Comments (15)

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1 to 15 of 15 items
Sep 17, 2021
Fascinating subject matter! I grew up there and had never heard much of the Hawaiian history Vowell shares in this riveting book.
Jul 22, 2019SmartyJo rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Reading /listening to this book made my visit to Oahu all the more meaningful. Thoroughly enjoyed touring the Mission Houses, visiting the coral church and cemetery, and Iolani Palace. Vowell provides a well-researched narrative of a…
Nov 09, 2018SurreyLibraries_Reads rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Besides the sand, surf and sun, what do you really know about Hawaii? Sarah Vowell, writer and insightful groupie of American history, uses her characteristic wit and knowledge, as well as the affection she seems to hold for her country’s…
Aug 23, 2018
This book is about the Americanization of Hawaii and the ruination of the people and their culture. The author treats the subject with dark humor, but I didn’t find the issues funny. I found the narration repetitive and a bit difficult to…
Nov 18, 2017m0k1m3 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Just here to agree - it's wonderful, she's whip-smart and funny/droll/precise and rather irresistible. Beautifully integrated telling of the tale - sad though it is.
Sep 03, 2016Rubicat rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
As one of the blurbs on the back cover stated, Vowell could make a trip to the DMV entertaining. This sad and embarassing story of the US's destruction of a culture was certainly entertaining - and really, when reading about something…
Jun 14, 2014TerryNewberg rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
wonderfully sassy telling of how Hawaii got colonized
Dec 31, 2013inwoodstock rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Hawaiian history told with a dry sense of humor.
Oct 31, 2013Anneatthelibrary rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I love Sarah Vowell and the way she presents her knowledge. She has many tidbits of American history and the way (in part) that we shaped the world. She cracks me up and sometimes makes me shake my head at our ability to think we know…
Mar 20, 2013temp123987 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Just like her photo shows on the cover flaps, Ms Vowell is a no-nonsense researcher. I have visited the islands a few times and now know I will bring her newest book about Hawai'ian history with me next time! She is witty, enjoyably…
Mar 02, 2013damari rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I listened to the audio version. I wasn't sure about hearing Sarah Vowell's voice for 7 discs, but it grows on you. And you know the inflections are how the author intended. Also, she has some great cameo readers. Way back when I was in…
Aug 22, 2012derkruk rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Interesting take on Hawaiian history with a lot of details I was unfamiliar with.
sharonb122
Jun 29, 2012sharonb122 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I was able to visit Hawaii this winter, so that added to my interest while reading another insightful book from Sarah Vowell. I always appreciate her humor and her dark irony. Some of the book was a little slower for me with all the…
superglu
Jul 18, 2011superglu rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Vowell brings her highly amusing (and highly discursive) explorations of the dark side of US history to Hawaii. For me, Vowell's writing never has the same bite as hearing her on NPR, but her stance as the "not-so-ugly" American is always…
Mar 15, 2011
Vowell traces the evangelical efforts of New England missionaries in Hawaii and the resulting "Americanization" of a tropical paradise.