Heritage Studies Book 2

I found this book on GR while searching for books that would shed some light on my heritage. I am Puerto Rican, so when I typed "Taino" into the search bar and Jose Barreiro's historical fiction novel popped up, I was excited.

Taino is about an indian named Guaikan that was adopted by Christopher Columbus when he first arrived in the Caribbeans. Now a friar, he writes in an account 4o years later describing the events that took place after the fateful meeting of the Spaniards and natives.

I enjoyed learning about the ways of the Tainos, their areitos, or songs that would be sung detailing ancient stories and historic tales. The cohaba they would sniff or inhale, a hallucinogen that they would partake in to communicate with the dead and receive guidance from their ancient ancestors. The legends and stories they believed in and the elder caciques that would lead the peoples and the behikes or shaman that would teach each new generation their ways, speak about their connection to nature and everything in it. The word huracan or "hurricane" is of Taino origin. The use of hammocks or hamacas was what the natives used for sleeping.

I enjoyed the book but towards the end I lost a bit of interest. The narrative didn't grab me the way I thought it would and I can't quite put my finger on the reason why. Despite that, I learned a good amount about Tainos and some history about what occurred on the islands after Columbus's arrival, which was my primary mission. I would say this: 3 stars for the fictional story telling, and 5 stars for the knowledge about the indigenous culture. Barreiro did extensive research on the natives, so what you read is historical knowledge.

I plan to read more books about Tainos and Columbus himself. I am on a mission to learn more about where I come from and who I am. If you are on the same mission as I, then this would be a good place to start.