Reviews with content warning for Animal death - Brevemente risplendiamo sulla terra

Despite the beautiful and lyrical writing style of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, I found myself struggling to connect with the story. While I sensed an underlying important narrative, it felt overshadowed by the writing's pretentiousness, leaving me feeling lost amongst the prose. The scenes of animal torture were particularly disturbing and felt unnecessary. Overall, while I appreciate the author’s obvious talent, this book didn't resonate with me, and I didn't enjoy the experience as much as I had hoped.

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csmoke85's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
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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emptzuu's review against another edition

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The author's background in poetry is evident in the prose, but the narrative is marred by layers of seemingly profound yet ultimately nonsensical ramblings and literary flourishes. What begins as a promising plot devolves into a collection of disjointed stories, sacrificing coherence for poetic indulgence. The coming-of-age theme, while present, feels more like a backdrop for the author's poetic musings on suffering, both personal and observed. These reflections often feel hollow, despite the author's persistent attempts at profundity through elevated language.

The fragmented structure occasionally captures the erratic nature of memory and thought, but fails to coalesce into a cohesive whole. Though there are gripping moments, the absence of sustained narrative threads results in a loss of momentum. The inclusion of graphic content in a letter to the protagonist's mother feels jarring and inconsistent with the theme of trauma.

Sometimes, silence speaks louder than words.

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