There There

Discover Tommy Orange’s searing debut novel, following a multi-generational cast of characters as they gather for the Big Oakland Powwow. 'A thunderclap' Marlon James 'Astonishing' Margaret Atwood, via Twitter 'Pure soaring beauty' Colm Tóibín Jacquie Red Feather is newly sober and hoping to reconnect with her estranged family. That's why she is there. Dene is there because he has been collecting stories to honour his uncle's death, while Edwin is looking for his true father and Opal came to watch her boy Orvil dance. All of them are connected by bonds they may not yet understand. All of them are here for the celebration that is the Big Oakland Powwow. But Tony Loneman is also there. And Tony has come to the Powow with darker intentions. ** Shortlisted for the 2020 International Dublin Literary Award ** 'An exhilarating, polyphonic debut novel... Dazzling' Daily Telegraph 'Lyrical and playful, shaking and shimmering with energy... Orange creates beauty out of tragedy' Guardian 'Bold and engrossing... Orange has got under his characters' skins, allowing them to speak for themselves' Financial Times

Reviews

Good Times · Tommy Orange · 2025-08-30

thoughtful 4.50

The novel is recognized for its ambitious blend of storytelling and ideas, combining a thrilling plot with deep cultural and historical insights about Native American experiences.

Tommy Orange, the author himself, explains the novel’s success as stemming from its ability to marry a compelling story with a multitude of complex ideas. The book is praised for its innovative structure that mixes crime elements with character studies and nonfictional interludes. The reviewer emphasizes that the book resonates strongly due to its timing and cultural relevance, capturing the contemporary moment and offering a nuanced view of Native American identity and history. This layered approach provides both emotional impact and intellectual engagement, making it a standout work.

Quick quotes

It is both deeply affecting and thrilling in the way it barrels through an endless supply of ideas.

I definitely fell in love with the novel of ideas before I fell in love with the readable, fun novel.

The novel can be a vehicle for ideas, and it can happen in a 'Trojan horse' kind of way.

The Book Habit · 2018-09-28

engaging 4.50

The book is noted for its compelling narrative structure with 12 connected narrators, each adding depth to the shared exploration of Native American identity and history.

This review appreciates the novel's unique storytelling technique, which follows a dozen narrators whose lives and stories intertwine around a shared cultural event. The reviewer finds the approach effective in portraying the multifaceted experiences of Native Americans in an urban environment. They note the book's blend of fiction and essays enriches the narrative, offering readers both emotional engagement and educational insights. The reviewer indicates that the book successfully balances a complex narrative with accessibility, making it both thought-provoking and readable.

Quick quotes

There There details the journeys of its 12 narrators, connected through a variety of familial relationships and, more abstractly, a shared exploration of the Native American experience.

The novel barrels through an endless supply of ideas while still being a great story.

It is both deeply affecting and thrilling.

The Scotsman · The Newsroom · 2018-07-19

powerful 4.25

The novel is praised for its multi-narrative approach that deeply explores Native American identity and urban life, balancing a wide range of voices and experiences.

The review highlights the novel's strength in weaving together the stories of multiple narrators, each contributing unique perspectives on Native American life in contemporary urban settings. It recognizes Tommy Orange's skill in bringing to light the complexities and struggles of Native identity in a modern context, making the book a socially important and engaging read. The reviewer appreciates how the book challenges common stereotypes and gives a voice to a community often overlooked in literature. Overall, it is seen as a powerful and necessary contribution to contemporary fiction.

Quick quotes

A multi-generational, relentlessly paced story about a side of America few of us have ever seen.

The book explores themes of Native peoples living in urban spaces, and issues of ambivalence and complexity related to Natives' struggles with identity and authenticity.

There There was favorably received, and was a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize.

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