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What Members Thought
“Winthrop and his shipmates and their children and their children's children just wrote their own books and pretty much kept their noses in them up until the day God created the Red Sox.”
Sarah Vowell, like, really gets Massachusetts.
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Sarah Vowell, like, really gets Massachusetts.
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A good read, and clearly a subject very near & dear to Vowell's heart. I'm personally not that into the Pilgrims or 17th century history, but I was definitely on board for the ride. Less laugh-out-loud funny than some of her other work, but perhaps more engaged at linking America's past & present.
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I wanted to love this book-- Vowels's "Assassination Vacation" is one of the funniest and most interesting books I've read about American history, super accessible but well researched. Sadly, "The Wordy Shipmates" just does not live up to this precedent.
In part, Vowell does not seem as comfortable with the material in "The Wordy Shipmates." She relies heavily on quotations and less on the personal but informed reflection that made "Assassination Vacation" so enjoyable. Maybe it is unfair to com ...more
In part, Vowell does not seem as comfortable with the material in "The Wordy Shipmates." She relies heavily on quotations and less on the personal but informed reflection that made "Assassination Vacation" so enjoyable. Maybe it is unfair to com ...more
I wanted to love this book because I love Sarah Vowell on NPR.
I even like Pilgrims.
I even like Pilgrims.
This was my first Sarah Vowell book, and after reading other reviews, it seems as though this book has a lot more history and fewer personal anecdotes than her others. The Wordy Shipmates was an interesting, amusing read, but I also had a much better understanding of the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony after reading. The book is well-researched but not dry. Her passion for the subject and for the people is apparent, and this book really made the central figures of that period in history
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I love Sarah Vowell. I love her voice- both the audible one and the one she uses to write. Her ability to pick apart a topic the rest of us have set aside as resolved and dry is amazing. Who knew there was so much more to Puritanism and to the people who founded the original colonies. She makes us look at periods of history and apply them to our lives now, as well as to consider how these attitudes continue to affect us. Such a treat, and I do feel lucky to have my little paws on it pre-release.
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I love sarah vowel, but this book didn't have the scope I expected.
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I didn't like this nearly as much as 'Assassination Vacation' or her other books. Maybe Puritans just don't do it for me. Meh.
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Extremely informative, and full of Sarah Vowell's signature wit and sarcasm. That said, I think I liked Assassination Vacation and Partly Cloudy Patriot better.
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I find Sarah to be deeply intelligent about American history, and able to convey her knowledge in palatable, pithy bites. Her books are just so tasty, relevant and fun. For anyone who loves American history, I'd highly recommend this title, plus Assassination Vacation.
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Didn't enjoy as much as her other books, but still good. I enjoy listening to her books as she has a great reading voice.
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Oct 19, 2009
Samira
marked it as to-read
Dec 16, 2010
Heather
marked it as to-read
Mar 15, 2011
Nick
marked it as to-read
May 06, 2013
Arianna
marked it as to-read
Mar 09, 2014
cam
marked it as to-read
