Blue Tattoo: The Life Of Olive Oatman (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
Traveling through the desert, I read this to learn more about the native cultures of the region and the culture clash between the immigrants and natives. The book really brought the Mohave tribe to life for me.Although no one knows the truth about Olive's relationship to the tribe, the author gives a nuanced and thoroughly investigated opinion.The contrast between her opinion and historical novels and even Olive's own account of her time with the tribe is like night and day. At times I wondered whether to believe Ms. Mifflin's guesses or Olive's own words. Ms. Mifflin gives thorough explanation for her conclusions which was at times a bit cerebral for me, but necessary. Olive's behavior must be interpreted within the context of the world that she lived in. A world that felt it was at war with the Native Americans.*Spoiler Alert*Initially I was upset with Olive since it seemed she threw her Mohave friends under the bus when she should have represented them more kindly in her lectures and the book that was her livelihood. Later, Mifflin relates the story of a captive who did give the tribesman who saved her his due credit. She was branded an 'Indian lover' and the man who saved her was hung for his trouble. This made me rethink my ideas about Olive, perhaps I was a bit hasty in judging her behavior in an extraordinarily complex situation - in dealing with a US public who were so prejudice as to be impossible to be reasoned with.I guess what she was in the end was a survivor and sometimes the practical things people do to survive are not necessarily poetic or beautiful. This is reality - not Hollywood. Since I have a pretty strict standard for 5 stars (see: Name of the Wind; that sets my standard), this was a struggle - I wanted to give it 4.5 stars because I split hairs like that, but in the end the 5-star rating won out. This is a sympathetic and highly informative account of Olive Oatman's life, and also summarizes other accounts written about her (without getting bogged down in them). It also touches on the Other status of natives, women, those with tattoos, etc., in society in the mid 1800s.Briefly, Olive's family was killed by natives in a misguided attempt to proceed alone on their way to settle in the west. Olive was eventually traded over to a Mohave tribe who adopted her, as evidenced by the facial and arm tattoos she then received. Mifflin delves into the surreality and disconnect Olive must have experienced in all stages of her life, and emphasizes the reintegration problems - first with integrating into the tribe, then back into white society. A nice feature of this book is that it does attempt to wade through the obfuscations surrounding Olive's life as set down in accounts by others, and clearly identifies what is likely a fabrication and its own hypotheses.Clear, well written, and engaging, definitely one I'd recommend.
What do You think about Blue Tattoo: The Life Of Olive Oatman (2014)?
Extremely interesting, yet writing style not particularly captivating.
—karmagos
Great historical read until the author's politics take over.
—mayo1985
Fascinating, well-written slice of Southwestern history.
—Mjj2228
well written, very interesting take the story
—lissalylac
