Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

3 reviews

astrangewind's review

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

Oh, I love books written by poets. Ocean Vuong's attention to detail - to the smallest pieces that define human existence - add color to an otherwise difficult world. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous flows from one chapter, one paragraph, one sentence to the next with such captivating language, such vivid imagery.

My one issue with this book, and with Vuong as a poet, is that the writing sometimes abstracts itself so far away that it is nearly impossible to tell what is happening. And maybe the point is to blur the lines between the real and the not, like between a dream and a memory - but it's damn hard to read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Grief

Moderate: War

Minor: Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Domestic abuse

reemoony's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

i used to be so pretentious when it came to giving books five stars. i thought they had to check this huge list of boxes, but they dont. if you enjoy a book, give it five stars. with that being said, i dont know if i enjoyed this book. it doesnt feel like a book you’re supposed to like, but you love it anyway. its gut-wrenching and hurtful and powerful and loving. it’s everything in the universe at once. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Racism, Medical content, Terminal illness, Violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Animal cruelty, Genocide, Hate crime, Sexual content, Addiction, Animal death, Cancer, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, and War

Moderate: Car accident, Excrement, Rape, Medical content, Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, Police brutality, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Sexism

badspringbye's review

informative reflective slow-paced

2.0

SIGH.. I really wanted to love this. Sadly, another major disappoint for this year's reads is one of my most anticipated books again. Instead of a ‘letter’, it felt more like a personal journal of the author full of scribbles that are sooo all over the place with very little plot. It was written with too much imagery that are too beautiful that the storyline appeared almost like nothing against it. Plain, common, unengaging.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Slavery, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Abortion, Bullying, and Gun violence