Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

There There by Tommy Orange

56 reviews

brewdy_reader's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚢 𝚃𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚢 𝙾𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎
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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Colonisation, Death of parent, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Genocide, Mass/school shootings, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Car accident, Child death, Death, Drug use, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence

itsjadenbaby's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

This book should be read by everyone who can stomach the triggers. Getting perspectives from Native Americans who don’t live on reservations is SO important when society acts like they don’t exist. The plot is heartbreaking, but highlights the centuries-old story of how non-natives continue to exploit native land, money, and resources.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Colonisation, Racism, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Drug use, and Cancer

Minor: Abandonment, Ableism, Grief, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Fatphobia, and Classism

bridgeca2's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Abandonment, Mass/school shootings, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, and Violence

hughjames's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Grief, Colonisation, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Death, and Alcohol

artificialducc's review against another edition

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Mass/school shootings

Moderate: Racism, Domestic abuse, and Abandonment

charlottesreadingweb's review against another edition

emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

An emotional meditation on generational trauma, the violence of colonization, addiction, and identity. A heart breaking yet beautiful ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Addiction, and Racism

Moderate: Abandonment

dragon_s_hoard's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, and Mental illness

Moderate: Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Genocide, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

cmstebb97's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Addiction, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, and Mass/school shootings

Minor: Sexual assault

readwithev's review

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

4.5

Beautifully written, poetic, and a great commentary on the modern, urban Native American experience. Most of the characters had strong unique voices. However, I think Orange could have cut Bill, Edwin, and Calvin; instead he could have brought more background and depth to the rest of the character especially Blue.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse

moriahleigh's review

dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Abandonment, Mass/school shootings, Addiction, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cancer and Car accident