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A review by jessie_cobb
There There by Tommy Orange
4.0
In the weeks leading up to the inaugural Big Oakland Powwow, 12 characters make life-altering choices while reflecting on their connections to their culture, community, and each other.
Among the dozen are a newly sober addiction counselor, a grandson secretly preparing for his first traditional dance, and a documentary filmmaker hoping to tell the stories of urban Native Americans. Their stories intersect in unexpected ways throughout the novel, before meeting in an unforgettable final reunion.
I really enjoyed this novel and its examination of what it is to be Indigenous in an urban setting, often struggling to connect with culture and community while grappling with history and heritage. All of the characters feel real and their perspectives each offer something the others couldn’t.
It did take me awhile to get into this novel because there were so many characters to keep track of, but once I started seeing how their stories intertwined, I felt compelled to see their journeys through to the final reunion.
I can see why this book gets so much praised, and agree that it has the profoundness to be considered a modern classic.
Among the dozen are a newly sober addiction counselor, a grandson secretly preparing for his first traditional dance, and a documentary filmmaker hoping to tell the stories of urban Native Americans. Their stories intersect in unexpected ways throughout the novel, before meeting in an unforgettable final reunion.
I really enjoyed this novel and its examination of what it is to be Indigenous in an urban setting, often struggling to connect with culture and community while grappling with history and heritage. All of the characters feel real and their perspectives each offer something the others couldn’t.
It did take me awhile to get into this novel because there were so many characters to keep track of, but once I started seeing how their stories intertwined, I felt compelled to see their journeys through to the final reunion.
I can see why this book gets so much praised, and agree that it has the profoundness to be considered a modern classic.