Reviews tagging 'Death'

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

780 reviews

dniespal's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Written exquisitely. Reads like poetry. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, and War

sammykat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

4.75

This book will stay with me for a long time.
In parts beautiful, in parts funny, in parts harrowing. The storytelling is done through letters containing memories, stories and vignettes from the protagonist and his family. The imagery is gorgeous, with each thing described in detailed metaphors invoking real life, emotions, time periods. 
Although some parts are upsetting, the book is also uplifting and hopeful. It speaks of better futures.
 

The LGBT+ elements were beautifully done, sensitive and believable. Similarly, the drugs, pain and deaths were not just plot points to move the story on, but integral elements of the world Vaugn is building for us.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Death, Violence, and War

deestreet's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual content, and Car accident

Moderate: Death

Minor: Death and Grief

sdvora's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and War

camifestari's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

raw and beautiful~

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Animal cruelty

catandherbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Was worried I would like this book as much as everyone seems to but it was a lot better than I thought. Gorgeous writing and a cast of characters you can't help but to root for even when they aren't great people. 

A beautiful, tender take on a mother-son relationship and on how the things we don't tell shape us in so many ways. 

And the title?? I think it makes  sense once you've read the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Terminal illness

Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Blood, and Abortion

branson03's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A lovely and eloquent read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and War

megold12's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

3.5

I appreciate the lyricism of the writing and how Vuong contrasts it with visceral imagery of war, drugs, and sex - but it got too much for me at times. Just not what I like to read, but very good writing. I wish it was shorter - the beginning was very impactful and I wanted to recommend it to everyone but by the point I had about 3 hours left of the audiobook I was ready to be done.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and War

ameliasbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

More thoughts to come.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, and Deportation

Moderate: Gun violence and Car accident

modryzamek's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Alcohol, and War