Local Audiobook By Jessica Machado cover art

Local

A Memoir

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Local

By: Jessica Machado
Narrated by: Mapuana Makia
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.00

Buy for $20.00

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

A powerful, lush memoir about a Hawaiian woman who ran away from paradise to discover who she is and where she belongs.

Born and raised in Hawai‘i by a father whose ancestors are indigenous to the land and a mother from the American South, Jessica Machado wrestles with what it means to be “local.” Feeling separate from the history and tenets of Hawaiian culture that have been buried under the continental imports of malls and MTV, Jessica often sees her homeland reflected back to her from the tourist perspective—as an uncomplicated paradise. Her existence, however, feels far from that ideal. Balancing her parents’ divorce, an ailing mother, and growing anxiety, Jessica rebels. She moves to Los Angeles, convinced she’ll leave her complicated family behind and define herself. Instead, her isolation only becomes more severe, and her dying mother follows her to California. For Jessica, the only way to escape is a reckless downward spiral.

Interwoven with a rich and nuanced exploration of Hawaiian history and traditions, Local is a personal and moving narrative about family, grief, and reconnecting to the land she tried to leave behind.

©2023 Jessica Machado. (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
Cultural & Regional Women
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

“Mapuana Makia lends fluidity to this memoir's descriptions of Hawaii—its lush settings, legends and lore, and musical language. In contrasting tones, Makia delivers the painful history of colonialism and stereotyping of Hawaii as merely a tourist destination. Similarly, Makia gives listeners a felt sense of the intersectional issues faced by Machado through the juxtaposition of her proper, directive white Southern mother and her passive-seeming Indigenous father. Most memorable are Makia's vivid depictions of Machado's fierce rebelliousness and discomfort in a seeming paradise.”AudioFile Magazine

“Narrator Mapuana Makia skillfully reads the historical sections of this memoir, enlivening them with her lyrical pronunciation of Hawaiian words. She brings out the passion in Machado’s telling of myth and legend and conveys Machado’s forthright approach as she shares her personal stories and history. A moving portrait of a woman navigating culture and identity, elevated by the use of beautiful Hawaiian language.”Library Journal

“Mapuana Makia handles the story adeptly and has a deliberate clarity that helps the listener absorb sections exploring Hawaiian culture and mythology. Her commitment to that tone and pacing also makes clear the book is a memoir, handling the sometimes challenging subject matter as a retelling; never going too far to infuse dramatic flair. She instead lets the author's words carry the weight. This is not to say her read lacks depth or flavor, though. She's an excellent choice for the material.”Booklist

What listeners say about Local

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    26
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    15
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    40
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    22
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    4

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not bad but pointless

I don’t know what I was expecting but this book was good but boring. The same story of my life too. I listened to the whole book because it was interesting but….

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Great story and narration, but…

I enjoyed the story and the narration is excellent, but I found the constant talk about and references to sex a bit monotonous.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Loved this!

I really enjoyed listening/reading this book. My Puerto Rican family is from Hawaii and I really enjoyed hearing about the history in this story telling way.

The only thing that would’ve made it better is a PLAYLIST!!!! I’m an 80s baby so all of her song references were spot on. I guess I’ll have to read again and make notes!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Authentic Aloha for all Things Local

I am a retired Maui teacher with kama’aina kids who can relate to this heartfelt story of real Hawaii and all things Local. Mapuana Malia read the Hawaiian words beautifully. I highly recommend this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Local kanaka

Love the local info and locations. Story reflected my own memories of my childhood. Trader did a great job of pronouncing the Hawaiian words.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A good sale book

I bought this because I’m always really interested in the Hawaiian culture. In that respect, I really learned a lot. The author’s story about her family was sad. What I could have done without is the details of her sex life; I don’t think it was necessary. Night life, boyfriends, partying, OK I get it. The rest, in my opinion, did nothing to enhance the story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting enough

I enjoyed listening to the descriptions of Hawaiian music, food, culture and diversity. It’s a raw story of a young girl’s life and discovering who she is and where she fits. The story takes you through to adulthood and parenthood. It involves her relationships with each parent and their lives. Pretty good listening.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

great taste in music

I love all the references she gives about her taste in music, she really had impeccable taste in it and I love how she shared all her concert trips and music taste.

Her life wasn't easy and she is determined to live happily even if that means moving to another place only to find that no matter where she goes she carries her story behind and she has to make new stories to move forward and create new worlds.

the narrations by Mapuana Makia were great

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great narrator, good memoir

I listened to this over the course of a week, and was impressed by both story and narrator. I’ve read a number of memoirs set in the islands but this one seemed to really capture a vivid sense of place for the reader. Recommended!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

A great read. I didn’t want to put it down. I love her style with words and she’s brutally honest with humility and sarcasm.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful