this is a certain style of contemporary novel (I think it would get described as "poetic") that I frequently encounter and never like. it tries to use language in evocative, unpredictable ways and the impression is one of unearned self-assuredness. there are plenty of moments where the prose is actively confusing or laughable because of the unnatural ways in which Orange tries to get it to perform. a good conceptual example of what I mean is the one random chapter in second person, which is the only chapter that uses this narration style and for seemingly no reason other than it comes across as artistic.

I appreciate Orange's attempt to write a novel describing the experience of Indigenous people living in urban settings, and the fact that There There is popular probably isn't bad. I'm a white guy so undoubtedly there are things that I'm missing. unfortunately, though, I just don't think this book is written very well.