sarah vowell's the partly cloudy patriot
i feel like i've been talking about sarah vowell for weeks, between her great voice work in the incredibles and her upcoming talk at duke (on wednesday, but i can't go), and since i have never actually read one of her books (i've mostly just heard her on the radio or read stuff of hers in magazines), this seems like an opportune time to get on that, already. this book was mildly painful to read--several of the essays focus on the 2000 election, and in this post-election period, it was just a little hard--but most of the essays made me grin and even guffaw. i especially enjoyed her stories dealing w/ american history--most notably, the one on teddy roosevelt and the one on presidential librarians. yes, i too am a history nerd--what else is new? the ones about her family were also entertaining--who can't relate to her dread when her family comes to visit? and her meditations on twin-dom are particularly relevant to my recent thoughts, considering this thread over at the 6:35 forum. but anyway, these were really some nice essays sort of all centered around the theme of "being an American!" but with lots of nice lighhearted moments, like comparing clinton and gore to jordan catalano and brian krakow. very nice.
PS--unrelated, and just a test: in theory, here is a picture of all the hamsters i have received to date (at the behest of lisa b., and with the help of mike p., who pointed out that i can just put pictures on my unc webspace and not have to worry about flickr's space limits . . . )
5 comments:
Perhaps I've been living under a rock -- are you going to go to Sarah Vowell's talk thing tomorrow at Duke? (MIke)
okay, so apparently I can't read. Or more accurately, I read like I hear now: I miss the first few sentances of whatever anyone says/writes. Living proof of the one-horse shay, yo.
sadly, i am too busy w/ school stuff this week to take the time to go hear her--actually, b/c tomorrow is the celebratory sushi dinner, and i didn't have time to do both. :)
Hooray for sushi!! mmmmm.
I will further your book celebrations and leave you a copy of the new Sing-Sing EP at the station... "Ruby" uses book metaphors! (MIke)
awesome, thanks!!! and i'll try and remember to return your books this weekend . . .
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