Take the Cannoli: Stories from the New World

Daughter of a Montana gunsmith and closet Don Corleone disciple ('The Godfather' is a film crammed with rules for living), Sarah Vowell has written a delightful series of autobiographical stories which stretch across the immense landscape of the American scene. Tackling a diverse range of subjects, from politics and religion to the forgotten joys of mix-tapes, Vowell has the ability to spin a story on something as mundane as an Italian dessert.

In search of the meaning of if not life, at least the ring-a-ding-ding of That's Life, Vowell takes to the streets of Hoboken, New Jersey in seeking traces of the town's prodigal son, Frank Sinatra. She goes under cover of heavy make-up in an investigation of goth culture, hides from the world in the Chelsea Hotel and finally outgrows Armageddon in time for Y2K ("I don't need the end of the world to make friends anymore"). Brilliantly smart, sharp and engaging, Take the Cannoli presents a writer with a truly irresistible voice.

"If you don't find something in here that makes perfect sense to you, I can only imagine that you gave up reading, thinking and laughing some time ago" Nick Hornby

"Wise, witty and refreshingly warm-hearted, Vowell's essays on American history, pop culture and her own family reveal the bonds holding together a great, if occasionally weird, nation." People

"I love Sarah Vowell's Writing - it's smart, funny, soulful, even educational. THis Woverful collection is about democracy, sleep, religion, pop music, and just about everything else that matters." Nick Hornby