Assassination Vacation in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Feb 04, 2008 Rachel rated it really liked it

Shelves: memoir, best-sellers

I listened to Assassination Vacation on audiobook. Sarah Vowell has such a unique voice and by reading the book herself you really get a sense of her wit. There were many times I laughed out loud. While I love books about people's travel experiences, I wasn't too sure about this one... reading about a vacation someone took to learn more about the assassins of American presidents? But it is so unique I really glad I took the time with this one. I learned things I didn't even know I wanted to lear ...more

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Mar 23, 2021 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Shelves: history, owned, non-fiction, read-aloud

I don't remember how we ended up making the decision to choose this for family read aloud time, but somehow we did. I only ended up regretting it a little bit when we got to the bit about the Christian polygamist sex cult.

Literally a trip to sites associated with American assassinations -- about not just history, but how we memorialize and consume that history -- from folklore to museum exhibits to musical theater. Filled with the kind of contagious anecdotes you won't be able to stop yourself r ...more

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Jun 17, 2007 Rhiannon rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, history

I really enjoyed this - it's equally about the history of the first three U.S. presidential assassinations (Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley) and about Vowell's obsession with those assassinations and the phenomenon of historical tourism. She manages to make the presidents and their assassins into interesting, sometimes charming, characters and the whole book is funny, if you like Vowell's brand of humor (I do).

Her approach to this book is very much about making connections - between the three ev ...more

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Nov 12, 2008 Ashley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: what-i-study, history

I really, really liked this book. I thought Vowell did an excellent job making history fun, far from dull, and married trivia with broader reflections on American life. At times her political opinions felt a little clunky-- like they were dropped in as an afterthought. I agree with her politics, but in general I feel like the political passages actually take away from the richer, more interesting information about the people she's writing about. My mom liked the book too but, since she didn't li ...more

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Dec 24, 2012 taeli rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook, nonfiction, library-book

finished 1/7/13

Each Sarah Vowell book I have listened to has caused me greater enjoyment than the one before. Her voice is soothing to me and I love the interstitial voicing by others on specific quotes. This has been my favorite so far and I really enjoy the personal anecdotes and insights she shares. Especially those regarding her nephew, because they remind me of my niece and my curiosity about the girl she will grow into.

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Apr 28, 2010 gwen g rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I read this when it first came out, but I picked up the audio edition at the library recently because it had so many funny and incongruous people doing the voices. Jon Stewart as James Garfield = sign me up. And Vowell herself has such a great, distinctive voice.

This wasn't the best as an audiobook, though, especially toward the end. It really began to drag in a way I didn't notice in the print version, and I didn't feel like I learned as much as I had the first time around. Still, I'm not sorry ...more

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Mar 15, 2010 Kelly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adult

I want to be Sarah Vowell.

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Jan 02, 2008 Kate rated it really liked it

I read this book for a book group, but I will admit that I was nervous given Kathleen's review. I, however, was charmed by the vast quantities of useless information and quirky stories of her travels. It should be noted though, that I haven't heard her much on This American Life, so I didn't have much to compare it to. ...more

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Nov 03, 2007 Renata rated it really liked it

Shelves: travel, grownup, nonfiction

I love Sarah Vowellllll so much. Also the audio book of this is hilarious.

I only gave it four stars though because I don't want to devalue the star system, and I didn't like it as much as I liked Partly Cloudy Patriot.

But really, Sarah Vowell is great. She is so smart and passionate and funny and nerdy. ...more

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