As I do whenever she has a new book coming out, I'm busy rereading the collected work of Sarah Vowel. She's got one of my favorite voices, period. Her voice is warm, funny, intelligent, confidential, conversational, and occasionally scathing.

That being said, as of "Radio On", she hadn't quite got it right. It's not that she had it wrong. She always had her knack for seeing beauty in strange places, humor where there seems little chance to find it, and a keen sense of how pop culture and history shape our lives.

It's just that everything is a little off. The tone, for lack of a better word, is too damn bitchy. The voice is too impressed with its own intelligence. It's Generation X at its worst, most navel-gazing, self-satisfied.

Imagine if you will that "Reality Bites" wrote a book. It might have had a similar feel to Sarah Vowel's work at that time. The characters might have been self-absorbed, the dialogue might have been snarky, and the overall tone might have been a bit too full of itself. But despite these flaws, there would still be something redeeming about it. Maybe it would make us laugh, or maybe it would make us think about our own lives in a new way. That's the thing about Sarah Vowel's work. Even when it's not perfect, it's still worth reading.

I have a profound love for radio, and I also have a great affection for Sarah Vowell.

This book contains extremely short essays covering every conceivable aspect of radio programming and recording. Moreover, it includes all the wonderful digressions that occur in Vowell's mind as she gains more and more popularity on the radio herself. And now, of course, in podcasts as well.

I would highly recommend this book not only to those who are passionate about radio but also to people who don't typically listen to it. After all, radio can be regarded as just a large-scale podcast where in the past, you couldn't listen to specific content whenever you wanted.

This book offers unique insights and perspectives that can enhance one's understanding and appreciation of the world of radio and its evolution into the era of podcasts.

Radio has always been a fascinating medium. It has the power to transport us to different worlds, introduce us to new ideas, and connect us with people from all walks of life. In her article "Radio On," Sarah Vowell explores the unique魅力 of radio and its impact on our lives.

Vowell begins by sharing her own personal experience with radio. She recalls listening to the radio as a child and being captivated by the voices and stories that came through the speakers. For her, radio was a source of entertainment, information, and inspiration.

As the article progresses, Vowell delves deeper into the history and evolution of radio. She discusses how radio has changed over the years, from its early days as a simple communication tool to its current status as a multi-faceted medium that includes music, talk shows, news, and more.

One of the most interesting aspects of Vowell's article is her exploration of the relationship between radio and culture. She argues that radio has had a significant impact on popular culture, influencing everything from music to fashion to language.

Overall, "Radio On" is a thought-provoking and engaging article that offers a unique perspective on the world of radio. Whether you're a die-hard radio fan or simply curious about this fascinating medium, Vowell's article is well worth a read.

http://www.danscanon.com/2020/03/radi...

Technically speaking, I didn't really "read" this book in the traditional sense.

I only managed to get through the month of January in this diary of radio listening, and I quickly realized that I just wasn't going to be able to make it through the rest of the year.

Generally, I have a great love for Sarah Vowell's books. However, this particular one just seemed a little too scattered for my taste. There was less that held my interest compared to her other works.

Some of the "days" described in the diary were extremely interesting and engaging, while others were not so much.

As a result, I can't really rate this book with any degree of confidence. It's a bit of a mixed bag, and perhaps it just didn't resonate with me as strongly as I had hoped.

Maybe for some readers, the scattered nature and the variety of topics might be appealing, but for me, it fell a little short.

Nonetheless, I still appreciate Sarah Vowell's unique writing style and her ability to bring different perspectives to light.

Perhaps I'll give this book another try at a later time and see if my opinion changes.

For now, though, I'll have to move on to other reading materials.

After reading and falling in love with everything else that Sarah Vowell has written, I decided to pick up "Radio On". However, after perusing the other reviews on this site, my expectations were not overly high. And as it turns out, I wasn't disappointed.

While this particular work may not be my absolute favorite among Vowell's oeuvre, I still found great pleasure in reading it. In fact, I believe it speaks volumes about her talent that even what some might consider her worst book still possesses a significant number of redeeming qualities.

Her unique writing style, which combines humor, intelligence, and a deep understanding of history and popular culture, shines through on every page. Even when the subject matter may not be the most engaging, Vowell's ability to bring it to life with her vivid descriptions and witty asides makes the reading experience enjoyable.

Overall, "Radio On" is a worthy addition to any Sarah Vowell fan's collection, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and entertaining read.

The remarkable thing about this book, for Sarah Vowell fans, is that it takes place during a pivotal year of her life.

She spends a significant amount of time unhappily thrashing about for new opportunities.

The subject is radio in 1995, yet the central character is her.

The most interesting aspect lies in the collision between 1995 pop culture and her professional worries and personal opinions.

I'm not entirely certain how enjoyable this book would be for those who don't like the author or don't remember the year 1995 as vividly as I do.

However, I thought it was one of her most unique books.

It is more free-flowing than her essays and travelogues, and an unexpected storyline emerges.

It's a story of the kind that I believe only occurs to people when they're in their mid-twenties and life undergoes changes.

The way she hates Garrison Keillor and Linda Werthimer at the beginning of the book is delightfully ironic.

And an entry in November where she sits in on the editing of a new show called "This American Life" is downright Anakin Skywalkeresque.

The other highlight is her account of a radio special on Kurt Cobain's death.

The special may be lame, but her attempts to extract meaning from it are extremely touching.

Especially when she drags out a quote from an account of a depression in Wisconsin from her metaphor-obsessed mind.

This is not a teenage Sarah Vowell as some of the other reviews claim.

