Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

There There by Tommy Orange

66 reviews

masomunos's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It's a struggle to find any flaw in Tommy Orange's There There. Connected through theme and plot, a multitude of characters struggle with Native identity and the difficulties of modern Native life. Characters are complex, life-like, and likeable; the plot builds slowly then all at once. The reader leaves breathless, thinking about the story and its characters as well as the reality they are based upon.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Colonisation, Genocide, and Gun violence

Minor: Violence, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Suicide, Alcoholism, Racism, Emotional abuse, and Grief

lark42's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Colonisation, and Genocide

Moderate: Rape, Gun violence, and Sexual assault

lupemota's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

this is one of the most well written books I’ve read in a while. Orange builds up to the end so intricately, though sometimes it was difficult to keep up with the background characters knowing later they’d be important to the story. 

This book is a perfect example of learning history through fiction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Racism, Colonisation, Alcohol, Murder, Mass/school shootings, and Gun violence

Moderate: Genocide

seawarrior's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

There There is unlike any book I've read before. Within it, Orange weaves together the lives of twelve Native characters from Oakland, setting up a searing finale we are left to dread from the first chapter. The novel is preluded by a nonfiction essay telling the true history and horror of colonization in the past, and followed by an interlude describing the modern weight of colonization, and the significance of powwows as a place of togetherness for Native people of all tribes. I've never seen a book set up this way before and think it was a wise choice, as the essays provided information I had not previously known, but was essential to understanding the world There There aimed to reflect. 

Orange's skill and detail creating each of his characters is impressive to say the least. He writes from multiple perspectives and points in time, giving each person their own distinct voice and tone when telling their stories. The problems these characters are living through are interconnected but diverse, even among family members. Yet Orange never fails to get within the minds of these very different people, pressing the reader to understand them all, even those who we know will threaten the safety of the Powwow. He pulls no punches when describing tragedy, illness and grief, but still provides his characters with opportunity for hope and peace whenever possible. This is one of the most effectively written books I've ever read and I highly recommend it, but please note the content warnings below. Alcoholism especially was described with heavy detail, so if that's something you're susceptible to you may want to read with caution. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Suicide, Racism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, and Misogyny

foxowl2005's review against another edition

challenging emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, Colonisation, Violence, Genocide, Addiction, Blood, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Vomit, Abortion, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cancer

marisa_n's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Addiction, Child abuse, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Native American, mutliple POV, mass shooting

swaggynikki's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

Crying and throwing up. It was so good. I literally read this book for English class but like. Holy shit. A book has never come closer to making me cry. There is so much left unanswered but at the same time maybe that's right for it but also I want to know so much more. It's beautifully written and beautifully crafted and it's empathetic and emotional and REAL and I love it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Death, Cursing, and Violence

Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, and Genocide

sammies_shelf's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Rape

katsbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"We are the memories we don't remember, which live in us, which we feel, which make us sing and dance and pray the way we do, feelings from memories that flare and bloom unexpectedly in our lives like blood through a blanket from a wound made by a bullet fired by a man shooting us in the back for our hair, for our heads, for a bounty, or just to get rid of us."

"Don’t ever let anyone tell you what being Indian means. Too many of us died to get just a little bit of us here, right now, right in this kitchen. You, me. Every part of our people that made it is precious. You’re Indian because you’re Indian because you’re Indian."

"Only those who have lost as much as we have see the particularly nasty slice of smile on someone who thinks they're winning when they say "Get over it."

This story was told masterfully. Each of the different stories was so interesting. Some of the stories were more fleshed out than others and it wasn't until I got to the end that I felt like I understood why. Watching so many of the different threads come together was really satisfying. (And very heart-breaking at times). 

I also appreciated that this story centered urban Indigenous characters. I feel like that's a perspective that isn't often represented. I can totally understand why this book was considered for a Pulitzer. The themes it explores are are challenging and feel very real to me despite the fact that I don't share much life experience with any of the characters. Which, honestly, speaks to Orange's writing, in my opinion. 

Please note that this book deals with heavy themes. Some trigger warnings include: death, gun violence, drug content and mentions of rape. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Cancer, Car accident, Colonisation, Cursing, Gaslighting, Genocide, and Rape

massivepizzacrust's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Brilliant like a hot knife through your chest. 
This is a complex read that pieces together the stories of many characters and how they influence each other's lives. There are so many things to talk about with this one that I think you could lead a whole class on it. I fell in love with the characters and just wanted them to find peace. For some reason I went into the book thinking it was going to be more wholesome and about identity, and it was about identity but it was also about colonialism, racism and the cycle of violence. It is unflinching and only relents a little at the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Physical abuse, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Rape and Pregnancy