I’m finally getting around to reading Sarah Vowell‘s Assassination Vacation. It rules. I’m three quarters of the way through, and I bought it a few days ago. (I needed something to read on the train that wasn’t school-related, so I could let my brain rest, but not actually fall asleep, because if I did, then when I got home I’d be too tired to do more school work. Make sense? Good.) She tells a fine story. I already knew I liked her, what with the bits of Partly Cloudy Patriot, and the various TAL bits, and who could forget her appearence on the TMBG documentary, Gigantic… etc.

It’s been fun to read because in her quest to follow the routes of John Wilkes Booth, she of course went to Maryland to visit Dr. Mudd’s house. Now, I lived for 10 years in Charles County, MD. Not many people understand what it’s like there. I mean, the only famous things we have are a 1) a tornado ate most of my town (La Plata) a few years ago and 2) that crappy neo-punk-pop band Good Charlotte graduated from High School two years after me. Other than that, what do we have? Dr. Mudd, of course! The man who was convicted (and later pardoned) of helping John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Lincoln.

Maryland is a peculiar place. Few people really appreciate the “southerness” of it. Technically, Maryland was for the Union, but they really didn’t want to be. Sarah Vowell is quick to point out that their theme song is all about being more like Virginia and woo hoo south and what not. And Charles County is adamant that you’re aware that it’s in Southern Maryland. It wasn’t really all that bad. Had I not spent my adolescence there, it might have been way more fun. She sure does hit on the vibe, though. I was reminded of the reasons I moved away. Oh, and one mustn’t forget the fact that most of the area is swamp land and that makes for one oppressive summer, I tell you.

It’s been great fun learning more about things I only vaguely remember from history classes. Her sense of humor makes her seem like someone I’d totally be friends with. She’s obsessed with this stuff, and makes looking at skull fragments and blood-stained shirts the most fun ever. I’d certainly never say that I’d been “Seward plaqued” for having read this book.

What’s especially cool is her explanation of why she’s so obsessed with assassinations. It comes from wanting to know everything about American history for the love of it. That sounds lame, but it’s really quite cool. I love stories, and know so very few about the people who have made this country what it is (for better or worse). I just kind of vaguely remember the ones I’ve heard repeated over and over again, but those seem so fake and touristy. I want to know the real people involved– all the gory details.

I mean, I’m an archives student for goodness sake. I should have a better grasp at the people involved in making American history. It’s the people that are the center of Sarah Vowell’s story: the presidents, yes, but also her sister, nephew, friends, etc. They’re all a part of it, too. And that kicks ass.