Go along on her Assassination Vacation. But definitely don't if you're hyper-religious, ultraconservative, or in general easily offended by irreverence. However, if you escape all of those categories, get ready for a lot of laughs, snorts, giggles and concordant head-nodding as you read about the assassinations of Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley. No, it's not the assassinations themselves that are funny; the humor is in Vowell's views on American culture then and now. In addition to being amused, you'll learn some interesting things.
I had a chance to hear her speak at one of Dallas' annual Arts & Letters Live events yesterday evening, and she certainly passed my authors test as someone with whom I would sit down to lunch. I have to confess that I don't listen to NPR, so I was not familiar with This American Life to which she contributes. I have now remedied that online, and I'm looking forward to reading her latest book, Unfamiliar Fishes, about the Americanization of Hawaii.
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