Review - Whiskey Tender (audiobook)

 Whiskey Tender by Deborah Jackson Taffa (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

Whoa! This memoir covers the true history of the Native peoples that had been whitewashed. The author is of Quechan and Laguna Pueblos ancestry via her father and Latin American via her mother. So much is covered including Indian boarding schools, the AIM movement, and much more. 

Growing up in California, we primarily learned about the "wonderful" Missions where the Indians were converted to Catholicism and had a much better life in 4th grade. Every California kid has to do the dreaded Mission project. If only, we had learned the true stories and how what we were taught were lies and whitewashing to make the mission system palatable. It was slavery! 

TRIGGER ALERT: Alcohol abuse, drug usage, physical violence, self-harming, racist language, and death by suicide references 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

Writing: 4.5 stars

Deborah writes beautifully, using an almost poetic style that is hypnotizing, at times. It is descriptive without being overwhelming. 

My only issue is that some of the writing is uneven with stronger and weaker sections throughout the memoir. It could have been the time frame covered or it was difficult to write about for the author. 

Narration: 4.5 stars

The narration was strong, but not as emotional or as powerful as a memoir read by the author. 

Character Arc: 4.5 stars

The audiobook is primarily chronological about the author from age 3 to age 18. There are a lot of flashbacks to fully explain important parts of the story, especially her parents' and grandparents' life stories. 

At times, it was difficult with all of the family members. This is because Deborah comes from two large families. I just went with it and it didn't run the story. 

Since the memoir ends with the author leaving home at around 18, there is so much about her life that I would like to know about her and her family. 

Memorable:  5.0 stars

Deborah weaved the true Native American history throughout her memoir. It was beautifully done. Now I need to learn much more about the real history of our country and our broken promises and treaties with the Native peoples. 

Entertaining:   5.0 stars

This book was not entertaining per se as it was Deborah's childhood memoir and was painfully truthful and raw. What was convicting was that there is so much about US History that is whitewashed, over and over again. 

Book cover: 4.5 stars

Pretty.     

Book title: 4.5 stars 

Interesting.  

STRONG recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

Whiskey Tender by Deborah Jackson Taffa

Harper Audio

11 hours, 38 minutes

Release date of 2/27/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Deborah Jackson Taffa

My Goodreads review

Harper Audio

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