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A review by nerp
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
WOW. I really enjoyed There There but Wandering Stars was INCREDIBLE. Prose, themes, structure, tone—truly incredible. I love Orange’s prose and how he structures his books. It so deeply impacts your experience with it.
This isn’t a plot heavy book, particularly in part one, but the telling of the ancestors was vital to the telling and the whole point. It’s about intergenerational trauma and the lineage of addiction as a coping mechanism for experiencing unbelievable violence. Each story reinforces those. You can read it without There There, although it’s technically a sequel.
Also, the audio is a delight!!
This isn’t a plot heavy book, particularly in part one, but the telling of the ancestors was vital to the telling and the whole point. It’s about intergenerational trauma and the lineage of addiction as a coping mechanism for experiencing unbelievable violence. Each story reinforces those. You can read it without There There, although it’s technically a sequel.
Also, the audio is a delight!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Colonisation, and Grief
Moderate: Dementia, Blood, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Genocide, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Medical content, Dysphoria, and Gun violence