Sunrise by Téa Obreht review - secrets and myths in the American west

In her latest novel, Sunrise, Téa Obreht returns to the American west, a territory she first explored in her second book, Inland. The novel is a complex web of narratives, landscapes, and speculative fictions, characteristic of Obreht's writing style.

The story begins with Nina Terzic, a postgraduate student, who finds herself stranded in a ghost town in Wyoming after a plane crash. As she explores her surroundings, she discovers a hidden body and a manuscript that becomes the central plot device of the novel. The sequence that follows is a part of the manuscript, which takes place in 1902 in the mountain town of Sunrise. The story revolves around Anton Vargas, a man with a mysterious aura, and his connection to the town's deputy, Fred Kipley.

The novel's central section moves a century forward to 2003, where the town of Sunrise is now a ghost town, attracting tourists. We meet Colin Yard, a man who has made a living by re-enacting the Vargas story, and Louise Hawley, a writer who has written a novel about Vargas. The two characters engage in a battle over the ownership and interpretation of Vargas's story, raising questions about the power of storytelling and the ownership of history.

Throughout the novel, Obreht explores themes of courage and cowardice, idealism and pragmatism, and the way history is recounted. The novel's portrayal of Colin Yard's gradual descent into villainy is a brilliant piece of theatre, and the author's use of multiple timelines and narratives adds depth and complexity to the story.

However, the novel is not without its flaws. Some readers may find the loopholes in logic in Nina's portions of the narrative to be distracting. Nevertheless, Sunrise is an engrossing, original, and thought-provoking novel that is effortlessly readable and beautifully told.

### The Power of Storytelling

Obreht's portrayal of the power of storytelling is a central theme in the novel. Through the characters of Colin Yard and Louise Hawley, the author raises questions about who gets to own and interpret history. The novel highlights the tension between those who seek to control the narrative and those who seek to uncover the truth.

### The American West

The novel is set in the American west, a territory that Obreht first explored in her second book, Inland. The author's use of the American west as a backdrop for the story adds depth and complexity to the narrative, and raises questions about the power of place and the way it shapes our experiences.

### The Complexity of Human Nature

The novel's portrayal of human nature is complex and multifaceted. The characters of Colin Yard and Louise Hawley are particularly well-developed, and their struggles with courage and cowardice, idealism and pragmatism, are deeply relatable.

### The Importance of History

The novel highlights the importance of history and the way it is recounted. Through the characters of Colin Yard and Louise Hawley, the author raises questions about who gets to own and interpret history, and the consequences of getting it wrong.

### A Brilliant Piece of Theatre

Obreht's portrayal of Colin Yard's gradual descent into villainy is a brilliant piece of theatre. The author's use of multiple timelines and narratives adds depth and complexity to the story, and raises questions about the power of storytelling and the ownership of history.

### A Thought-Provoking Novel

Sunrise is a thought-provoking novel that raises important questions about the power of storytelling, the ownership of history, and the complexity of human nature. The novel is effortlessly readable and beautifully told, making it a must-read for fans of Obreht's writing style.