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colormecaro's review against another edition
- 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
1 - historical “before” part of Wandering Stars
2 - There There in its entirety
3 - Aftermath & Futures parts of Wandering Stars
I would thoroughly recommmend this way of reading the two books. If I hadn’t been able to follow on immediately after finishing There There, I think I would have rated it worse because it leaves quite a few questions at the end.
Equally, while the historical part seems very short (and I would love to read it in more detail), it provides some very necessary context for the general feeling of displacement and lack of connection to native roots that ripples through both books.
And while I still have some quarrels with the way Tommy Orange writes (a few more full stops instead of commas would have been nice), I loved how in Wandering Stars he focuses on fewer characters and gives them more depth. Something I was missing in There There.
I also hope Tommy Orange will write a book focussing on Lony in the future. That character just made sense to me (I am a white European woman, so this is absolutely a tribute to Tommy Orange and his writing ability).
I know I critiqued the writing so it should only be 4.5 but I want this in my 5⭐️ reads because feelings wise, it definitely was.
Graphic: Cancer, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical trauma, Genocide, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
orla_h's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Genocide
Moderate: Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Cancer, and Abandonment
Minor: Car accident
letsgolesbians's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Car accident, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Colonisation, Genocide, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Racism
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, and Pregnancy
skitch41's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Drug use and Addiction
Moderate: Genocide, Colonisation, and Self harm
Minor: Alcoholism and Suicidal thoughts
katrinky's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Physical abuse, and Colonisation
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Cancer, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcoholism, Body horror, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Toxic friendship, and Violence
patlo's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, and Genocide
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
ukponge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Gun violence, Genocide, Death, Death of parent, Mass/school shootings, Grief, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Colonisation
yleavy's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Genocide
Moderate: Abandonment
cheazcakeguy's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Cancer, Drug abuse, and Addiction
Minor: Alcoholism, Genocide, and War
nerp's review against another edition
- 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
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!!
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