Wandering Stars

[Read 18/03/24] Tommy Orange's ability to make the voice of every chapter ring true and remain distinct while maintaining his sensibilities as a writer is such a talent.

While ‘Wandering Stars' feels less propulsive than ‘There, There' this book that acts as prequel, sequel and stand-alone is content to, well, wander. It worked. Spanning from the Sand Creek massacre in 1864 to the aftermath of ‘There, There' in 2018 it has a broader scope than the original novel but no less its depth of character. Chapter Eleven, written from the perspective of a mother speaking to her unborn child stood out so strongly that on finishing the novel I re-read that particular section again.

“I take solace in knowing my heart is still in my chest, that yours is in there too, beating like a drum waiting for its dancer, keeping me on my feet, ready for a rhythm, ready for what's next, because what's next is always coming.”

I'm so glad that Tommy Orange took a chance and tried something new for this book. I'll be eagerly waiting for whatever he decides to do next.