Review by startjpw23 - There There

startjpw23 's review for:

There There by Tommy Orange

4.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book tells the stories of a number of Native Americans who live in Oakland, California. The stories go back and forth in time. Many of the stories are interconnected. Some of the stories are told in first person and some are told in third person. All of the characters are dealing with difficulties. I didn't like too many of the characters, but I was interested in their stories. I sympathized with many of them despite bad choices they sometimes made. Most of the characters are ultimately heading to a big Powwow that takes place in the Oakland Coliseum. The book has a Cast of Characters that I found myself referring to frequently. Despite this, I still had trouble keeping track of all the characters. There were shifts in time which weren't always immediately apparent. There is some domestic violence. There is some alcohol abuse. There are some graphic deaths. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to read a book that presents realistic stories about Native Americans who live in a modern urban environment. If the issues I mention are a problem for you, you might not want to read it.

Content Warnings