Any book that refers to Robert Todd Lincoln as 'Jinxy McDeath' because he's present at the assassination of his father, President Garfield, and shows up momentarily after that of President McKinley is going to be pretty irreverent. I like it a lot. There's lots of interesting history here but told with Sarah Vowell's rather quirky voice. ( )

The little details for this very special flavor of history were some of the best parts. I will now proudly stop at twice as many historical museums and markers and plaques when traveling (since I already kind of liked doing that). I also thought the overall arc of the book was very well done, covering each of the presidents in turn but including many connecting tidbits. The more current commentary was good too and made me think about the similarities between now and 100 years ago especially. ( )

A few years ago, I saw Sarah Vowell promoting this book on The Daily Show. She was really witty, sarcastic and funny on the show and her enthusiasm for this book put it on my TBR list even though I am not remotely interested in this topic. Assassination Vacation is one-half memoir and one-half history lesson; the reader follows along with Vowell as she roadtrips (or as she likes to say 'pilgrimages') around America to the historical importance sites of the assassinations of the American presidents: Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield and Robert McKinley.

Vowell's subversive humour and her obvious passion for this topic makes this an enjoyable read for both period buffs and non-enthusiasts, alike. I needed the laughs; I'm not American and I don't care about this period in history. If I am going to read about Vowell's visit the island prison of the doctor who harbored John Wilkes Booth after the assassination... it better be funny. Little nuggets of fun, like finding out that the Oneida flatware company started out as a free love commune, is what makes history interesting and not boring. And Vowell goes everywhere. She travels to the most obscure museums, to the actual spot on the street where Garfield was shot, to mountain resort where Roosevelt was informed he was now the acting president. History is so interconnected and full of coincidences and now I know that for these three men, the string that ties them together is Robert Todd Lincoln, the "Jinxy McDeath" of his time. Vowell is so adept at throwing so much information and writing you into her shoes, that you appreciate how she can boil it all down and still make a compelling narrative. ( )

Vowel delves deeply into the lives of the men and circumstances around the assassinations and attempted assassinations of our presidents. Her work is thorough and very entertaining. If it weren't for the ghoulish subject matter, it could even be considered charming. Very interesting and captivating history. ( )

What could be better than listening to Sarah Vowell read her own witticisms and eccentric historical musings at 4 a.m. while driving to Northern California? Well, sleep for one, but not many other things. Okay, sex and raw cacao dipped in honey, but not...oh wait, moving to a place in a yoga pose where I've never been before, but other than that...

Anyway, this absolutely engaging narrative of Vowell's assassination quest (obsession?) to unearth knowledge and visit historical sites relating to the lives and murder of three U.S. presidents reads like a travel story on the Travel channel via Comedy Central. That Vowell reads the text herself, inviting guests to play other roles (Catherine Keener rules), elevates the audio version to a level that no Kindle Text-to-Speech could ever emulate, single-handedly proving that audiobooks are and will remain a valid investment of money and time. The dry and acerbic tone Vowell invests into her narrative reading could be heard within the words, but to hear her inflect and snark was a delight. ( )