Glenn’s review of There There > Likes and Comments

Nice review Glenn. Thanks!

I’m glad to read a more critical analysis of this novel! Though I loved it you make some good points including a super busy cast in a relatively short page count. I’m also with you that some of this can seem a bit too precious or writer’s exercise-y, though I think it worked a bit more for me than it did you. Here’s hoping his next one does something for us both!

A perfectly fair review. I remember being delighted by his honest takes - about pow wows, about contemporary realities - and finding it all so refreshing. I loved his voice. I loved his youth! Just like you, I'm very much looking forward to what comes next.

Fantastic analysis. To be honest, I can't remember much about it, and I only read it, well listened to it, last year.

Melanie wrote: "Nice review Glenn. Thanks!"

Thanks, Melanie. Was a tough one to write.

Matthew wrote: "I’m glad to read a more critical analysis of this novel! Though I loved it you make some good points including a super busy cast in a relatively short page count. I’m also with you that some of thi..."

Thanks, Matthew. Yours was one of the first raves that made me want to pick it up in the first place. And I'm glad I did.

Three-star reviews are the hardest to write, Glenn. I have not read this book but the issues you raised in this otherwise captivating story would have bothered me, too. Thank you for an careful critique of this book. Always a pleasure to read your reviews.

Charles wrote: "A perfectly fair review. I remember being delighted by his honest takes - about pow wows, about contemporary realities - and finding it all so refreshing. I loved his voice. I loved his youth! Just..."

Thanks, Charles. Agree totally about Orange's refreshing, honest takes. Prompted by this book, I added an "Indigenous" shelf on here. I've read far too few books by Native authors and that's simply not right.

Bianca wrote: "Fantastic analysis. To be honest, I can't remember much about it, and I only read it, well listened to it, last year."

Thanks, Bianca. The Opal-Jacquie passages will stay with me for a while. And the book got me to look up the Occupation of Alcatraz, which I'm ashamed to say I had never heard of before.

Laysee wrote: "Three-star reviews are the hardest to write, Glenn. I have not read this book but the issues you raised in this otherwise captivating story would have bothered me, too. Thank you for an careful cri..."

Thanks, Laysee! It's also hard to tell if my expectations were too high going in. Oh well. I'm glad I read it.

A fabulous assessment, very helpful to decide whether to read it or not. I think I'll read it, but later. It's been like four months I've read a five star novel, I'm despairing.
With lots of characters and multiple POVs, it can be hard to connect with characters. Still, it sounds like an interesting novel.

Excellent review, Glenn, and one with which I agree completely. WAY too many characters. I gave it 4 stars simply for the originality of it, but really only enjoyed it 3 stars worth too.

I disagreed with your review, but understand your rationale. I loved the way the novel was like a puzzle that needed the reader to assemble. And I thought the climax was perfect, unexpected, a little clumsy as you said, but then redemptive. Great stuff! Which books did you like better than this one from the past few years?

Asma wrote: "A fabulous assessment, very helpful to decide whether to read it or not. I think I'll read it, but later. It's been like four months I've read a five star novel, I'm despairing.
With lots of charac..."

Thanks, Asma! Definitely still recommend this book. Looking forward to Orange's next novel.

Paula wrote: "Excellent review, Glenn, and one with which I agree completely. WAY too many characters. I gave it 4 stars simply for the originality of it, but really only enjoyed it 3 stars worth too."

Thanks, Paula. Very original, and a promising new voice.

Pat wrote: "I disagreed with your review, but understand your rationale. I loved the way the novel was like a puzzle that needed the reader to assemble. And I thought the climax was perfect, unexpected, a litt..."

Thanks, Pat. I know I'm in the minority about this book. Great point about the puzzle. I always love it when authors let readers do the work – it's much more satisfying than if they spoon feed us everything. I appreciated the climax, but I think because of the structure I somehow knew it was coming, so there was less surprise. Offhand, I'd say I liked Americanah and Washington Black – which I both read in the past couple of years – more as novels. Thanks again for the comment.

Excellent review, Glenn. I'm in agreement with your critique. Too many voices diminished the impact for me, which was unfortunate.

Terrific review, Glenn. I agree with the points you make. I gave it a 3 as well - missed the mark for me, but I wasn’t sure why. You summed it up very well!

