I've confesses before that I wish Sarah Vowell would move next door and be my new best friend. Her books are such fun - and they're about history! The two don't often go together for me.
Wordy Shipmates is about the Puritans. She delves into their first steps onto North America, characters such as John Winthrop, Roger Williams, and Anne Hutchinson as well as relations with the natives. This book balances the thoughtful and tragic with Vowell's trademark humor.
As a non-religious person, you might think I'd veer away from books about really really religious people. But the history intrigues me, and the influence on our culture is undeniable. Her telling of Roger Williams really stuck with me, and I agree with Vowell that Williams is "hard to like but easy to love."
It was interesting to learn more about Anne Hutchinson as well, and Winthrop's deep and twisted hatred of her. I of course had to listen to the audio version of this book. Vowell is one of those (like Sedaris) that I believe are even better when listened to. I give this one a 7.5.
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