Sunday, January 5, 2014

The Partly Cloudy Patriot





The Partly Cloudy Patriot is an amusing collection of essays from journalist Sarah Vowell. Covering parts of American history from the Gettysburg Address to Eisenhower we get a witty version of these historical events. There are also essays on holidays, her travels to historical places such as: Salem and Gettysburg, and her thoughts on actors and German films.

My husband and I read this together while traveling for the holidays. We made sure to read The First Thanksgiving as we drove to our Thanksgiving celebration. It was an enjoyable way to prepare to celebrate with family. It is really easy to identify with Vowell's writing. I really like her presentation of history combined with her own experiences. She entertains you without trying too hard, or loosing the feeling of authenticity.

Vowell's wit is a big draw to reading her books, but I also appreciate the insights she presents about history and life. I highly recommend reading this book. If you want a diverting look at American history, that doesn't skimp on facts this is an excellent collection of essays.  

1 comment: