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The Partly Cloudy Patriot
by
Sarah Vowell travels through the American past and, in doing so, investigates the dusty, bumpy roads of her own life. In this insightful and funny collection of personal stories Vowell—widely hailed for her inimitable stories on public radio's This American Life—ponders a number of curious questions: Why is she happiest when visiting the sites of bloody struggles like Sale
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Paperback, 197 pages
Published
October 1st 2003
by Simon Schuster
(first published August 27th 2002)
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Start your review of The Partly Cloudy Patriot

I love Sarah Vowell. I can't say that enough. She re-affirms my belief that someone out there gets 'it'. That... it's not crazy to have these thoughts. (well, some of them, anyway). I'm not even sure that 're-affirms' is the word I'm looking for. I don't know... I'm just extremely grateful...
I'll admit that I”m not one to eagerly debate American politics, the economy or foreign policy, I'm just not articu-literary enough in that way. As you can see, I like to make up words and then people don't ...more
I'll admit that I”m not one to eagerly debate American politics, the economy or foreign policy, I'm just not articu-literary enough in that way. As you can see, I like to make up words and then people don't ...more

May 27, 2009
Ciara
rated it
did not like it
Recommends it for:
racile demoratic partisans, the intellectually dishonest, apologists for the founders
Shelves:
read-in-2009
straight up, i am really not a fan of sarah vowell's love affair with american exceptionalism & naked liberal partisanship. there were parts of this book that made me throw it down in disgust. like the piece about sarah & her nerdy politco internet buddies going to george w. bushe's first inauguration, to "witness" the fact that not every american just stood around & did nothing while the election was stolen, blah blah blah, yeah, standing on the mall & crying your eyes out sure is going to chan
...more

Aug 29, 2016
Ashley Marie
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audiobook-would-recommend,
nonfiction-history
Definitely reading more Sarah Vowell after this. And for as much as I cringed from time to time listening to her read (because it didn't sound very natural), I have to recommend the audio for the supporting cast of Stephen Colbert, Conan O'Brien, Seth Green, et al.
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The title of this book derives from Thomas Paine's pamphlet The Crisis:
These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.While the content of the book is by no means as heavy or serious as Mr. Paine's writing, this book was released during an interesting time in America's history. Namely the aftermath of 9/11 and seve ...more

(3.5) Essays on politics, culture and personal life from an unabashed U.S. history nerd. I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as Assassination Vacation, and once again the material feels a little bit dated, but this is still valuable commentary on the nauseating surge of faux patriotism after 9/11 (the title piece), the suspicion of intelligence and passionate interests that ultimately explains Al Gore’s loss to George W. Bush in the 2000 election (“The Nerd Voice,” the centerpiece of the book), an
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Aside from herself, Conan O'Brien, Seth Green, Stephen Colbert, and David Cross read on the audio version. That right there is enough to make the content not even matter. But it does. This is my introduction to Sarah Vowell and my favorite of her work.
I especially remember the story about Concord High School in New Hampshire inviting all the 2000 presidential candidates to speak. Half accepted, including Al Gore. This was 1999, the same year as Columbine, and the candidates were asked to speak a ...more
I especially remember the story about Concord High School in New Hampshire inviting all the 2000 presidential candidates to speak. Half accepted, including Al Gore. This was 1999, the same year as Columbine, and the candidates were asked to speak a ...more

ok. i almost gave this book 2 stars because it was cheesy in an NPR/This American Life/The Onion/Obama sort of way. its a book about patriotism and skepticism and being american and thinking about what that means. and really really liking america. i mean, with a conscious and all, but really liking them red white and blue things. so that's the part that made it difficult to swallow.
but sort of stuck in there are really moments of insight and good writing that warranted another perspective. her m ...more
but sort of stuck in there are really moments of insight and good writing that warranted another perspective. her m ...more

