Indigenous: Growing up Californian

by Cris Mazza

Cris Mazza delivers a spirited rebuttal to pop-culture stereotypes about growing up female in Southern California. Coming of age in the 1970s and '80s, Mazza's memories aren't about surfing, cheerleading or riding in convertibles. Though her story has its exotic elements—her family hunts and gathers food in the semi-arid coastal hills well into the early '70s—she sets herself in the context of familiar Americana. Repeating motifs—gender issues, the California landscape, dogs, musicians, plus the perplexing melancholy of a sexless marriage—thread through these very personal essays, as Mazza confronts madness, disability, sexual dysfunction and death, speaking to the drama of ordinary lives.

248 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

Cris Mazza is the author of a dozen books of fiction, mostly recently Waterbaby (Soft Skull Press 2007). Her other titles include the critically acclaimed Is It Sexual Harassment Yet?, and the PEN Nelson Algren Award winning How to Leave a Country. She also has a collection of personal essays, Indigenous: Growing Up Californian. Mazza has been the recipient of an NEA Fellowship and three Illinois Arts Council literary awards. A native of Southern California, Mazza grew up in San Diego County. Currently she lives 50 miles west of Chicago. She is a professor in the Program for Writers at the University of Illinois at Chicago "

Reviews

[Cal Hackeltoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indigenous rides smooth as a San Diego winter. It's the first Mazza book I have read since the 90s when I had devoured her works. Of particular personal interest were her childhood days in San Diego East County, my hometown. Also, her dad was my Physical Science instructor at Mesa College. Nice to read of his role as a father from a daughter's perspective. Her stylings cool and breezy or warm and vulnerable, left me wanting more. A lot is said here, but also a lot is left unsaid. Of late, I ponder impermenance, and truly I found much of impermenance and change to ponder here.