Another fine review, Glenn. I agree, it's problematic when you lose track of who's who because of the sheer number of characters. I've had that experience before (one time I remember in particular was Updike's Couples) and it's maddening! I'm glad you found things to enjoy, though.

Thanks for the recommends! I added them both to my list. I can see why people got frustrated with There There. I created a character map as the novel wore on, and it got more and more complicated, with lines connecting to other lines, etc. Ended up looking like an engine schematic. Anyway, always appreciate your thoughtful, articulate reviews. Keep em coming!

Great review.

Carol wrote: "Excellent review, Glenn. I'm in agreement with your critique. Too many voices diminished the impact for me, which was unfortunate."

Thanks for the lovely comment, Carol!

Dianne wrote: "Terrific review, Glenn. I agree with the points you make. I gave it a 3 as well - missed the mark for me, but I wasn’t sure why. You summed it up very well!"

Thanks, Dianne. It's strange. Some parts were 4 or even 5 stars, but I felt let down after the midway point, especially when the drummer Thomas Frank showed up.

Robin wrote: "Another fine review, Glenn. I agree, it's problematic when you lose track of who's who because of the sheer number of characters. I've had that experience before (one time I remember in particular ..."

Thanks, Robin. So interesting, because I was considering reading Couples this summer. Hmmm...

Pat wrote: "Thanks for the recommends! I added them both to my list. I can see why people got frustrated with There There. I created a character map as the novel wore on, and it got more and more complicated, ..."

Thanks, Pat. Wow, a character map! What a good idea, especially for this novel. I actually really liked how Edwin and Blue got along (but not in a romantic way). Hope you enjoy those other novels.

David wrote: "Great review."

Thanks, David. It's still worth picking up, and I'm glad I read it.

Great review, I completely agree about the confusing POVs, and I also found it extremely and unsettlingly violent.

Thanks for the comment, Jeff!

Great review and much of what you didn't like was hard for me as well (despite my liking it more than you).

I agree completely. The only reviews that count today seem to be your friends in Goodreads.

Ian wrote: "Great review and much of what you didn't like was hard for me as well (despite my liking it more than you)."

Thanks, Ian! Can't wait to see what Orange writes next. Hope you're well and that you get some solid reading done during the holidays.

cameron wrote: "I agree completely. The only reviews that count today seem to be your friends in Goodreads."

Thanks, Cameron!

This review is basically what I wanted to say, but much more eloquent and flushed out than I would have written.

Jessica: Thanks so much for the kind words!

Thank you Glenn for your review and points of contention. I had problems with this book for some of the same questions reasons. I had to constantly refer back to the cast of characters to remember who they were and how they fit in. I also did not like the ending and thought it was unnecessarily extremely tragic. I was also bothered by the impression that most Native Americans truly dislike Whites. That has not been my experience with Native Americans I have had business and personal relationships with.

Dwight: Belated thanks on your thoughtful comment.

Hi Glenn. I just finished There, There and I came right to your review. I agree entirely with everything you said! Loved the powerful opening and certain characters, but got so bogged down with the multiple storylines and POVs.

Mary Beth wrote: "Hi Glenn. I just finished There, There and I came right to your review. I agree entirely with everything you said! Loved the powerful opening and certain characters, but got so bogged down with the..."

Mary Beth: Thanks so much for the comment. I do think Orange has talent, and I'm looking forward to his new novel, Wandering Stars, which came out recently.

Fab review, Glenn. As usual, you have managed to be objective about what works, and why (and vice versa).
What has been interesting me lately, from a book reviewing perspective: what makes me get so ape-shit, after reading a story, that I let the subjective part of my experience completely take-over, to the point where I overlook the objective? (This has nothing to do with your review, by the way, it's just a question I've been pondering for myself lately). It's an interesting process, this "reviewing" business, isn't it?!

Thanks, Julie! Yes, it's something I think about regularly. We kid ourselves if we think we can approach something completely "objectively." The older I get, the more I've learned to trust my instincts and lean into my fan-boy enthusiasms. (If I'm feeling something, I reason, others must too.) Also, what I love about reading is LEARNING - and if some reviewer sheds light on something because of their subjective experiences, great!

Hopefully, those who read us know where we're coming from. That said, I always try to approach things with an open mind – easier in theatre, when you're basically stuck in your seat, than in literature or TV/streaming, when you can put a book down/keep browsing.