Well, I have to admit I was partly cloudy as to what essentially this book was supposed to be about. Is it an exploration of a history nerd's civic pride? Her dabbles in Americana? Memoir? Random thoughts about cultural what-not? Social commentary on the state of government and politics in this country? Yes to all of the above! And this is why I remain fuzzy with regards to whether or not I truly enjoyed reading this book.
Sarah Vowell's novel of essays gets off to a great start with a piece abou ...more
Sarah Vowell's novel of essays gets off to a great start with a piece abou ...more

I first read The Partly Cloudy Patriot about 10 or 11 years ago, during the W era. Since it was only about 5 years old at the time, it hadn't aged badly at all. Reading it now, in the Era of Trump, it all seems so tame and naive. Who knew that I would one day long for the willful befuddlement of George W. Bush? I love Sarah's writing, but this collection of essays isn't as strong as her books with a singular subject. Still a solid read.
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After reading the first essay in this compliation I wanted to like this book. I looked forward to more of the same genuine feeling and witty sentiment in which Sarah ensconces her experiences at Gettysburg, Salem, the 2000 inaguration, and the Carlsbad Caverns. Unfortunately these humorus and profound pieces are punctuated with seemingly irrelevant, meandering musings thematically tangental to the patriotic tone set by the title, the cover, and the opening piece. And while I understand the value
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The third of three books given to me as a Christmas gift in 2012.
This book consists of a collection of essays, Ms. Vowell's opinions filtered through Government schools, and an overbearing "I am NPR, therefore I am smarter than you." attitude.
I am sorry that I read these books at the time in my life that I did; I think if I had read them earlier when my opinion of NPR was better than it is today, I might have enjoyed them better. As it is, in all three cases Ms. Vowell just comes across as an ...more
This book consists of a collection of essays, Ms. Vowell's opinions filtered through Government schools, and an overbearing "I am NPR, therefore I am smarter than you." attitude.
I am sorry that I read these books at the time in my life that I did; I think if I had read them earlier when my opinion of NPR was better than it is today, I might have enjoyed them better. As it is, in all three cases Ms. Vowell just comes across as an ...more

This book was very entertaining. I was surprised by some of the author's dead-on observations and ability to step back and examine her own zealotry.
A good example is her essay on the kerfuffle over Al Gore mentioning Love Canal while speaking at a high school. AG was misquoted and "discovered Love Canal" was added to the list of undeserved credits claimed by AG. The author was able to take a step back from her obvious boner for AG and reflect on the irrelevance of a misquote if the result confir ...more
A good example is her essay on the kerfuffle over Al Gore mentioning Love Canal while speaking at a high school. AG was misquoted and "discovered Love Canal" was added to the list of undeserved credits claimed by AG. The author was able to take a step back from her obvious boner for AG and reflect on the irrelevance of a misquote if the result confir ...more

2002 was a simpler time.
George W. Bush had just stolen the presidency, terrorists had attacked on American soil, and we were launching ourselves into an illegal war -- ah, those were the days.
The twelve years of endless combat, financial collapse, and increasing national division that have intervened now make that 2002 America, portrayed in this book, seem like a Normal Rockwell painting.
So, if you're interested in a trip down Memory Lane to those halcyon days when you felt freshly outraged and ...more
George W. Bush had just stolen the presidency, terrorists had attacked on American soil, and we were launching ourselves into an illegal war -- ah, those were the days.
The twelve years of endless combat, financial collapse, and increasing national division that have intervened now make that 2002 America, portrayed in this book, seem like a Normal Rockwell painting.
So, if you're interested in a trip down Memory Lane to those halcyon days when you felt freshly outraged and ...more

Unlike some of Sarah Vowell's books, this one was a collection of essays, stories, and letters and not focused on just one historical area....that being said her huge amount of historical knowledge paired with her wry wit and humor was, as always, a joy for me to listen to, even if some of the stories were a bit dated (it was published in 2002) I still enjoyed laughs and heartbreak about the 2000 election FBAR, the new surge of Patriotism after 9/11, her letter to the outgoing POTUS about how to
...more

