Una penna mordace, sprecata e a tratti decisamente fastidiosa, racconta spicchi d’America da una prospettiva molto liberal, molto chic, molto opinabile.

Tuttavia, nonostante alcune caratteristiche negative, il capitolo dedicato alla saga del Padrino salva in qualche modo l’opera. È infatti da questo capitolo che prende il titolo. Tuttavia, non si può ignorare l’inverosimile carambola della nostra maître a pensare sino a Corleone per gustare i sovraccitati, epici cannoli.

Nient’altro da aggiungere, Vostro Onore. Questa opera, nonostante alcuni aspetti discutibili, riesce comunque a offrire una visione particolare d’America, anche se attraverso una penna che non è sempre facile da digerire.

You would think that reading and reviewing a book written ten years ago about American culture might be a rather tricky task.

One would expect that with so much having changed over the years, a book of this nature would seem more like a history lesson rather than a contemporary view into America.

However, surprisingly, despite all that has transpired since the turn of the century, Vowell's essays remain as true and as vibrant as when she initially penned them.

I must admit that I have been a fan of Vowell ever since I delved into her book Assassination Vacation.

The most remarkable aspect of that book is Vowell's ability to take us on a tour of America, making the history she uncovers highly relevant to the present day.

This is a gift that she successfully brings into these short essays as well.

Vowell embarks on a journey along the "Trail of Tears," traversing the same path that her Cherokee ancestors were compelled to travel when they were forcibly driven from their homes by Americans.

She spends a few days at the Chelsea Hotel, where Sid Vicious might have committed the act of killing Nancy Spungen.

She then heads to Hoboken to explore the town where Frank Sinatra grew up.

She regales us with the history of a street corner in Chicago and subsequently explains the valuable lessons she gleaned from participating in the high school band and from watching the movie "The Godfather."

The end result is a truly enjoyable collection of essays that endure and hold up well, even after a decade.

If you have relished reading Vowell's other books, then I can wholeheartedly recommend this one to you.

Striking - equal parts hilarious, poignant, and intriguing.

At times, my wife asked me what I was laughing aloud at, and at other points, my heart ached. Sometimes, the two emotions were only paragraphs apart.

The more I read of Ms. Vowell's work, the more I think she would be a fascinating person to have over to dinner. Her writing truly exemplifies the truth that history is about people.

It is most interesting and enlightening when it's presented in this way, rather than as a dusty version of Trivial Pursuit, which is unfortunately how it is often taught.

Highly recommended. Her work offers a fresh and engaging perspective on history, making it accessible and enjoyable for readers of all ages.

Whether you're a history buff or just looking for a good read, Ms. Vowell's writing is sure to captivate you.

So, don't hesitate to pick up one of her books and discover the fascinating world of history through her eyes.

Revisited for the first time in at least a decade, the Pax Romana Clinton era angst is almost incomprehensible.

At one point, Vowell muses that kids these days don't know what it was like to grow up with the idea of there not being a future. Don't worry, Sarah, we remembered.

But Vowell is still one of the first authors to really make me want to write. She is also one of the ones who molded my idea of good writing. Her style is chummy, conversational, intimate but precise. I enjoy her pop histories, but I genuinely miss her as a personal essayist.

I feel, perhaps a little bizarrely, like I've lost the confidence of a friend. It's as if her absence from the personal essay genre has left a void in my literary experience. I long for the days when I could pick up one of her essays and feel as if I was having a conversation with a dear friend.

Maybe she'll return to writing personal essays one day, and I can once again be inspired by her unique voice and perspective. Until then, I'll continue to cherish the memories of her earlier works and hope for her return.