This is a mid-twenties Sarah Vowell, and for those who wish to explore what that's like, this is the book.

I have a great affection for Sarah Vowell's essays. However, I initially refrained from reading this particular work due to the rather tepid reviews on Amazon. And now, here I am, on the verge of penning my own lukewarm assessment.

This book indeed had several outstanding moments. It served as an intriguing time capsule of 1995, offering fascinating insights into that era. I was particularly captivated by the snippets of information regarding the history of This American Life.

Nevertheless, it reads more like a diary than a collection of essays. While there is a certain charm to the unrefined atmosphere, for the most part, I would much prefer Partly-Cloudy Patriot over this.

Nonetheless, it is still worth a read if you are a fan of Vowell's other works, or if you have an interest in radio, or for any other reason. It may not be a literary masterpiece, but it does have its merits and can provide an enjoyable reading experience for the right audience.

In 1995, a younger and more cranky Vowell was constantly tuned in to the radio. She didn't hold back her comments, which she shared with the world.

Much of what she had to say was rather negative, but there were also some positive aspects mixed in. Given that she owes a certain degree of her fame to NPR, it's quite interesting that she's often rather critical of it, deeming it toothless and absolutely loathing Garrison Keillor and his Prairie Home Companion. Rush Limbaugh also comes in for a fair amount of her ire.

Vowell is truly passionate about music and her other interests, and has some excellent taste. The title makes a reference to Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, and Vowell points out that "Roadrunner" is an ode to driving and listening to the radio, yet you so rarely hear anything that good on the actual radio. She also mentions the Fastbacks, a relatively recent discovery for her.

Vowell had a particular affinity for Nirvana, and although I was never a fan, she does a great job of convincing me that Kurt Cobain was a quite admirable person in some respects. She writes about how some of the same people who bullied Cobain in his youth would show up at his concerts, and he basically told them they shouldn't bother. Something along those lines, anyway; I can't locate the actual passage at the moment. It's an interesting read, although not my favorite among Vowell's books.

This is a unique kind of diary that chronicles a full year of listening to the radio.

Sarah's remarkable wit, charming humor, and incisive insights shine through in this diary, just as they do in her books of essays.

As the year in question is now a distant 12 years behind us, her diary also offers a fascinating snapshot of the general climate at that time.

We are transported back to a world filled with the likes of Nirvana, Courtney Love, Rush Limbaugh, Bill Clinton, and Ira Glass.

It's a captivating read that not only provides entertainment but also offers a valuable historical perspective.

Highly recommended for those interested in a blend of personal reflection and cultural commentary.

Whether you're a fan of Sarah's writing or simply curious about the past, this diary is sure to engage and delight.

So, sit back, relax, and let Sarah take you on a journey through the year in radio.

You won't be disappointed.

A sufficiently good read for backstage in between scenes, but not one of Vowell's strongest works. She draws a distinction between "whiny" and "the funnier puissance of 'cranky'" (p. 205) that eludes me. It's an interesting concept, yet perhaps a bit too nuanced for me to fully grasp.

Subtitled "A Listener's Diary," the book charts her radio listening and other activities from New Year's Eve 1994 to the following NYE. Although she visits some surprising, interesting places (most notably, Walter De Maria's Lightning Field), Vowell seems to have found little more to listen to in Chicago than public radio, Limbaugh talk radio, rock and roll, and rock and roll talk radio. This limited range of radio listening options in a big city like Chicago is somewhat unexpected.

Some copy editing and fact checking is in order. She misidentifies the East Building of Washington's National Gallery of Art and gets the title wrong of the oft-maligned hit single by the Spin Doctors. These errors, while perhaps minor, do detract from the overall credibility of the work.

Her complaints about public radio verge on the juvenile ("some boring jazz guitar guy introduces a piece he wrote... [that] goes plink, plink, chord; plink, plink, chord." [p. 48]). However, she also comes to its defense, quite succinctly: "... a radio is not a newspaper with speakers. NPR, in its finest moments, remembers this, and sets aside its gutless goal of competence, giving us the loud and quite of the world." (p. 74). Her views on public radio are thus a bit of a mixed bag, with both criticism and praise.

This is Sarah Vowell's first book. Surprisingly, I found it more engaging to read 14 years after its original publication in 1996 than I might have in the mid-90s when it was considered "current".

The reason for this is that the book serves as a vivid snapshot of our society back then, as well as a record of the contemporary events. For instance, I was unaware that Rush Limbaugh had such a significant national presence so long ago. (I was a sophomore in college at that time, too preoccupied with myself to pay attention to national political discussions.)

She also devotes a considerable amount of time to the Kurt Cobain suicide, which seemingly dominated the radio conversations during that period.

In a nutshell, she spends an entire year listening intently to the radio (a great deal!), and this is her diary of some of the more peculiar, strange, political, and/or touching things she heard while delving deeply into that medium. Most of these experiences occur while she is living in Chicago, but there are also sections that take place when she is visiting other parts of the country.

Overall, it offers a unique perspective on a bygone era and the role of radio in shaping our cultural and political landscape.

I have always been a great admirer of Sarah's previous works. Her books have always managed to capture my attention and engage me on a deep level. However, when it comes to this particular book, I have to admit that it failed to have the same impact on me.

Perhaps it was the storyline that didn't quite resonate with my interests. Or maybe it was the writing style that didn't click with me as much as her other works. Whatever the reason may be, I found myself struggling to get fully invested in the story.

Despite this, I still respect Sarah as an author and appreciate the effort she has put into writing this book. I'm sure there are many other readers out there who will love it and find it just as captivating as her previous works. But for me, unfortunately, this one simply did not speak to me.