NATIVE COUNTRY OF THE HEART A Memoir

Cherrie Moraga's gravelly voice and impeccable pronunciation aptly convey the harsh lives of her family of origin, especially her Mexican mother and Anglo father. She convincingly compares her own life as a lesbian woman with her mother, Elvira's, experiences as a poor, uneducated Hispanic woman. The well-rendered poetic text and spirited descriptions create an authentic atmosphere. Listeners will learn that Elvira was hired as a child to pick cotton and worked as a cigarette girl in 1920s Tijuana. Moraga shares details of her own life as a poet, playwright, and feminist and discusses her relationships with her son and loving girlfriend, but Elvira's influence is always center stage. It's particularly painful to hear Moraga help Elvira cope with her severe dementia. Audio helps listeners stay on track during frequent changes of time and place. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2019]