Collection of short pieces: essays and reviews on a variety of subjects, but as the title suggests, America--both the idea and the reality--remains central throughout. Vowell is sharp and funny and has a gift for seeing things from odd angles. She has a great essay, for instance, on Tom Cruise, "Tom Cruise Makes Me Nervous," where she says, "Tom Cruise is the most talented actor of all time at keeping his distance" (128) which I think is a beautiful summation.
Because her writing seems always to ...more
Because her writing seems always to ...more

Apr 10, 2008
Maggie
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone, especially history buffs
This was great both as a work of literature and as an audiobook. Sarah Vowell is funny, articulate, and wise; there's something to be said for writing so good that it makes you actually want to visit boring historical sites (Gettysburg and Salem, specifically). Part memoir and part history lesson, this was in every way fun to listen to. As an added bonus, Conan O'Brien performs as Lincoln, Stephen Colbert does Al Gore (brilliantly), and David Cross reads TR's lines.
I liked this book so much o ...more
I liked this book so much o ...more

Hillarious. I have to read more of Vowell. Teaching future teachers how to teach social studies like I do can be serious business but Vowell will help me keep it all in perspective. She's outlandish, and sill, and just really funny. I am not sure how much sense this book would make for people outside of the US unless they are students of American culture and history. I especially love her take on Canadians, the nicest people on the planet. She manages to poke fun at them but in a very nice way.
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I absolutely ate this book up.
I love how much Sarah Vowell loves Abraham Lincoln, how she argues for the preservation of an underground lunchroom in the Carlsbad Caverns because at the end of the day we Americans are just "a bunch of fun-loving dopes," and how she thinks more people would have liked Al Gore if he had "nerd voice" down, which would possibly have involved Joss Whedon writing all his campaign speeches.
Plus, I have this nifty autographed first edition, so, you know. Suck it and st ...more
I love how much Sarah Vowell loves Abraham Lincoln, how she argues for the preservation of an underground lunchroom in the Carlsbad Caverns because at the end of the day we Americans are just "a bunch of fun-loving dopes," and how she thinks more people would have liked Al Gore if he had "nerd voice" down, which would possibly have involved Joss Whedon writing all his campaign speeches.
Plus, I have this nifty autographed first edition, so, you know. Suck it and st ...more

This was my introduction to Sarah Vowell, and I now like her very much. I know, I'm a loser for not listening to NPR more frequently, but I can't pay attention to anything else when it's on (seriously - even wash dishes), so I don't.
She's funny and smart and insightful and definitely a patriot in a way that makes me proud to know that she's a fellow countryman (countrywoman?). A patriot in the "I love my country and am willing to stand up to the groupthink that leads us astray" mold. And also a ...more
She's funny and smart and insightful and definitely a patriot in a way that makes me proud to know that she's a fellow countryman (countrywoman?). A patriot in the "I love my country and am willing to stand up to the groupthink that leads us astray" mold. And also a ...more

It's a shame because she's actually a funny writer but this book is just peak tone-deaf liberalism. Not sure what was more offensive: when she implied that unlike Salem and Gettysburg with their grim and violent histories the Caribbean is simply a cheery place to vacation or when she used liking Elvis and Johnny Cash to defend American patriotism to a group of people from "something-istan I hadn't heard of" when they were complaining about US imperialism. You're not a very good "history buff" an
...more

I meant to parcel this audiobook out over walks and other time outside. Instead I ripped through it in two days, listening every chance I got.
I enjoyed this a ton. Vowell loves her country, her country's history and takes a wry, yet loving look at America. It's refreshing to read a book by someone who loves their country and can talk about it warts and all, and of course it helps that Vowell is very funny, especially in her own narration. Plus, if you listen to the audiobook, you get to hear Con ...more
I enjoyed this a ton. Vowell loves her country, her country's history and takes a wry, yet loving look at America. It's refreshing to read a book by someone who loves their country and can talk about it warts and all, and of course it helps that Vowell is very funny, especially in her own narration. Plus, if you listen to the audiobook, you get to hear Con ...more

