Category: Books Radio On: A Listener's Diary

Category: Books
Sarah Vowell’s first book “Radio On: A Listener’s Diary”, is a rather interesting concept. Listening to the radio for an entire year is something most of us do without thinking. Her point however, is that we do this unconsciously and do not take the radio in as a medium. She observes all sides; from public radio to Right Wing talk (Aside: The book was written in 1995, giving Rush Limbaugh the height of his popularity and even San Francisco radio was turning to the Right Wing.) Vowell takes it to another level, in her world for a year the radio is the doorway to American culture. Some of it best left in the ether of fuzzy A.M. stations and low powered college radio, She is unafraid to declare some of it for what it is, pure tripe. On the other hand most of the praise seems reserved for the CBC rebroadcasts on WBEZ (A Chicago Station, actually most of the book is from Chicago radio), and her alma mater’s station, and Ira Glass’s show “The Wild Room”, which he had done previous to “This American Life”. I wouldn’t be so bothered by that if it wasn’t Glass’ show that put her into the limelight and led to her second and much more wildly read book, “Take the Cannoli”.
As a historical document the book does a quite good job at reminding us of culture in 1995. From Kurt Cobain’s suicide, New Gengrich and Ruch Limbaugh’s rise to fame, and some more forgettable moments of pop culture at the time. Some of it is very illuminating, but being that it’s only ten years ago I hope you haven’t forgotten it yet.
In the end Vowell does the best she can. It contains her same wry and witty observations that her other books have. Her best work came later, but if you’ve read “Take the Cannoli”, “Partly Cloudy Patriot”, and Assassination Vacation”, go ahead and read this one. Sarah Vowell has always been a great writer and this book shows that, but for an introduction to her work, it’’ not the greatest. My rating is For serious fans only.