Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

346 reviews

inkdrinkermal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

 I think my 3-star rating is a product of timing rather than content, but it's difficult for me to separate the two right now.

The novel is beautifully written with vivid imagery and symbolism. The surrealness created by the time-skips is masterful.

It was also devastating - war, abuse, loneliness, rejection, death, animal cruelty, internalized homophobia. And there was very little happiness - and the happiness did pretty much nothing to counteract the constant tragedy. Little Dog seemed friendless, even when he was with friends.

It was probably not wise to read this book 9 months into the pandemic lock-down when I'm tired and sad all the time. I'd say maybe I'll give it another chance, but I don't want to. It made me too sad, and I'm tired of being sad right now. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

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

Internalized Homophobia within a queer relationship:

Little Dog's relationship was Trevor was upsetting because Trevor had so much internalized homophobia. He said "I'm not really gay, not like you, I'll be okay soon." and wouldn't allow Little Dog to top him because he "didn't want to feel like a bitch."

Abortion/pregnancy loss:

Rose had a late-term abortion because some pills she was given didn't work to terminate the pregnancy. The description of the abortion was graphic and upsetting

Animal Death: There are no pets that die, but animal death is described in graphic, gory detail throughout the book.

beccasbookcase's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Terminal illness

everlightly's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Excrement, and Dementia

Also uses homophobic slurs

hettyreads's review against another edition

reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, and Grief

Moderate: Addiction, Racism, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, and Excrement

skudiklier's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, Terminal illness, and Transphobia

Minor: Gun violence

translove's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

wow. the first time I read this book, it wrecked me. the second time, it wrecked me even more.

it's so raw and beautiful in its realness. it makes me think and feel. I think about love and family; war and my whiteness; language and connections; life, in general. I feel devastated and seen. I feel like the only thing holding me together is a flimsy belief that I didn't lose too much, but it's such a frail thing, this belief, that it crumbles between my fingers like the sand castles I built and then tore down when I was little. this novel feels like a punch in the gut and at the same time the air moving back into my lungs afterwards. it hurts and heals and that is the kind of art I always crave. thank you, Ocean Vuong.

"Days I feel like a human being, while other days I feel more like a sound. I touch the world not as myself but as an echo of who I was. Can you hear me yet? Can you read me?"

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Grief

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, and Domestic abuse