Sarah Vowell is amazing. She has a great sense of history and what it means at different historical moments. As she moved about the world, she thinks about what has happened in this place, what was made in this place, who made it, and so forth. While many people cannot contemplate history, she is a true force and can make others pay attention. Her reverence for Lincoln is a real tribute, but she also appreciates Al Gore, the nerd, and the complexities of other political figures. Reading about th
...more

Kind of a mixed bag of interesting things I didn’t know, boring facts I didn’t care about, and snark. Some snark was funny—as Sarah Vowell is—other times, it just seemed constant. I’m a fan of sarcasm. Too much back-to-back can be...I don’t know the right word ....irritating? I was reminded of the tv show show Two Broke Girls that I dislike for the same reason: snark overload.
I like her passion for history and her ability to parallel and compare historical mind-set to more contemporary issues a ...more
I like her passion for history and her ability to parallel and compare historical mind-set to more contemporary issues a ...more

“The Partly Cloudy Patriot” by Sarah Vowell, published by Simon & Schuster.
Category – Politics Publication Date – 2002
Although this book is dated the material is still fresh and relevant. The category I picked for this book is Politics but I could just have picked Humor or History.
Sarah Vowell takes us on her personal journey through the political world as she grows up. It is hard to imagine but she was fascinated by government since she was a young girl.
Her journey goes from a Thanksgiving Dinn ...more
Category – Politics Publication Date – 2002
Although this book is dated the material is still fresh and relevant. The category I picked for this book is Politics but I could just have picked Humor or History.
Sarah Vowell takes us on her personal journey through the political world as she grows up. It is hard to imagine but she was fascinated by government since she was a young girl.
Her journey goes from a Thanksgiving Dinn ...more

Sarah Vowell is almost the exact same age I am. I ready this book many years after it was initially published but I could very much relate to the topics since I was there at the same time she was. This book is so witty and funny yet I learned so much about my favorite topic: history. I enjoy Sarah on This American Life and look forward to reading more of her books.

Sarah Vowell is a natural storyteller and her talent is immediately apparent in this collection of radio segments from NPRs "This American Life" and from magazine contributions. Vowell has a unique perspective which I totally embrace. She muses, for example, that while many people think of Abraham Lincoln as the American Jesus, she notices that he has a little Mayor Daley mixed into his DNA. Vowell doesn't hide her political beliefs, but she retains a sense of reality and balance. In discussing
...more

As a person who has never quite felt comfortable living in my own country (or anywhere else, really), I loved this collection of essays, in which Sarah Vowell examines the quirks of American society, the highs and lows of American history, and her own neurotic, barely-functional inner life. While she feels like American history is part of her DNA, she doesn't feel entirely comfortable, either.
As a fellow history geek, I loved the way Vowell engages with history. She's not so interested in the g ...more
As a fellow history geek, I loved the way Vowell engages with history. She's not so interested in the g ...more

Sarah Vowell has a unique voice, and I'm not just talking about the high-pitched tone we hear when she reads her essays on NPR's This American Life. Her voice as a writer is distinctive. No one else I know can make Montana and Oklahoma seem like foreign countries and "American" seem exotic.
Most of the essays in this 2002 book are about America: the idea of America vs. its reality, and American history as she has read it and lived it. Her essays will infuriate simple-minded flag-wavers because s ...more
Most of the essays in this 2002 book are about America: the idea of America vs. its reality, and American history as she has read it and lived it. Her essays will infuriate simple-minded flag-wavers because s ...more
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Sarah Jane Vowell is an American author, journalist, humorist, and commentator. Often referred to as a "social observer," Vowell has authored several books and is a regular contributor to the radio program This American Life on Public Radio International. She was also the voice of Violet in the animated film The Incredibles and a short documentary, VOWELLET - An Essay by SARAH VOWELL in the "Behin
...more
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