Summary: Your mom's got Van Morrison on repeat, she wants to talk "mother daughter trust," and there's still hundreds of miles left to go. Trapped inside a family car trip gone horribly wrong.
Jesse Chanin's segment on a family vacation gone wrong is a humorous and insightful look into the mind of a teenager when confronted by a mother's request to have a talk about "mother daughter trust." Chanin's narration is witty and earnest, and the Van Morrison clips were appropriately placed to create the scenery for the disastrous vacation. Jesse guides the listener right into the action, voicing out comments that she probably did not say out loud as the events were occurring. One of the best scenes in the piece was the one about the relatives guessing why Jesse did not want to talk about "mother daughter trust." The voices used for this scene were cheesy and humorous. One of the few detractions of the piece is the Mother's voice -- it seems scripted, and the pronunciation is too slow. Overall, the piece is very earnest and insightful -- an intriguing look inside the mind of a teenager.
Family Vacation
This piece is awesome because it?s actually giving a teenage perspective of a typical family trip. Jesse, the speaker is awesome in this piece because she pulls a memory and gives the actual moods and tone of the piece. It?s hilarious because the speaker sounds cynical about life and is just trying to survive a family ride without saying a word. The speaker also makes you envision that you are there, in the car, just from hearing the conversation with the mother, the description of the scenery and once again the mood of the piece. This piece is awesome.
-Adomako
Funny and well-done. "Forced intimacy" and "raised hackles" - Jesse expresses herself very well. The irony of this piece is that "experts" say that the intimacy of the car encourages discussion with one's teenager. So much for experts. Great piece to air especially during the summer vacation season or maybe during the Thanksgiving/Christmas season which is also a big family drive time.
Teenage angst confined to the family auto, from the perspective of an articulate youngster. Pubradio demographics love to hear their talented offspring on the air, as long as they don't say anything upsetting.
Hilarious from the start - good writing and good narration. Always nice to be inside the thoughts of a teenager...The staged adult voices made me cringe a little but mostly they were added humor.
This is a good essay for any cold vacation time of the year (maybe lose the November reference) - and, it serves as a friendly warning to parents - to keep it light!
vm
This piece is absolutely delightful. If you are allowed to re-use it (I notice that she SOQs out by saying "For the Savvy Traveler") do! The young narrator strikes just the right balance between cynical and adorable and the "adults" are a hoot.
Anywhere, put it anywhere. I just reviewed a piece on hotels (Behind the Scenes: Housekeeping). Put this one right before it, during the vacation months. First cars, then the hotel.
Most everyone in the west, where the roads are long and people are cars are many, will have a trip story like this.
Comments for Family Vacation
Produced by Jesse Chanin
Other pieces by Blunt Youth Radio Project
Rating Summary
8 comments
Minhal Baig
Posted on October 03, 2007 at 12:56 PM | Permalink
Review of Family Vacation
Jesse Chanin's segment on a family vacation gone wrong is a humorous and insightful look into the mind of a teenager when confronted by a mother's request to have a talk about "mother daughter trust." Chanin's narration is witty and earnest, and the Van Morrison clips were appropriately placed to create the scenery for the disastrous vacation. Jesse guides the listener right into the action, voicing out comments that she probably did not say out loud as the events were occurring. One of the best scenes in the piece was the one about the relatives guessing why Jesse did not want to talk about "mother daughter trust." The voices used for this scene were cheesy and humorous. One of the few detractions of the piece is the Mother's voice -- it seems scripted, and the pronunciation is too slow. Overall, the piece is very earnest and insightful -- an intriguing look inside the mind of a teenager.
Kwabena Adomako Amankwah
Posted on August 30, 2007 at 03:05 PM | Permalink
Review of Family Vacation
Family Vacation
This piece is awesome because it?s actually giving a teenage perspective of a typical family trip. Jesse, the speaker is awesome in this piece because she pulls a memory and gives the actual moods and tone of the piece. It?s hilarious because the speaker sounds cynical about life and is just trying to survive a family ride without saying a word. The speaker also makes you envision that you are there, in the car, just from hearing the conversation with the mother, the description of the scenery and once again the mood of the piece. This piece is awesome.
-Adomako
Deborah Astley
Posted on June 10, 2005 at 12:14 PM | Permalink
Review of Family Vacation
Funny and well-done. "Forced intimacy" and "raised hackles" - Jesse expresses herself very well. The irony of this piece is that "experts" say that the intimacy of the car encourages discussion with one's teenager. So much for experts. Great piece to air especially during the summer vacation season or maybe during the Thanksgiving/Christmas season which is also a big family drive time.
Raquel Maria Dillon
Posted on April 29, 2004 at 07:44 AM | Permalink
Precocious pubradio child
Teenage angst confined to the family auto, from the perspective of an articulate youngster. Pubradio demographics love to hear their talented offspring on the air, as long as they don't say anything upsetting.
Roger Devine
Posted on January 20, 2004 at 01:36 PM | Permalink
Review of Family Vacation
Reminiscent of Sarah Vowell pieces. Funny.
Transom Editors
Posted on December 27, 2003 at 10:18 AM | Permalink
Review of Family Vacation
Hilarious from the start - good writing and good narration. Always nice to be inside the thoughts of a teenager...The staged adult voices made me cringe a little but mostly they were added humor.
This is a good essay for any cold vacation time of the year (maybe lose the November reference) - and, it serves as a friendly warning to parents - to keep it light!
vm
Richard Paul
Posted on December 26, 2003 at 10:35 AM | Permalink
Review of Family Vacation
This piece is absolutely delightful. If you are allowed to re-use it (I notice that she SOQs out by saying "For the Savvy Traveler") do! The young narrator strikes just the right balance between cynical and adorable and the "adults" are a hoot.
Hans Anderson
Posted on December 23, 2003 at 10:06 AM | Permalink
Review of Family Vacation
Most everyone in the west, where the roads are long and people are cars are many, will have a trip story like this.