Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

31 reviews

sydlio's review

emotional informative reflective sad

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Sexual assault

kitayers's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

Really loved this book. The idea and the execution. Very poetic and beautiful to read. I preferred the start of the story- the historic lines, I found it difficult at times to draw the parallels between the family generations but on reflection I imagine that’s due to my privilege and naïveté. Really good 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Self harm

cheazcakeguy's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Cancer, Drug abuse, and Addiction

Minor: Alcoholism, Genocide, and War

greylovesbroccoli's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Self harm, Death, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Cancer

Minor: Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Mass/school shootings

chrism6's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Drug abuse

Moderate: Colonisation and Cancer

Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

nerp's review against another edition

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!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Colonisation, and Grief

Moderate: Dementia, Blood, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Genocide, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Medical content, Dysphoria, and Gun violence

caitgiam's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, and Grief

Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Minor: Car accident and Death of parent

ninjamuse's review

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Self harm, Genocide, and Racism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Rape

moon_peach's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Beautiful sequel to There There. The author fixes a lot of issues I had with the last book, I appreciated the genealogy page.
Just as heartbreaking as the first book. We start at the beginning great grandfather and we go through multiple generations. You see the cycle of trauma and substance abuse that each of them faces. I will say this ends more hopeful than There, There

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Violence

Moderate: Self harm, Racism, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, and Pandemic/Epidemic

author2223's review

challenging emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Addiction

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts