Books: March edition
Mar. 3rd, 2012 10:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bedsitter23Star Island by Carl Hiaasen - I loved this book from the second I picked it up, which occurred slightly after defFrog recommended it.
I know I need to work some more n the Hiaasen bibliography, but this one sounded too good- the story of a Lindsay/Britney/Paris partying teen queen and some misadventures that include some unforgettable characters. Anyone could have done good work with this premise, but Hiaasen is the master. the plot twists and turns and even the supporting roles are unforgettable. It is hilarious, smart, sarcastic and unpredictable, and all though, it's got the undeniable Hiaasen imprint.
That said, I won't say this is for everyone. This is one of the lower rated Hiaasen books on amazon. it seems (no surprise) some people just don't like fun, and want only one kind of book out of Hiaasen. Me anyway, I thought it was the best book I had read in some time. I would also recommend if you haven't read Hiaasen, and you come around him the same way I did (recognizing that he was a close personal friend of Warren Zevon), there's a lot of the same stuff about Hiaasen that you like about Zevon- smart and funny.
The Wordy Shipmates- by Sarah Vowell - Sarah is a frequent guest on NPR and The Daily Show. She is arguably America's hippest historian (of course, can you name any other living historians? Dorris Kearns Goodwin? The guy from Ken Burns Civil War? Sorry, hes gone.) Although I do hate hipsters (and they adore Vowell, calling her Lisa Simpson come to life), I still like Vowell.
Shipmates is the story of the Puritans in a fun and (Vowell friend) David Sedaris-like way. It's a bit of history that I didn't know about, (and who does? We have know what media has given us about the pilgrims, even less about John Cotton's group). It's a quick, fun read for people who like history (or perhaps people who may not normally be history buffs, but like satirical writing that teaches you something). Besides, reviewing a history not often told, it examines modern day interpretations of "puritanism" and John Winthrop's "City upon a hill" speech which has been used by everyone, most notably Reagan.
This is a fun and quick read. I would recommend for everyone, though be warned that Vowell is unashamedly liberal (if you worry about such things). There were sections that I glossed over but other parts had me transfixed (for me, it was the bits about Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinsion). You're likely to have similar results, though it may be different parts of the book that fit the bill for you.
I know I need to work some more n the Hiaasen bibliography, but this one sounded too good- the story of a Lindsay/Britney/Paris partying teen queen and some misadventures that include some unforgettable characters. Anyone could have done good work with this premise, but Hiaasen is the master. the plot twists and turns and even the supporting roles are unforgettable. It is hilarious, smart, sarcastic and unpredictable, and all though, it's got the undeniable Hiaasen imprint.
That said, I won't say this is for everyone. This is one of the lower rated Hiaasen books on amazon. it seems (no surprise) some people just don't like fun, and want only one kind of book out of Hiaasen. Me anyway, I thought it was the best book I had read in some time. I would also recommend if you haven't read Hiaasen, and you come around him the same way I did (recognizing that he was a close personal friend of Warren Zevon), there's a lot of the same stuff about Hiaasen that you like about Zevon- smart and funny.
The Wordy Shipmates- by Sarah Vowell - Sarah is a frequent guest on NPR and The Daily Show. She is arguably America's hippest historian (of course, can you name any other living historians? Dorris Kearns Goodwin? The guy from Ken Burns Civil War? Sorry, hes gone.) Although I do hate hipsters (and they adore Vowell, calling her Lisa Simpson come to life), I still like Vowell.
Shipmates is the story of the Puritans in a fun and (Vowell friend) David Sedaris-like way. It's a bit of history that I didn't know about, (and who does? We have know what media has given us about the pilgrims, even less about John Cotton's group). It's a quick, fun read for people who like history (or perhaps people who may not normally be history buffs, but like satirical writing that teaches you something). Besides, reviewing a history not often told, it examines modern day interpretations of "puritanism" and John Winthrop's "City upon a hill" speech which has been used by everyone, most notably Reagan.
This is a fun and quick read. I would recommend for everyone, though be warned that Vowell is unashamedly liberal (if you worry about such things). There were sections that I glossed over but other parts had me transfixed (for me, it was the bits about Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinsion). You're likely to have similar results, though it may be different parts of the book that fit the bill for you.
