findyourgoldenhour's review
3.0
I really love Sarah Vowell, but this wasn't her best. Assassination Vacation still remains my favorite!
mamalemma's review
4.0
As always, Sarah Vowell makes history interesting and fun. In Unfamiliar Fishes, she teaches us about how New England Christian missionaries travel to Hawaii in the early 1800s to convert the "savages." She recounts the events following those early missionary trips, the significant influence the missionaries had over a beautiful island paradise, ultimately leading up to the overthrow of Queen Lilioukalani and the annexation of Hawaii to the United States. Alternately fascinating and heartbreaking, no Sarah Vowell book would be complete without her trademark wit and snark. This is not my favorite of her books, but still definitely worth a read.
alisarae's review
A humorous history of Hawaii. I actually didn’t know anything about Hawaiian history, other than a couple random facts that my mom told me (she spent a bit of time there). Sarah Vowell manages to make it interesting and entertaining. The audiobook is essential for this one since Vowell’s narration is so particular.
mehilbert's review
2.0
I really wanted to like this book, as I love Sarah Vowell and have a fascination with Hawaiian history. But I had a really hard time keeping the people straight. The beginning was great, but it hit a slow point a little over halfway through and I gave up.
myrealana's review
4.0
Fascinating history of Western involvement in Hawaii. Like all of Sarah Vowell's work, it explores the personal stories from history that are ignored in school.
rallisaurus's review
3.0
Not one of Sarah Vowell's most compelling reads. It kind of felt like the leftovers from The Wordy Shipmates. I wasn't expecting a book about Hawaii to have so many New Englanders in it. Maybe I was just expecting something different, but I thought it would be more about the end of Hawaii has an independent nation rather than its beginnings. Overall, not as much fun as her other books, but still interesting.
vivelaviv's review
5.0
Sarah Vowell always delivers history and facts in such a pleasant and fun way. I listened to the audio book and her delightful voice along with a fantastic cast of characters made for a great listen.