By Avia Stoller —
Book enthusiasts recently met virtually to discuss Tommy Orange’s debut book There There, as
part of the DEI Diversity Book Discussion series. The novel is a work of political fiction that follows the
lives of several individuals with Native American roots. It takes place in Oakland, California and
is set over several hundred years, from the colonization of North America up to contemporary
times. There There touches on topics such as identity, oppression, and generational trauma.
Attendees discussed the topics, characters, and themes in connection with their own lives and
experiences. The discussion was also supplemented by questions focused specifically on the
book.
An important part of the discussion centered on a conversation addressing the title of the novel. Janelle
Allen, a participant in the discussion, discussed the nature of the title. “There there” is often a
phrase expressed as an attempt to comfort someone, but as the discussion group highlighted,
the phrase was not used this way in the book. Instead, as Brea McQueen stated, the phrase
seemed to mean or imply “it is what it is.” The title serves as a preview of the grim nature of the
book, which was discussed about later in the session.
Attendees also mentioned the many characters in the book. The focus was especially on how
the way the characters were raised impacted their lives and the decisions they made. Brea
McQueen pointed out how Blue, a character in the novel, was adopted into a white family, which
had this very effect. Blue has Native American roots and was raised in a suburban, white
neighborhood, and the conflict from these identities is both a relatable experience to many
readers, but also a way of understanding her decisions throughout the book.
Members of the discussion also pointed out how characters such as Blue in some ways
mirrored their own lives or the lives of people around them. This idea also tied into the impact of
generational trauma and how patterns of destructive behaviors, such as alcoholism, stemmed
from generational pain. The premise of the book, and how Orange follows multiple characters
throughout generations, allows for the topic of generational trauma to truly be visualized. An
example of this is Jacquie Red Feather and her family, as Jacquie struggles with alcohol abuse
after experiencing a traumatic event. Readers can see how this event filters through the
generations that come after Jacquie.
A question raised by Brea McQueen in the book discussion was how the gentrification of
Oakland, California, the setting of the book, impacts indigenous communities in real life. Brea
McQueen pointed out that Oakland has a large Native American population, which was a
surprising fact for all participants. Janelle Allen added that the prejudiced view of Indigenous
peoples globally has stunted areas such as preventative healthcare, as Native Americans’
technology in this area was ignored and discredited. The attendees of the event then discussed
the exotification of Indigenous people shown through the book and in real life.
Concluding the event, Brea McQueen asked attendees what they believe the implications are of
depicting marginalized communities in a negative way, such as There There does for the
characters in the book. John Burke pointed out that a more negative light gives the characters a
more realistic touch, and “gives an appreciation of what happens.” McQueen recited the phrase “every story is a good story” in connection to Burke’s thoughts. After the last question, the
attendees said their goodbyes, ending the event.
A book discussion is a way to self-express, think critically about issues, and connect with others
who are equally interested in books and similar topics. If you are interested in attending one of
these discussions and other events from Miami Regionals Libraries and the Center of Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion, check out this link: https://miamioh.edu/regionals/student-resources/center-for-diversity-equity-inclusion/index.html?_ga=2.56266925.765751722.1731530656-268695788.1731530656.
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