Journal Entry 1 by cliff1976 from Regensburg, Bayern Germany on Saturday, July 03, 2004

I laughed out loud in sympathy. It helps to imagine Sarah Vowell's voice in your head reading aloud to you. MarahSulloy is working her way through it at the moment. 

Journal Entry 2 by MarahSulloy from Regensburg, Bayern Germany on Friday, July 09, 2004

I agree with almost all of Sarah Vowell's politics, but I really don't think that's a requirement for enjoying this book. It really is less about her political stripes than it is about her deep-seated patriotism and fervent interest in American history. I actually teared up in a couple of different parts because her abiding love of the U.S. brought things to my attention that I didn't even realize I missed since moving to Germany. All in all, a really fun read. 

Journal Entry 3 by cliff1976 from Regensburg, Bayern Germany on Tuesday, July 13, 2004

This is headed to Rampallion as part of a generous trade with her. Thanks in advance! 

Journal Entry 4 by cliff1976 from Regensburg, Bayern Germany on Thursday, July 15, 2004

Journal Entry 5 by rampallion from Evanston, Illinois USA on Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Arrived today! Thank you! 

Journal Entry 6 by rampallion from Evanston, Illinois USA on Saturday, August 28, 2004

"It is curious that we Americans have a holiday--Thanksgiving--that's all about people who left their homes for a life of their own choosing, a life that was different from their parents' lives. And how do we celebrate it? By hanging out with our parents! It's as if on the Fourth of July we honored our independence from the British by barbecuing crumpets."

Very good so far. I enjoy Sarah Vowell's take on history. Though I wish more of these essays were about her and her family. Anyone who describes bacon as "the food of joy" is someone I'll follow anywhere. 

Journal Entry 7 by rampallion from Evanston, Illinois USA on Sunday, September 05, 2004

Sarah Vowell's take on Theodore Roosevelt: "As is my policy toward all well-rounded people, I sort of hate him a little. Roosevelt was a well-read he-man, a bookworm and an athlete, a robust outdoorsman who loved to come home from the hunt and crack open a volume of Hawthorne. He was a jock and a nerd at the same time. As Elting Morison puts it in his introduction to Roosevelt's autobiography, 'He is certainly the only President who read Anna Karenina while on a three-day search for cattle thieves.'"

I love Sarah Vowell. I love that she referred to herself as President Clinton's "crabby little cheerleader." I love that Tom Cruise's popularity baffles her. The only way I could have enjoyed this book more is if it had been an audio version, so I could hear her opinions delivered in that weird yet compelling voice of hers. 

Journal Entry 8 by mozzfan from Chicago, Illinois USA on Monday, September 13, 2004

Rampallion was kind enough to share this with me and ArtVandelay! Hooray!

We'll read it and pass it along, maybe in a meetup or two... 

Journal Entry 9 by mozzfan from Chicago, Illinois USA on Wednesday, September 29, 2004

ArtVandelay gobbled this up and said I will probably like her because she likes Abraham Lincoln. OK then! 

Journal Entry 10 by mozzfan from Chicago, Illinois USA on Sunday, October 31, 2004

While I don't think Sarah Vowell and I would ever be friends in real life, I enjoyed this book. Partially, yes, because I didn't have to hear her voice reading it to me, which I have always found squeaky and annoying. When she described herself as Clinton's 'crabby little cheerleader' I thought of her with her face all scrunched up, telling me to vote for Kerry.

In honor of the current This American Life tour, I'm going to release this at the Chicago Theater tonight at the David Sedaris show. 

Journal Entry 11 by mozzfan at Chicago Theater 175 N. State St. in Chicago, Illinois USA on Sunday, October 31, 2004

Released on Sunday, October 31, 2004 at about 8:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Chicago Theater 175 N. State St. in Chicago, Illinois USA.

RELEASE NOTES:

Enjoy, finder!