This is the rarest of all things: a work of non-fiction that I just could not put down. Vowell makes obscure historical figures and the places related to them fascinatingly relevant to the modern reader. Snarky, irreverant, peppered with personal anecdotes that actually add to the narrative instead of detract from it, Assassination Vacation should be required reading for every high school history class. ( )

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Looking for an off-beat, yet intriguing getaway? Something involving a healthy dose of U.S. history and a trio of past presidents, all who have been slain in office? Well, Sarah Vowell did just that and she has crafted a quirky travelogue, that has her visiting and commentating on the key locations and highlights, or is it lowlights, of the assassinations of President’s Garfield, McKinley and Lincoln. Vowell goes deep on all stories, focusing
on the killers individual histories, including this tidbit: Charles Guiteau, Garfield’s assassin, was a member of a New York sex cult, circa the 1840s, which would make Alfred Kinsey cringe. She also cleverly refers to Robert Todd Lincoln as “Jinxy McDeath”, due to his proximity to all three deaths.
Here she describes a visit to the Lincoln Memorial:
“The people who visit the memorial always look like an advertisement for democracy, so bizarrely, suspiciously diverse that one time I actually saw a man in a cowboy hat standing there reading the Gettsyburg Address next to a Hasidic Jew. I wouldn’t have been surprised if they had linked arms with a woman in a burka and a Masai warrior, to belt out ‘It’s a Small World After All’, flanked by a chorus line of nuns…”
By the end of this book, I have to confess, I was smitten by this witty, articulate, totally engaging author. ( )

Interesting look at three Presidential assassinations. Loved the author's writing and point-of view ("snarky" is the adjective coming to mind). I felt that I was with her and her pals in many of the locales. Ms. Vowell lost me a little in the last two chapters, though. I will definitely read more of her books. ( )

Seriously amusing and interesting book. Vowell explores the assassinations of three US presidents with a fascination and humor that both entertains and educates. In many ways, Vowell's work echoes Bill Bryson, but without the bitterness towards humanity. Not only does she investigate history, but she parallels its lessons with modern day politics. (The book was published during the "W" administration.) Clearly, history does repeat itself, in some rather funny ways. Eager to read her other works. ( )

Probably the best of Sarah Vowell’s excellent collection of first person looks at American history. This book strikes a perfect balance between Vowell’s irreverence for convention and reverence for her nation’s history.

Like always she is funny, informative and thought provoking. ( )

Unique take on history. With his luck, no one should have invited Robert Todd Lincoln anywhere. Most thought author would be fun to hang out with. ( )

THere were small parts of this book that I did like, but I don't think I would ever have finished it if it wasn't what my book club chose for this month.

I always felt that I was reading a book that was cobbled together from blog entries (sorry - not my idea of a book!) or from radio essays. Maybe I would have enjoyed the book more as an audio book.

THere were some interesting facts, some of which were digressions - but she needed to have a bibliography. There were some interesting insights and interpretations, though I don't know if they were hers or her sources. But the random nature of the presentation means that I probably won't remember much of what I did manage to learn from the book.

Also, she managed to turn the book into her own political rant (see above comment about blogs.) This - unfortunately for her, will limit her audience and the number of years people will care to read her book.

Finally, I often found her writer's voice to be immature and underdeveloped. Does she think it's cute to refer to someone "offing" a president?

This book might have benefitted from a sterner editor, but as it is, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. There are plenty of other writers who've written accessible US history, and even thrown in their own emotional responses. ( )

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. ( )

As with its predecessor The Partly Cloudy Patriot, Vowell's exploration of three U.S. presidential assassinations breathes life into hidden plaques no-one else even notices commemorating events no-one remembers. Though her discussion about Lincoln is interesting, she really hits her stride with Garfield and McKinley. ( )

Fun book following the history of 3 different presidential killings and all related strings of history. ( )

I love learning useless historical facts. I learned in this book, for example, that one of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders was a Jew nicknamed 'Porkchop'! I could have done with less commentary on the Iraq War/George Bush, I read books to escape from what I hear about everyday on the news. Overall, I thought this was a pretty good book, and worth the read.

