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eggmama 's review for:
There There
by Tommy Orange
This novel tackles so many subjects. Of course, it discusses the past and present of Native Americans. But it also looks at family, race and being biracial, the reason why drugs and alcohol are so prevalent, sexual abuse...the list is long but necessary for a clear picture.
Besides the conceptual content, Orange successfully deploys a variety of narratives and perspectives. Some characters use first person, while others use a narrator, and one claims second person point of view. But perhaps most importantly, the stories and characters resist being called pitiful. They are human and alive and violent and beautiful and sad, but not pitiful, not pitiable.
The array of characters allows you to empathize with the Native community as individuals, see the diversity of people and voices within this community that is so often conglomerated, stereotyped, and silenced.
The writing is lyric, but it's grounded with good, hard dialogue, too, a rare combination that's hard to achieve successfully. Its ending is both shattering and redemptive, it's one of those books that sticks to the back of your mind.
Besides the conceptual content, Orange successfully deploys a variety of narratives and perspectives. Some characters use first person, while others use a narrator, and one claims second person point of view. But perhaps most importantly, the stories and characters resist being called pitiful. They are human and alive and violent and beautiful and sad, but not pitiful, not pitiable.
The array of characters allows you to empathize with the Native community as individuals, see the diversity of people and voices within this community that is so often conglomerated, stereotyped, and silenced.
The writing is lyric, but it's grounded with good, hard dialogue, too, a rare combination that's hard to achieve successfully. Its ending is both shattering and redemptive, it's one of those books that sticks to the back of your mind.