Reviews

There There by Tommy Orange

cjvphd's review against another edition

5.0

Like a snowball barreling downhill, There There picks up characters and story-lines as it rolls along until all are one in a furious mass that can withstand the onslaught of external forces and hold together for only so long. Gripping, moving, devastating, beautiful, and heartbreaking, Tommy Orange creates a poignant portrait of what it means to belong, to be accepted, to accept, to strive for something better, to accept there is nothing better, to struggle, to lose, to give up, and to keep fighting.

The emotional impact of Orange's novel on me is undoubtedly affected by my general ignorance of the continued plight of American Indians in cities across the U.S. I am ashamed to be so unaware of their struggle. Having gone through my own share of difficulties, I can hardly imagine going through them again except with the added weight of a conflicted and confused identity from birth and an active opposition to my existence at every turn. My heart aches for the real-life analogs of these characters, and the many young people waking up every day facing decks stacked against them.

There There is a fantastic novel with a potency and depth that belie its small stature and breathless pacing. It is a novel that will stay with me, and we, speaking for all Americans, would be better off having read it.

svincent2210's review

challenging dark emotional funny reflective tense medium-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

4.5

allisong82's review

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

ccassell91's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

4.5

macwar's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

caw281's review

informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

alkatsi's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

olitro's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Took me a bit to get into since the perspective switched between a number of characters but I was absolutely gripped once I understood how to read it. Fascinating and sad and heart wrenching and frustratingly unnecessary outcomes. 

I found Tommy Orange’s writing style to be unique and challenging but very approachable at the same time. He has a unique ability to inhabit each of the characters fully. 

adriannelucille's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

shellic88's review

I just couldn’t get into the book, just wasn’t flowing right for me.