Tommy Orange’s debut novel, “There There,” is a glimpse into the urban life of Native Americans told through the voices of 12 characters heading to the Big Oakland Powwow in California. The distinguishing theme of the novel is the focus on urban Native Americans, who Orange writes are more comfortable with “the sound of the freeway better than they are the river.”
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Written from a third-person perspective, each chapter focuses on a distinctive character whose voice remains unique, standing out from all the others. It is not a novel rife with typical stereotypes, but one that explores the struggles of Native Americans in an urban setting through the eyes of complex characters — from half-Native Edwin Black who has no connection with his Native American father to Jaquie Redfather, whose battle with addiction is a constant struggle.
The novel began strong, with a prologue that pulled me in quickly, delivering a brief synopsis of Native culture and history as a reminder of the brutal experiences endured by Native people. However, Orange lost me and got me back at various points throughout the story.
While I understand that a large number of characters was necessary to show a depth of experiences, it was a lot to take in. Once it is revealed how their lives are connected, the story became more solid. Before that, it almost seemed as though I was reading a series of short stories.
Final thoughts: Would I read it again? Yes. Would I recommend it to someone else? Definitely.
