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A review by booksamongstfriends
Whiskey Tender by Deborah Jackson Taffa
4.0
My expectations for this memoir were high, and they were met. I want to thank the National Book Foundation and @spinesvines for my giveaway copy. This was an intimate, raw, and vulnerable look into identity, and I deeply appreciated how raw and genuine the author’s voice felt.
This read offers a deeply personal exploration of the author’s journey to finding balance and herself with the pressures to assimilate into a society that often erases such identities. The narrative is both simple and complex—her love for her family is clear and straightforward, but her effort to stay connected to her heritage is layered and fraught. The book presents how fear and destructive beliefs surrounding culture and identity can be passed down, intentionally or not, as assimilation becomes tied to survival and opportunity. There were so many captivating moments shared from her reflections and the sense of otherness she experienced.
I will say the pacing might not suit every reader, and some moments occasionally felt overly detailed. I do wish there had been more inclusion on the author’s present-day life and the space she occupies now. That said, the reflective portions are powerful, particularly in the acknowledgement of her past misjudgments. Taffa poignantly examines both her perspective as a child and her family’s choices in the past with the journey of turning them into the lessons to better understand and guide her today.
I’m really grateful that I was able receive this book and it definitely highlights a perspective not often heard. Not only is this author exploring and sharing the details and ideals associated with being raised on and off the reservation, but her life in two spaces. Boldly going in depth into the rage and anger of a young girl having to unlearn, reevaluate, and reconnect with the parts of herself that she was told to ignore or hide. Reading this alongside the audiobook, narrated by the author herself, added an extra layer of connection. Her tone beautifully captured the ebbs and flows of her life.
If you’re looking for a new nonfiction read, this is one to consider. It’s a powerful exploration of Indigenous culture, identity, and the resilience it takes to navigate two worlds.
This read offers a deeply personal exploration of the author’s journey to finding balance and herself with the pressures to assimilate into a society that often erases such identities. The narrative is both simple and complex—her love for her family is clear and straightforward, but her effort to stay connected to her heritage is layered and fraught. The book presents how fear and destructive beliefs surrounding culture and identity can be passed down, intentionally or not, as assimilation becomes tied to survival and opportunity. There were so many captivating moments shared from her reflections and the sense of otherness she experienced.
I will say the pacing might not suit every reader, and some moments occasionally felt overly detailed. I do wish there had been more inclusion on the author’s present-day life and the space she occupies now. That said, the reflective portions are powerful, particularly in the acknowledgement of her past misjudgments. Taffa poignantly examines both her perspective as a child and her family’s choices in the past with the journey of turning them into the lessons to better understand and guide her today.
I’m really grateful that I was able receive this book and it definitely highlights a perspective not often heard. Not only is this author exploring and sharing the details and ideals associated with being raised on and off the reservation, but her life in two spaces. Boldly going in depth into the rage and anger of a young girl having to unlearn, reevaluate, and reconnect with the parts of herself that she was told to ignore or hide. Reading this alongside the audiobook, narrated by the author herself, added an extra layer of connection. Her tone beautifully captured the ebbs and flows of her life.
If you’re looking for a new nonfiction read, this is one to consider. It’s a powerful exploration of Indigenous culture, identity, and the resilience it takes to navigate two worlds.