Tommy Orange follows 'There, There' with 'Wandering Stars'
Mar 8, 2024
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Tommy Orange discusses his new book 'Wandering Stars,' a sequel to 'There, There,' exploring Native American identity and historical narratives. He shares his inspiration from a museum visit in Sweden and the challenges of focusing on his protagonist's ancestors amidst intergenerational struggles and writing origins.
'Wandering Stars' explores the aftermath of the Sand Creek Massacre through generations, highlighting themes of addiction and family ties.
'There There' breaks stereotypes by portraying diverse urban Native American experiences, aiming to counter historical misperceptions.
Deep dives
Tommy Orange's Journey to Writing
Tommy Orange, growing up in Oakland with a Cheyenne father and a white mother, found his passion for reading while working at a bookstore after college. His transition from reading to writing felt natural, leading to his debut novel's publication. Despite his initial discomfort with fame, he made efforts to promote native stories at events like book expos.
Challenging Native American Stereotypes
In 'There There', Orange breaks stereotypes by portraying urban Native Americans with diverse connections to their culture. He aims to humanize and represent a range of experiences to counter historical misperceptions. Through a blend of fiction and non-fiction, Orange highlights the complexities of contemporary Native life.
Wandering Stars: Sequel and Struggles
Tommy Orange's 'Wandering Stars' delves into the aftermath of the Sand Creek Massacre through generations, tracing the impact on Jude Star's family. Facing the pressure of a sequel after the success of 'There There,' Orange explores themes of addiction, cultural erasure, and family ties. Through his writing, Orange seeks to shed light on historical injustices and the enduring presence of Native Americans in society.
Tommy Orange's debut novel, There, There, centers several Native American characters grappling with identity in the bustling city of Oakland, California. In today's episode, we revisit a profile of Orange reported by NPR's Lynn Neary in 2018. Then, Orange joins NPR's Scott Simon to discuss his new book Wandering Stars, a sequel to There, There that stretches across time to follow a survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864. Orange explains how an image he saw in a museum in Sweden introduced him to this historical narrative, and why he decided to focus on his protagonist Orvil's ancestors.
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