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manadabomb's review against another edition
3.0
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong was a beautifully written novel. Written as a letter to his mother, Little Dog pours his heart out, knowing that his mother, who is illiterate, will never read his words.
Part fiction, part memoir, this tells the story of Little Dog’s grandma, Lan, who had to escape Vietnam during the war, of Rose, her daughter who works in a nail salon in Hartford, CT and manages to keep a roof over their heads. And of Little Dog, a gay boy who suffers abuse at his mother’s hands and falls for a white boy at age 15.
This was hard to listen to only because of how nothing was left to your imagination. Words were beautiful and brutal. I had to take breaks from listening to just breathe and separate myself from some of the brutality. It’s obvious Vuong is a poet, the novel reads almost like poetry. Even if this isn’t typically up your alley, it’s worth a listen. Just make sure you give yourself some time to breathe.
Part fiction, part memoir, this tells the story of Little Dog’s grandma, Lan, who had to escape Vietnam during the war, of Rose, her daughter who works in a nail salon in Hartford, CT and manages to keep a roof over their heads. And of Little Dog, a gay boy who suffers abuse at his mother’s hands and falls for a white boy at age 15.
This was hard to listen to only because of how nothing was left to your imagination. Words were beautiful and brutal. I had to take breaks from listening to just breathe and separate myself from some of the brutality. It’s obvious Vuong is a poet, the novel reads almost like poetry. Even if this isn’t typically up your alley, it’s worth a listen. Just make sure you give yourself some time to breathe.
minan2's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thisisthea's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
whatcassiedid's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was well written but hard for me to get through
leakleino's review against another edition
5.0
This is a work of art.
I don’t know what this is, but it is beautiful. Basically this whole book is a letter to the author‘s mother which makes this book feel like more of an essay, but it is definitely more than that. It is poetry. Scarred by generational trauma and a broken american suburbia. Read this. It will shake you to the core. It will make you feel like you were there. Just. Read. This. Periodt.
I don’t know what this is, but it is beautiful. Basically this whole book is a letter to the author‘s mother which makes this book feel like more of an essay, but it is definitely more than that. It is poetry. Scarred by generational trauma and a broken american suburbia. Read this. It will shake you to the core. It will make you feel like you were there. Just. Read. This. Periodt.
nikread84's review against another edition
3.0
This book is likely better read than listened to. With the audiobook, and the poetic nature of the writing, it was difficult to figure out all the layers of the story and how the characters interacted. I felt like the author would go back and forth between character stories, but with listening to the audiobook I wouldn’t catch that we were in another character story until I missed something probably significant.
tabbythereader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
cryingcowboy's review against another edition
5.0
As a person of color, this book made me admire my family’s history, as a queer person it made me admire their compassion. The poetic writing style is enough to make me reread this.
milli_pede's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
heartscomma's review against another edition
4.0
just finished review: is anyone feeling empty right now or is it just me