"There, There" by Tommy Orange
This book is fiction, but the people are real.
READ REVIEW BELOW
My friend and I have started a two-person book club, and “There, There” by Tommy Orange was her first pick. Orange had me so hooked at the first chapter, that immediately after reading it I texted my friend, “Uhm… this is really good.”
Without giving too much away, you find out that the book is about Urban Indians - their struggles with identity, dealing with their ancestral past, and attempting to learn their own culture. Orange does this by telling multiple stories, each from a different character’s point of view. It’s a book anyone in a minority (whether it be race, gender, or class) can identity with. Even if it isn’t a story you can identity with, it brings about an awareness that can sometimes be fleeting. For instance, I didn’t even know there was a term “Urban Indians”, and I have never once thought about their lifestyles in cities.
When I realized how ignorant I was, I felt ashamed given that I’m a quarter Native American. I suppose the culture wasn’t passed down our family, but is obviously still a very present culture for others today. As Orange describes in his stories - each character expresses their heritage in different ways and in themselves are very different people. However, they all share a common theme in that they all have a drive and commitment in their identity, in being Native American. This power emits from the pages so strongly, you can’t help but admire and respect the unity this brings.
I was astonished when I learned this was Tommy Orange’s debut novel. Absolutely incredible. I am really looking forward to another book of his.
| Pub Date: June 5, 2018 | Page Count: 294 Pages | ISBN:0525520376 |