Reviews tagging 'Child death'

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous - Di Semesta Ini Kita Pernah Gemilang by Ocean Vuong

38 reviews

nipsnpiss's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and War

starlit_pathways's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Homophobia, Grief, Drug use, Drug abuse, War, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Hate crime, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Vomit, Medical content, and Abortion

erinsbookshelves's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Violence, Bullying, Drug use, Addiction, Cancer, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Child death, and Abortion

oreo's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Homophobia, and Racism

kayleyhyde's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Racism

Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Racial slurs

Minor: Car accident, Child death, Excrement, Vomit, and Cancer

mandkips's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Racism, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

inkdrinkermal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

 I think my 3-star rating is a product of timing rather than content, but it's difficult for me to separate the two right now.

The novel is beautifully written with vivid imagery and symbolism. The surrealness created by the time-skips is masterful.

It was also devastating - war, abuse, loneliness, rejection, death, animal cruelty, internalized homophobia. And there was very little happiness - and the happiness did pretty much nothing to counteract the constant tragedy. Little Dog seemed friendless, even when he was with friends.

It was probably not wise to read this book 9 months into the pandemic lock-down when I'm tired and sad all the time. I'd say maybe I'll give it another chance, but I don't want to. It made me too sad, and I'm tired of being sad right now. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Child death, and Homophobia

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Cancer, and Death

Internalized Homophobia within a queer relationship:

Little Dog's relationship was Trevor was upsetting because Trevor had so much internalized homophobia. He said "I'm not really gay, not like you, I'll be okay soon." and wouldn't allow Little Dog to top him because he "didn't want to feel like a bitch."

Abortion/pregnancy loss:

Rose had a late-term abortion because some pills she was given didn't work to terminate the pregnancy. The description of the abortion was graphic and upsetting

Animal Death: There are no pets that die, but animal death is described in graphic, gory detail throughout the book.

scherezade's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

In some ways, this book is greater than the sum of its parts. Parts of the book dragged or were simply so intensely lyrical and abstract, I got a bit lost, but so much of the prose is so stunning and moving, it takes your breath away. I think this is a book worth rereading at various stages of your life. I'm glad to have read of it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and Xenophobia