On Saturday we had our usual vigorous discussion of our monthly selection at the Field Notes Book Group. Discussing Yellowface led us to questions about social media, about the world of publishing and whether the main character in the book was a sociopath or not (we think she probably was, for the record), and whether flat and even stereotypical characters in a book that’s meant to be a satire are effective or whether they weaken the power of the book as a whole.
After all that, we then turned our attention to our selection for July (!!), and had a very close vote, in which we ended up selecting our July book and also our August book (nice when it works out that way). The book for our July 20 meeting is There There by Tommy Orange, and there are already copies available at the Circulation Desk for anyone who’s interested.
There There gets its title from the famous Gertrude Stein quote about Oakland, California (“there’s no there there”), which is appropriate because the book focuses on a number of Native Americans living in urban areas who are all, for one reason or another, heading for a Big Powwow in Oakland. But it’s more than just a description of Oakland itself; the idea of being without substance is a deep part of what the author is exploring among the modern Native Americans, all of whom are, for various reasons, caught between worlds and cultures, trying to balance their current living situations with their histories and their understandings of their Native cultures. Though these characters each have their own reasons for coming to the powwow, they all end up together, with dramatic results. There There was widely acclaimed when it was first published, and made numerous “best of the year” lists.
It should also make for some exciting discussions among the members of this opinionated but respectful group of book lovers. Join us if you can.
Bookskill 