Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

452 reviews

k_lenn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Child abuse, Death, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, War, and Cancer

t0rixoxo's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

5.0

this book is so beautifully written. ocean vuong's writing style is so poetic and detailed that i truly felt invested in these characters.

on earth we're briefly gorgeous is about a gay, vietnamese-american and the letters he writes to his mother. these "letters" describe different parts of his life with her and other people in his life, such as his grandmother, lan, and his lover, trevor. through these letters we get a beautiful look on how the vietnam war affected his family.

definitely a 5 star book, ocean vuong's words touch a deep part inside of me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, and War

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual content

Minor: Miscarriage, Hate crime, and Vomit

delliomellidom's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It is a beautifully written book; I am in love with the author's prose. The story was non-linear, which made certain portions difficult to know where exactly they fit into the story.

I hadn't known there would be Graphic animal abuse and death. I could have done without it.

There is graphic sex, which was fine with me, but still a little unexpected.

This story is going to stick with me, and I don't doubt there are specific portions I'll be revisiting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, War, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Xenophobia, Drug abuse, and Homophobia

Moderate: Abortion

lizziesz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book was very well written, and the poetry background of the author shines. But it's a hard and challenging read in many ways.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Animal cruelty

ienbdri's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Addiction, Grief, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Cursing, Animal death, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Excrement, Drug use, War, Abortion, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Death, Cancer, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Mental illness

a1exander's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Animal cruelty, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Grief, War, Addiction, and Cancer

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Excrement, Sexual content, Animal death, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Car accident, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Violence, Racism, Alcohol, Bullying, and Mental illness

abbiemaines's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

Beautiful writing, but I did not deeply resonate with the content of with what was discussed so I didn’t feel as emotionally impacted as many others likely would. I felt empathy for the characters but struggled to connect with them

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse

emmaaadub's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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 definitely an experience. It is clear from the first page on that Ocean Vuong is a poet. There are so many beautiful lines in this book that are masterfully crafted. I wish I could write like him.

But aside from the writing, I missed a plot. It's not like nothing is happening, but I had no sense of direction or connection to guide me through the novel. 

I also didn't like the animal abuse that is described in too much detail, and I find it strange that there isn't a trigger warning for it. 

To sum up, I think Vuong is an amazing writer and I will definitely pick up his poetry in the future, but this novel wasn't really for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty

maxthebeetlesheep's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

A stunning book that i knew i would rate 5 stars from the very first chapter. absolutely captivating and such an important read. if i could only choose one book to read this year, it would be this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Grief, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Blood, Cancer, and Sexual content

Moderate: Car accident, Classism, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Medical content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Cancer, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Abortion, and Violence

Minor: Religious bigotry, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy

jesslhaigh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, War, and Drug abuse