I just wrapped up book three of 24 in 12. Take the Cannoli by Sara Vowell is a great collection of short stories, memories, and thoughts. This collection runs the gamut in terms of topics, but all were funny, enjoyable and well written.
Vowell brings the reader along for her trip to Disney World, the Trail of Tears, and Hoboken to discover the early life of Frank Sinatra. She volunteers for a goth makeover, learns to drive so that she can use the Burger King drive-thru, promises to shoot her Dad’s ashes from a canon when he dies, and claims her true talent as a child was playing the recorder with a group of middle-aged women.
Vowell did a great job of describing her research visit to the Chelsea Hotel: from the empty condom wrapper left in her maid swept room to the way she runs down the stairwell for fear of the rock and roll ghosts. She describes it so well, that this chapter instigated an im chat with my friend who kept a studio in the hotel for photo shoots: “Do you still keep a room there? Is it super creepy? It looks wicked dirty!” Read up on it—it’s pretty nuts the stories that live in this hotel. Even their website is creepy.
I also particularly loved the story about the how she and her conservative dad differ when it comes to Politics; he calls her after every election to tell her he just cancelled out her vote.
Great book. Take the Cannoli gets an A- from me.
