Alexandra Petri’s US History: Important American Documents I Made Up, is a gentler poking at US history, politics, and culture than I’m really in the mood for right now. Ten years ago I would probably have guffawed and chuckled a lot more. Right now it’s hard for me to enjoy this gentle and privileged roasting while the governor and legislature in my state are racing towards fascism like a toddler running towards a ball pit full of bombs. It’s hard for me to laugh at John and Abigale Adams transatlantic attempts at sexting through letters delivered by ships when people in my state can’t make basic decisions about their bodies.
Alexandra Petri is a gifted writer, and she does a creditable job of reading her own book. I think if this was just a roasting of American literature, I would have enjoyed it more. The only thing I remember laughing at was “Edgar Allen Poe’s Handyman.” I found it much harder to laugh at the Powerpoint presentation on the Intervention for Nikolai Tesla’s love for a pigeon. Was it weird that he loved a pigeon? Yes. Unfortunately, all I could think about was the way murderous hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community is being whipped up, calling them groomers and pedophiles.
Do I still have a sense of humor? Maybe not. Or at least, my current sense of humor is not intersecting with this particular book at this moment in time. In her introduction, Petri says, “If you’re going to lie about the past, lie big. Make it weird.” I feel like she lied medium and made it sort of uncomfortable, but not in the way it needed to be.
I received this as an advance listener copy from HighBridge Audio and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
