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mandaazzi's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Addiction and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
sydneylount'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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, and Death of parent
cheazcakeguy's review
- 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
4.75
Highly recommend, though this isn't a light read and it will tear your heart out.
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, and Colonisation
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
la_licia33's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Colonisation
marissasa's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
sarah984's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Child death, Drug use, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
ruthypoo2'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? It's complicated
4.5
Each character in the book has a very powerful voice and the author, Tommy Orange, throughout the course of the storyline, exposes the common threads shared by the indigenous community and the almost predictable life struggles they will encounter. The book also dangles a carrot for the reader in knowing the story will eventually culminate in most of the main characters attending an upcoming powwow. The question is, how might they interact and what good outcomes can be expected?
I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience with this book. The author’s writing style is vivid and in my opinion, doesn’t have a lot of filler. The characters are relatable and I appreciated the history incorporated into the story. Most of the Native American authors and books I’ve read up to this point have been set on tribal land and take place within the tribal community only. While I’m aware of tribal communities and businesses in the desert areas of California, Arizona, and Nevada, my eyes are now opened to more urban centers like Oakland.
I listened to the audiobook and very much enjoyed the clear and crisp delivery of the ensemble of narrators that includes Darrell Dennis, Alma Cuervo, Kyla Garcia, and Shaun Taylor-Corbett.
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Abortion, and Alcohol
annettenk'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
4.75
I think I would have a tough time appreciating and keeping track of all the interwoven stories and characters if I had read this over a long span of time/small bits at a time or as an audiobook.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, and Colonisation
Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Abortion
brooketreads's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
“The drone. I didn’t see it there. I saw an Indian. I saw a dancer.” 🥺
Some of the story lines were just so engaging and made me really feel for the characters.
But, then the characters just kept coming. I couldn’t keep them or the story lines straight. I feel like I need to reread and make a diagram. This may be a me problem, but it affected my enjoyment a little.
I liked how all the storylines were converging, but when they finally did I felt like the story was rushed.
The last 30 minutes though… Wow.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Addiction
brewdy_reader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘍𝘪𝘤 • 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 • 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺
𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 5 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘦 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.75 rounded up to 4
A Pulitzer finalist, this debut novel by Tommy Orange tackles the largely untold story of modern day Native Americans living in urban cities. Set primarily in Oakland, this narrative is told from 12(!) POVs. When I first began reading I thought, "this has to be based on a true story,” and I continued to feel that way until the story arcs started to overlap in overly-coincidental ways that only happens in fiction. However without that factor, this could have easily been a memoir told as a mini docuseries, referencing historical events that took place from 1492 through 21st century Alcatraz.
There's nothing romanticized here. No stories like what is depicted in popular TV series/movies with life on the Rez or the American frontier. There is no pulling of punches & no white savior mentality. This is not a feel good story. However, it is a well-written one, packed with vivid analogies, metaphors, and descriptions of life in a system that reinforces the status quo. Paying homage to the indelible stains of colonization and genocide of a nation and the long-lasting effects impacting many generations into the future.
The ending was not satisfying with characters' fates in the air as well as many unresolved issues between MCs. I was left wanting more than what we got. Even still, this should absolutely be required reading for all Americans. In order to change our future we must understand our past; we must confront it head on, however painful it may be.
So many TW: Domestic Violence, Gun Violence, Mass Shootings, Acoholism, Death, Addiction, Racism, Murder, Colonization, Suicide, Genocide, Drug Use/Abuse, Grief, Child Death, Rape, Cancer, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Violence...and more
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Colonisation