There There

by Tommy Orange
There There cover
Good Books rating 4.58
Contemporary Fiction
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Paperback • £9.99
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Technical
  • ID: 65
  • Added: 2025-08-30
  • Updated: 2025-12-13
  • ISBN: 9781473553392
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2018-07-05
  • Formats: 33
  • Reviews: 4

Tommy Orange's 'There There' is a searing and lyrical debut that brings together a diverse cast of characters, all connected to the Big Oakland Powwow. Each character has their own reasons for attending, from reconnecting with family to honoring a loved one's memory. The novel delves into the rich tapestry of urban Native American life, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the legacy of historical trauma. The narrative is both heartbreaking and hopeful, showcasing Orange's ability to create beauty out of tragedy. The characters' stories are told with a polyphonic voice that dazzles and engages, making this a standout piece of contemporary fiction. The book has been praised for its bold and engrossing portrayal of its characters, with critics highlighting Orange's unique ability to get under their skins and allow them to speak for themselves.

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.

Elizabeth Reads Books · Elizabeth · 2020-09-17
worthwhile 4.50

The book is recommended for its subject matter and the author's talent, offering a unique and powerful perspective on Native American life. The reviewer finds it to be a worthwhile read.

Elizabeth from Elizabeth Reads Books recommends Tommy Orange's debut novel, There There, for its subject matter and the author's talent. She finds the book to be a unique and powerful exploration of Native American life, offering a perspective that is both fresh and engaging. The reviewer appreciates the depth and breadth of the novel, which she finds to be a worthwhile read. She particularly notes the emotional impact of the story, which she finds to be both moving and thought-provoking. The reviewer highly recommends the book for its ability to convey the complexities of Native American experiences in a compelling way.

Quick quotes

    This book is definitely a worthwhile read, and I definitely recommend this one

    It's not only because of the subject that this is a great book, but also because of the talent of the author

    Beyond poetics of intergenerational, racialized violence, Orange's book bounces with well-executed flashes, as in this section, for instance

That's What She Read · Efsun · 2020-08-21
compelling 4.80

The novel is praised for its unique structure, which includes sharp essays that enhance the fictional narrative. The reviewer finds it to be a compelling and well-crafted exploration of Native American life.

Efsun from That's What She Read highlights the unique structure of Tommy Orange's novel, There There, which includes sharp essays that add depth to the fictional narrative. The reviewer appreciates how these essays enrich the story, making it a compelling and well-crafted exploration of Native American life. They particularly note the talent and content of the novel, which they find to be both powerful and thought-provoking. The reviewer highly recommends the book for its ability to convey the complexities of Native American experiences in a fresh and engaging way.

Quick quotes

    By putting two sharp essays at the beginning and middle of his fictional book, Tommy Orange has found the perfect way to enrich the story

    You just don't come across a dearth of Native art on your average reading list, and this book offers a unique and powerful perspective

    There There is a novel based in Oakland, California, and it is a different Bay Area than the reader might expect: gritty, working class, profane, revelatory

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.

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