Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

This is a tricky book to rate. The format is quite interesting and unique, the story being broken up into little sections or "scenes", like little windows into the character's lives. While this sometimes made the narrative confusing and hard to follow, it was very effective in making the reader feel progressively more immersed into the character's lives, almost like watching a movie or a showreel of moments that on their own mean nothing, but together make a full, human picture. The writing itself was incredible and, I think, perfect for the type of story the author was trying to convey. The style was beautiful in its flowery descriptions and moving with its raw imagery. I didn't have a greater time reading this book because, while beautiful, it's also incredibly sad and depressing, so in order to preserve my sanity I kept myself from being as emotionally invested as usual. That, in itself, is proof of the quality of the book, since the story and its characters felt like real people. Overall, a great piece of fiction, I think useful for everyone to read at some point in their lives. Just be mindful of the dark subjects and trigger warnings.

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sarahrosea's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? N/A

5.0

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suchsweetsorrow89's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

I honestly have no idea where to even start. this book is a gorgeous and stunning portrayal not only of motherhood and queerness but also of trying to figure out where one fits and is viewed against the rest of the world. as someone who studies ancient greek and roman texts one of the biggest questions we see figures, politicians, poets, and philosophers of the ancient world grappling with is: where are we? in the midst of violence, chaos, war, destruction, plagues, and many other issues it is hard to figure out where one stands and is viewed in relation to the world around them. it isn't just a matter of different skin colors or class status-- but it is ultimately this idea of-- not 'us v them' but 'me v them' in this incredibly tragic, heartbreaking, and beautiful way. it was really what pulled me into the classics and leaned me more heavily into the romanticism movement. as a black woman, this 'me v them' cannot be understated-- especially when living in America (a country where I belong yet never will belong to). ocean vuong takes a contemporary approach to all of these factors in a way that I have never seen it done before. this book is intense and beautiful and tragic all at once.

I'm excited for what he has in store. my only critique on this book is that I think it would have been all the more powerful if it had been a bit shorter. but hey-- you're talking to someone who reads the odyssey and the illiad.

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