I picked this book because it was something outside of my comfort zone and was a challenge to read. The style of writing in poetic thoughts so full of meaning was my greatest challenge. Secondly, I was not sure of the overall message of the book. Is the book about the pressures of the social classes trying to live the American way? The native indian struggle over belonging to a group and addiction? Clearly the author gave the reader many unforgiving images of the native indian to ponder.
Would I recommend the book? Yes, the book conveys an accurate picture of a forgotten group of people American History has not given appropriate focus and many times inaccurate information.
This is my first time writing a post so please be kind. Having lived in the upper Midwest, I am well aware of the struggles on tribal lands.
I absolutely loved There There. And Iām grateful for the stories Tommy Orange is telling in Wandering Stars (the background history to There There) ā I only wish that heād spent more time ā another year? ā on it. It felt rushed and unfinished to me. I often notice this with new books by popular authors of literary fiction
ā itās as if the publishers are rushing the books out because they know they will sell well ā and I keep wishing editors would take more time to work more in depth with these writers. Does anyone else feel that way?
I never thought of it that way, @Michelle_H, but I suspect you may be right, at least in some cases. Iāve found that very often I donāt like an authorās second book nearly as much as I enjoyed their first.
I also suspect that there might be a publisherās push" behind the completion of a second book. We readers are often anxious, too. Do you suppose, though, that books intended to be a series are written and published differently? Multiple titles are more prevalent in sci fi and fantasy and can be published years apart with storylines dangling.
Overall, I found some of Orangeās writing style difficult to read as did other reviewers. However, on a positive note, I enjoyed the generational approach to the story line. It helped to understand the painful histories of the characters.
I appreciated the learning I took from this book. The authorās writing style, while unexpected, quickly grew on me. I loved and referred often to the family tree at the front of the book.
I agree with Cecelia_Jās comments. I live in Colorado and wanted to learn more about the Sand Creek Masacre, as the town we live in was named for a Chief who died from wounds sustained from the onslaught. The first 11 chapters were more historical, providing a brutal portrayal of life that some of our Indigenous People experienced. I did not appreciate the vagueness or third person narrative in Chapter 12 until I read further BookBrowse Book Club comments about how this was such a transition period for this familyās cultural heritage. I found the writing style of Chapter 12 rather confusing at the time that I was reading the book, but now, this makes sense to me.
The last part of the book (Chapter 13 on), focuses on the tragedies and sad journey of the Red Feather family. I have not read āThere, Thereā, so feel that I was missing something. Unfortunately, opioid addiction can happen to anyone, from any walk of life. I was so encouraged to see the outcome and success of Orvil to overcome this problem with support groups, running, and eventually returning to his passion of music.
This was a difficult read, but feel that I learned and gained from the experience.
It was totally gripping right from the start. I found myself unable to read it as it was so painful, but also unable to leave it unfinished as it was so beautifully written. Orange may be on his way to becoming my favorite contemporary author! Mitra Vasisht
Iām sorry but I just couldnāt finish this book. I hardly ever abandon books but I did Wandering Stars. I just couldnāt get into the style of the writer.