Play Book Tag discussion

There There addresses Native American stereotypes and what it means to be a Native American raised in a city rather than a rural environment. Orange's story takes place in Oakland, California and the title comes from the famous quote about rootlessness that Gertrude Stein made when, as an adult, she revisited Oakland, her childhood home. "There is no there there," Stein said.

The prologue acts as a short history lesson on the cruelty and historical portrayal of the American Indian. The plot slowly intertwines twelve main characters who share the single goal of attending the Big Oakland Powwow. Each character's role is gracefully portrayed, while building anticipation by foreshadowing an explosive ending to the novel.

There are moments of beauty, sadness and humor gives the novel its soul. Eventually, everything comes together to create a complex story where multiple storylines connect. Orange's writing really leaves an impression on the reader. The novel brings culturally and economically-marginalized people living in the cities today into the spotlight, and their perspective on their present situation is told through their own unique voice. I think he successfully presented to us a new voice for the contemporary Native community with a tremendous debut novel.

Great to see such a lovely review. I have this on my list for this month - if I can find where I buried it on my overcrowded shelves! It’s been on the ‘why haven’t you read me yet?’ list for such a long time. Looking forward to it even more now.

I loved this book. I know it has had very mixed reviews but it made my best of for the year I read it. He has a new one coming out this year which, I preordered.

I really enjoyed this one.