It's hard to imagine that a book about history - specifically the history of assassinated presidents - could be considered entertaining, let alone funny. But in her typical polished but quirky style, Sarah Vowell manages to present us with yet another tour de force of historical trivia, one that is funnier than The Partly Cloudy Patriot, and somehow more reverential at the same time. Published in 2005, the book is part memoir and part rambling textbook, covering her various travels (what she sees somewhat as a pilgrimmage) to walk in the steps of famous and infamous people leading up to the assassinations of Presidents Abraham Lincoln, William McKinley and James Garfield. Whether the footsteps she is following are those of Czolgosz, John Wilkes Booth, or Abraham Lincoln himself, you can be assured that there will be a good story to tell. This is an easy-to-read book, that has some poignant moments (especially considering the life of Robert Todd Lincoln) and some hilarious moments. I literally laughed out loud, and Vowell seems to ensure at least one quip, joke or funny aside appears on every page. Still, the humor comes naturally and never seems too forced. Probably the best part of her books is most succinctly presented here, with Vowell unashamedly showing her reverence for history, presidents, and the troubled travels through American politics. She is a true patriot, one that does not take facts blindly but seeks to find the story behind the scenes, and then to describe it to her readers in concise, often eye-opening ways. Readers find themselves learning without feeling like they are in a classroom. She presents standard facts but also some that clearly required some specialized research.Her voice is a unique one, and one that is an enjoyable companion, whether you are reading at the beach, on a trip, or in your armchair. Even when she is not talking history, her accounts of her travels, dragging her sister, nephew and various other people to seemingly anti-climactic meccas, and her off-kilter thoughts on the political process make for a fun read.For your enjoyment, some quotes from the opening pages:"I was there to visit Chesterwood, the house and studio once belonging to Daniel Chester French, the artist responsible for the Abraham Lincoln sculpture in the Lincoln Memorial. A nauseating four-hour bus ride from the Port Authority terminal just to see the room where some patriotic chiseler came up with a marble statue? For some reason, none of my friends wanted to come with.""I understand why other people would want to stay in B&Bs. They're pretty. They're personal. They're "quaint," a polite way of saying "no TV." They are "romantic," i.e., every object large enough for a flower to be printed on it is going to have a flower printed on it. They're "cozy," meaning that a guest has to keep her belongings on the floor because every conceivable flat surface is covered in knickknacks, except for the one knickknack she longs for, a remote control.""It's one of the few perks of assassination. In death, you get upgraded into a saint no matter how much people hated you in life.""Once I knew my dead presidents and I had become insufferable, I started to censor myself. There were a lot of get-togethers with friends where I didn't hear half of what was being said because I was sitting there, silently chiding myself, Don't bring up McKinley. Don't bring up McKinley.""A pilgrimage needs a destination. For medieval Christians, that was usually the cathedral of Saint James in northern Spain. This tour of the assassinations of Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley ends up at the Lincoln Memorial because that's where I'm always ending up. "In addition, here is a link to the author reading an excerpt from Assassination Vacation on NPR (you may recognize her voice from This American Life and as Violet from The Incredibles):http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st... ( )

Rambling and funny.
Entertains, but peters out
in final section.

Entertaining. I want to read more of Vowell! ( )

I love Sarah Vowell's approach to history, tying it in with tourism. Her enthusiasm always makes me want to go visit these places (and I have already done so in some cases). I look forward to reading more of her works in the future. ( )

My mom gave me this book for Christmas this year, so I'll be reading it soon.

Laughing and learning all the way! What a great trip! Morbid and funny and astute all at the same time. I loved it and now want to check out more of Vowell's writing.

I would have given it 5 stars, but I docked it half star for it's very liberal bias. Not that I don't agree with it (I do), but it will put some people off this book that should read it. EVERYONE should read this book!

Very enjoyable! ( )

This book offers a sometimes whimsical, sometimes morbid account of one woman's step-by-step tour of any and all places relevant to the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley. Along the way she fills the reader in on the historical roots of each murder and on the details (some trivial, some not) surrounding the murders themselves. I found Vowell's account of the Garfield assassination a bit banal, more so than the other two chapters. It's an easy read, and worth the few hours it will take to finish it. ( )

I love Sarah Vowell. She is witty, charming and funny and her writing is always refreshing. ( )

I admire Sarah Vowell's didacticism, strong viewpoints, weirdness, clever writing and most of all her pop culture take on US history.