There There

A wonderful first novel about urban Indians (Native Americans) and their struggle to find and define their own identities. My only struggle with the book was trying to keep all of the characters and their relationships straight. Had I written them down at the beginning, it might have helped with the narrative. Tommy Orange’s portrayal of the inner thoughts and feelings of his characters is eye opening.

Beautifully written especially the interlude. Author shows how the trauma of native ancestry plays out through the contemporary lives of several natives, each with their own story. Also how everyone’s story is connected to another somehow. So many lines in the book I highlighted because they were so well said when it comes to still living when carrying so much pain.

thenextgoodbook.com
There There by Tommy Orange
290 pages

What’s it about?
This group of interrelated stories revolves around the Native American community in Oakland, Ca. All twelve characters are traveling to the Big Oakland Powwow for a variety of reasons.

What did it make me think about?
This novel was unique in that it did not take place on the Great Plains in the 1800's, not does it take place on a reservation. This is the story of twelve people that live in an urban setting and how being a Native American affects their life in the city of Oakland.

Should I read it?
So I will say that the hardest part of this book was keeping the characters straight. Don't despair- just read on! Tommy Orange succeeds brilliantly in making all these characters matter. Even if you are unsure who is who- you are still interested in knowing more. Jacquie Red Feather was one of my personal favorites, but so many of the characters were compelling. I would put this book up with any of the great novels that connect many short stories into one larger story. As soon as I closed the book I wanted to re-open it and start over. It's that kind of a book.

Quote-
"I want to bring something new to the Native experience as it's seen on screen. We haven't seen the Urban Indian story. What we've seen is full of the kinds of stereotypes that are the reason no one is interested in the Native story in general, it's too sad, so sad it can't even be entertaining, but more importantly because of the way it's been portrayed, it looks pathetic, and we perpetuate that, but no, fuck that, excuse my language, but it makes me mad, because the whole picture is not pathetic, and the individual people and stories that you come across are not pathetic or weak or in need of pity, and there is real passion there, and rage, and that's part of what I'm bringing to the project, because I feel that way too, ...."

If you like this try-
The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra
Transatlantic by Colum McCann
​Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann

Fantastic read. I loved all the characters and the way they all came together.

The author is fantastic at narrating a riveting first person experience that really puts you in the character's shoes. Setting the scenes as the characters are already in active motion, the reader does not just see through the eyes of a Los Angeles native but one with indigenous roots. This book would be a great read for insights on many book club topics and should be a must read for all suburban cookie cutter neighbourhoods.