Comments on: Review: The Wordy Shipmates, Sarah Vowell

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:34:49 +0000

In reply to Jeanne. No! Really? Well done her! Violet was my favorite character! Nifty.

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:55:27 +0000

I thought the audiobook was fun because it has the author’s voice and conveys her snarky tone. Did you know she voiced the girl in The Incredibles?

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:59:40 +0000

In reply to Lesley. I hope you enjoy it more than I did! At least you'll be forewarned about the chapter breaks issue.

By: Lesley

Lesley — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:40:01 +0000

I have had this book sitting on my nightstand bookshelf ever since it first came out, and I’ve yet to read it! (OK, that’s a bit of a lie, since I think I did read through the first few pages before putting it aside.) I guess it’s telling that I didn’t continue reading it, but since it’s still on the nightstand I still hold out hope that I’ll read it eventually. Sorry it didn’t work for you!

Love the salt shaker pitchforks, by the way. Too cute!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:54:21 +0000

In reply to rebeccareid. Hahaha, I am really appreciating this popular reaction in favor of chapter breaks! Chapter breaks for the win. :)

By: rebeccareid

rebeccareid — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:25:51 +0000

I too use chapter breaks as a point of guidance as I go along. That would probably bug me too.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:34:01 +0000

In reply to Kim.

I don’t think she’s anti-American at all either. Some of her points were great – I was so pleased that she spoke to the Puritans’ great learning and love of scholarship, for one thing. As she points out, we’re liable to forget that about the Puritans and only think about all the joy-hating they got up to. 😛

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:56:54 +0000

I listened to this on audiobook and was annoyed there were now chapters, but I thought that was just a fault of it being on audio. How weird to not have chapter breaks!

That said, I like this book. I thought it was quite funny, and I loved Vowell’s analysis of some of the speeches and writing. And I think the Amazon reviewers are a little off on the book. I don’t think Vowell is anti-American at all, she just has a sort of bemused way of looking back on the Puritans who were a little bit odd and had some problematic views of the world.

Interesting review though — I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the book!

By: Fyrefly

Fyrefly — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:37:11 +0000

In reply to Jenny. I can totally see that. I guess because I'm pretty ignorant about the Pilgrims, I had no reason to believe that she *didn't* have all of the answers. :) I really enjoyed Assassination Vacation and Partly Cloudly Patriot... plus they both had chapter breaks!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:45:13 +0000

In reply to Fyrefly.

I think what bugged me the most – apart from the chapter headings – was the smugness. Like the author had all the answers the Pilgrims (and present-day conservatives) were too silly to see. But it made me laugh sometimes, so I will try another of hers. 🙂