Reviews tagging 'Grief'

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

358 reviews

rachelmack__'s review against another edition

dark emotional 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Abortion, and War

mrdeadman'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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, and Grief

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Mental illness, Blood, Medical content, and Colonisation

cryptidcas's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Despite the heavy content in this book, the way Vuong communicates the trauma of his life experience has made me reread this book several times (an accomplishment for my short attention span).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and War

generational trauma

gigimussolin's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Homophobia, Grief, Abortion, and War

akisamukaga's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Grief

kathrinellis's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.5

Very touching and unique story about loss, first love, struggling with your family and sexuality, migration, addiction, the Vietnamese war and (emotional) abuse. Also, the title is immaculate.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, and War

lauradanby's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This novel is heartbreakingly beautiful - and in a way it is hard to call it a novel. It is a series of snapshots of time and memories written more in the style of poetry than narrative. 

At times a difficult read, but definitely a necessary one. 

In the aftermath of the Vietnam war, the story follows Little Dog as he writes a letter to his mother, knowing that the language barrier pushes them further apart when he tries to get closer. This is an insight into his life as a Vietnamese immigrant in America. It is raw and confronting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Violence, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent

lmshearer's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

The language of this novel, the debut from poet Ocean Vuong, mesmerizes the reader in its beautiful prose, nearly misdirecting from the equivalent pain disclosed by the writer. Framed as a letter from a son to his mother, Vietnamese immigrants in New England, the novel weaves memory and trauma together with themes of identity and coming of age in a fascinating, provocative way.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Grief, and War

anotheranomaly_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, and War

joensign's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, and Grief

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Domestic abuse

Minor: Abortion