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caseyaonso's review against another edition
3.0
this definitely falls into the category of book where I can appreciate the themes explored in this and how beautiful the writing is but also admit i just don’t think this writing style is for me. It's very poetic and flowery(? not even sure I want to categorize it as that but it's the best I can come up with rn) which I think is just one of those "either it works for you or it doesn't" situations, not a fault of the book whatsoever. Some people find that meandering element helpful in really immersing themselves into the story while for others it can be a bit dizzying and have an adverse effect, I think im just in the latter group!
soupgirl9's review against another edition
4.0
i made my therapist read this so we could suffer together
franklyfrank's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.25
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