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algorithm0392's review against another edition
3.0
Many of the stories were interesting but lacked an emotional/personal element, which made the book overall feel like a disconnected collection of small profiles of interesting but independent people. Perhaps that was the sole goal, but many other collections I've read like this have a finer point that individual pieces help illustrate. To this point, it does accomplish showing in vivid detail the sheer size and multitudes of life across the United States.
I was interested because the book was published in 2004 before many similar books popped up post-2016, but everything just felt slightly dated. There were some parallels to life today, but it was fascinating to see how much the world has changed in less than 20 years in our lifetimes.
Favorite stories were: "The Gay Eminence," "And the Bureaucrats Said, Let There Be High Water," and "This Is Not the Place." "Baked" was a fun read about an ultramarathon in the Sahara Desert and what propels people to run it, and "Points of Impact" was an incredibly well-written, well-weaved, and powerful narrative about 9/11. It left me speechless.
"At Home in a Fake Place" was also a fun read since I bought this book in Santa Fe and enjoyed many of the elements of the city that were mentioned in the story. Though many stories feel forgettable, I enjoyed enough about this (and it was a perfect style for a road trip book) for a 3/5.
I was interested because the book was published in 2004 before many similar books popped up post-2016, but everything just felt slightly dated. There were some parallels to life today, but it was fascinating to see how much the world has changed in less than 20 years in our lifetimes.
Favorite stories were: "The Gay Eminence," "And the Bureaucrats Said, Let There Be High Water," and "This Is Not the Place." "Baked" was a fun read about an ultramarathon in the Sahara Desert and what propels people to run it, and "Points of Impact" was an incredibly well-written, well-weaved, and powerful narrative about 9/11. It left me speechless.
"At Home in a Fake Place" was also a fun read since I bought this book in Santa Fe and enjoyed many of the elements of the city that were mentioned in the story. Though many stories feel forgettable, I enjoyed enough about this (and it was a perfect style for a road trip book) for a 3/5.
karenleagermain's review against another edition
5.0
My Friend Nicole passed this book my way and it was absolutely fantastic. Hampton Side’s “Americana: Dispatches from the New Frontier” is comprised of thirty chapters, each reflecting on a different American subculture or perspective. The stories each vary drastically in tone, some taking more of a travel writer feel and some hardcore journalism.
As with all collections, some pieces are bound to be more interesting than others, but I really don’t think that there was a low point in this book. The book has several highlights. In particular, I enjoyed “Waiting for Liddy”, “Sisters of the Bowl” and “This is Not the Place.” A majority of the chapters really made me envious of Sides and it made me want to sell everything, buy an airstream trailer and hit the road. America is fascinating!
The best piece was “Points of Impact” which was the perspective of three World Trade Center survivors. It was completely affecting and absorbing. I can’t imagine that anyone would be able to read that chapter with a dry eye and without feeling completely lucky.
I can’t praise this book enough and look forward to reading more of Hampton Sides.
As with all collections, some pieces are bound to be more interesting than others, but I really don’t think that there was a low point in this book. The book has several highlights. In particular, I enjoyed “Waiting for Liddy”, “Sisters of the Bowl” and “This is Not the Place.” A majority of the chapters really made me envious of Sides and it made me want to sell everything, buy an airstream trailer and hit the road. America is fascinating!
The best piece was “Points of Impact” which was the perspective of three World Trade Center survivors. It was completely affecting and absorbing. I can’t imagine that anyone would be able to read that chapter with a dry eye and without feeling completely lucky.
I can’t praise this book enough and look forward to reading more of Hampton Sides.
pr727's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to the audio book, which was very well narrated. The stories were often on unusual topics and many were dated in the 1990s-early 2000s but most of not all were interesting.
pldean's review against another edition
3.0
This collection of nonfiction pieces, many of them from Outside magazine, has some dated entries (G. Gordon Liddy?) but is otherwise strong and interesting. Sides's wide-ranging subjects include an ultra marathon in the Moroccan desert, the aftermath of 9/11, the Sturgis Harley Rally, and Mormon archaeologists. Recommended.
greyscarf's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 instead of just a 3. Sides is a great writer, but some of the essays are brief enough to leave you wanting more, like the second half of "Embedded". He starts talking about al-Issawi, the top correspondent of Al-Jazeera, only to stop the essay soon after. I'm sure these limits were based more on length for the magazine he's writing for & not his own choosing. A good collection to get lost in.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
I loved this book, from essays about Airstream trailer road clubs to a bass fisherman tournament; left on my own to seek out reading material, I would have sought out nary a one. The author can write and I once again find myself following a good writer wherever he takes me like a loyal dog.
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