Scan barcode
thejscissortail's review
challenging
dark
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
3.0
Similar to the first. Not sure on character development behind certain characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse
aidareads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
reading tommy orange’s second book just made it obvious that i will, in fact, read everything he publishes in the future. his writing style just heals something deep inside you, without shying away from portraying sensitive and hard topics that should be spoken about. what a great storyteller and what a great native american voice 🤎
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Self harm
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Colonisation
Minor: Rape and Pandemic/Epidemic
jenwinnell's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
abbz_o_lutely's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
breannamorin's review against another edition
3.0
A very weak 3-stars. On one hand, this was excellence. Lyrical writing, poignant situations, a bit too slice-of-life for my liking. Almost documentary-like, intriguing at times but never entertaining. I considered DNF, more than once, due to indifference. So I can't honestly say that I liked it, let alone really liked it to give it the rating it might actually deserve.
Part prequel, part sequel to [b:There There|36692478|There There|Tommy Orange|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1512071034l/36692478._SY75_.jpg|58040066], which I have not read yet never felt amiss. [b:Wandering Stars|174147294|Wandering Stars|Tommy Orange|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1695837414l/174147294._SY75_.jpg|181595356] follows one Native American family for 150 years, from Jude Star escaping the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864 to the Bear Shield/Red Feather family in present day Oakland, CA. There is a strong theme of addiction and intergenerational trauma throughout. Wandering is an accurate title for this story, rich with history and family drama, that ultimately led nowhere interesting. Its fatal flaw was the many narratives switching between first, second and third person. The redeeming quality for me, being local to the setting, is Orange's accurately detailed description of Oakland and surrounding Bay Area demographic. That — I enjoyed.
Part prequel, part sequel to [b:There There|36692478|There There|Tommy Orange|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1512071034l/36692478._SY75_.jpg|58040066], which I have not read yet never felt amiss. [b:Wandering Stars|174147294|Wandering Stars|Tommy Orange|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1695837414l/174147294._SY75_.jpg|181595356] follows one Native American family for 150 years, from Jude Star escaping the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864 to the Bear Shield/Red Feather family in present day Oakland, CA. There is a strong theme of addiction and intergenerational trauma throughout. Wandering is an accurate title for this story, rich with history and family drama, that ultimately led nowhere interesting. Its fatal flaw was the many narratives switching between first, second and third person. The redeeming quality for me, being local to the setting, is Orange's accurately detailed description of Oakland and surrounding Bay Area demographic. That — I enjoyed.
arj's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
enby's review against another edition
3.5
A vast family chronicle of... words on a page sometimes. Grief from the youth's perspective was explored far better than the more seasoned characters but I'm unsure if that was on purpose or not. It made for an interesting narrative, but not a compelling one after a while. Shruggy about this.
ayari10's review against another edition
5.0
I was completely blown away by Tommy Orange's sophomore novel. Wandering Stars acts as a prequel and sequel to his excellent first novel, There There. What really impressed me with Wandering Stars was the depth and breath of Orange's writing. The very lyrical and soft prose juxtaposed with the brutality of the parts in the past and how that makes way for the hard contemporary prose of the present. The characters are extremely vivid and Orange really hits home at how generational trauma works. Beautiful book.
petrichortrails's review
challenging
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
5.0
suzehint's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5