Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

604 reviews

tom_c's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Xenophobia, War, and Addiction

zeldazonks's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.0

I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author which was genuinely an incredible way to take in the book. However it did mean that it felt like a 7 hour poetry reading, so I had to pace myself and probably listen in more instalments than if I'd physically read it. Not that that detracted from the book in anyway, but it's worth bearing in mind. Overall incredibly beautiful writing and a devastating story, very meditative and hops back and forth through time so it feels almost dream like or like memory. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Animal cruelty, Sexism, Child abuse, Medical content, