to explain how it’s a TOTAL ACCIDENT that she ended up there (because she is actually above Disney World), and makes fun of pretty much everything. Like, the fact that the waiters dressed in Revolutionary War-Era clothes have to wear black sneakers? Who gives a shit? Honestly, I have witnessed it all. There is plenty to make fun of in Disney World, but Vowell instead seemed appalled by the least controversial things.

She also claims that on Tom Sawyer’s Island someone scrawled "Fuck Off Nazis" on one of the walls, and I feel like flying there right now to prove her wrong. They unleash an army of janitors the moment the park closes every night to unstick discarded gum and scrub and pick up trash from every square inch of the park. There is absolutely no way there is graffiti of any kind. I have never seen it. She ends by taking a trip to Celebration, Florida and making fun of that. Too easy. Who goes to Celebration for fun, anyway? (Despite its name, it is not a party town and everyone who is there knows it’s not trying to be entertaining. It’s basically a retirement community.)

All I could think of is "thank God I don’t have to go to Disney world with you, or anywhere for that matter." In fact, Vowell came off as pretty pretentious and un-fun throughout the entire book. She is predictably nerdy – it is almost painful how stereotypical it all is. I read a lot of reviews that praised the book after I gave up reading it, so I picked it up and said "okay, Lauren, let’s try again!" But honestly, it was too excruciating and I thought why am I doing this and I started reading a new book that I am really actually enjoying.

Maybe I should have tried harder, and maybe, as a Disney nerd, I was farrrrrrr too offended about the unjustifiable Disney stabs. That might have ruined the entire book for me. So please, someone who has read it that is NOT a Disney nerd: is she right, is this book okay? Did the Disney stuff (and all the other stuff) entertain you?

Sarah Vowell is delightfully funny in a rather understated manner.

Take, for instance, her account of her father's passion for guns. She reveals that her father loves guns to such an extent that he makes them for a living. And she has this rather interesting habit of casually dropping this piece of information when she is dating men. Her reasoning? So that when the relationship inevitably reaches its end, they will dump her in a respectful manner.

She also has a remarkable ability to write about a wide range of subjects, from serious historical events like the Trail of Tears to more light-hearted topics such as being terrorized by her UPS man simply because she works from home.

Her writing is not only highly entertaining but also educational. It offers readers a unique perspective on various aspects of life, making it a truly engaging read.

I absolutely loathed this book and abandoned it before even reaching the halfway mark.

The entire text is essentially nothing more than a continuous stream of whining and complaining, painting America as an extremely terrible place.

Moreover, it is充斥着 a large amount of left-wing political nonsense that seems completely baseless and unconvincing.

The author's one-sided and negative portrayal of the country is both tiresome and unappealing.

It feels as if the book is nothing but a vehicle for the author to express their own personal biases and political views, rather than a legitimate work of literature or a balanced analysis of any sort.

I would not recommend this book to anyone, as it offers nothing of value or interest.

Enjoyable observations and fascinating investigations are presented here, delivered with Vowell's trademark sardonic wit. Her writing style is truly unique. It has this remarkable quality of not drawing excessive attention to itself. Instead, it allows the reader to simply immerse in the content. This makes for an extremely comfortable reading experience. One can easily get lost in her words, following her through her various observations and investigations. The sardonic wit adds an extra layer of charm and entertainment. It makes the whole reading process not only informative but also highly engaging. Whether it's her take on a particular subject or her exploration of a new idea, Vowell's writing always manages to captivate and hold the reader's interest.

When I was returning The Wordy Shipmates, I happened to notice that the library had another one of her books. So, without hesitation, I went ahead and grabbed it. Just like the first book of hers that I read, I devoured this one in a single day.

This particular book leans less towards history, which I think is her specialty, and more towards the personal. Therefore, unless you have a fondness for the author as a person and enjoy her unique voice, you might be able to skip this book. It delves more into her personal experiences of Americana, family, ancestry, high school, college, and so on.

Nevertheless, I found it quite enjoyable. Vowell has a knack for being funny, and her personal retracing of the Trail of Tears was probably my favorite part. It was incredibly inspiring without coming across as boring, preachy, or overly demanding. If someone had told me that their favorite part of a book was the section where the author retraced the Trail of Tears, I would have been inclined to say, "No thanks!" However, when any topic gets the Vowell treatment, in my opinion, it's definitely worth a read.

In any case, I highly recommend checking out her work. Her books are quick reads, filled with intelligence, humor, and relatability. I'm certain that I will continue to make my way through her entire body of work.