Reviews with content warning for Genocide - Wandering Stars

Another fantastic book from Tommy Orange. I just recently read There There and immediately after finishing, pre-ordered Wandering Stars. This book is a continuation of the first book. It doesn't really feel like a "sequel," but it follows some of the characters from There There after the events of that book, and also goes back in time to talk about their family history. It feels more like an extension of the first book, but differentiates itself in many ways.

I like that this book focused in on fewer characters - the Red Feather family specifically, some of my favorite characters from the first book. It spends more time with each character, and as a result their struggles and triumphs are more impactful. This book has similar themes to There There, but focuses a lot more on family dynamics in the face of adversity (without getting too spoilery, it deals a lot with addiction and violence, as well as illness). There were so many moments in this book that I resonated with emotionally - highs and lows. The internal monologues of the characters were often so forthright and confessional, like they are pouring their hearts out to the reader, with run-on sentences as they struggle to find the words to articulate their feelings, like someone might do when trying to confide in a therapist, journal, or friend. Yet Orange always finds the right words, and when they hit you they hit hard and deep. And the characters are so relatable in their struggles and feelings and insecurities, you can't help but love and root for them all.

My only real gripe about the book is with the pace. While I liked learning about the Red Feather family history, the pace felt a little uneven in roughly the middle third of the book. This is also a really heavy and emotionally devastating book (as is There There), so make sure you're in the right headspace before diving in.

I just discovered this author, but I can't wait to see what he does next. I think his books are for everyone and should be read by everyone.

Content Warnings

nerp's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

WOW. I really enjoyed There There but Wandering Stars was INCREDIBLE. Prose, themes, structure, tone—truly incredible. I love Orange’s prose and how he structures his books. It so deeply impacts your experience with it.

This isn’t a plot heavy book, particularly in part one, but the telling of the ancestors was vital to the telling and the whole point. It’s about intergenerational trauma and the lineage of addiction as a coping mechanism for experiencing unbelievable violence. Each story reinforces those. You can read it without There There, although it’s technically a sequel.

Also, the audio is a delight!!

Content Warnings

ninjamuse's review

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challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

ashvaberle16's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

Content Warnings

hollydyer328's review

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challenging dark hopeful informative sad slow-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

3.5

I enjoyed coming back to the Red Feather / Bear Shield family and seeing where things left off since There There, in addition to getting the history behind this family. I enjoyed the inter-generational saga in the first part from the Sand Creek Massacre; it has vibes of Homegoing. I actually wanted more from that section - a lot of the main events happen off the page - and more references back to that section once we're in the present day.

The second part focuses a lot more on the individual family and the struggles they individually face with trauma and addiction. That said, it is VERY interior and you are trapped in the mind of an addict(s) for multiple pages before there is any dialogue. It's pretty relentless and it makes the story line slow down. It continues to get darker and darker throughout, and while there is some hint at hope at the end, it's minor compared to the amounts of sadness.

Overall, Orange is a great writer and I liked any commentary he had on the Native experience, however there wasn't as much as in There There. it was nice to see something else from him, but I liked There There more. This is also won't be for everyone if you don't enjoy interior and unrelenting dark novels. Big content warnings.

Content Warnings

jamiejanae_6's review

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.25

Content Warnings

willijm's review

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challenging dark emotional 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

4.25

Content Warnings

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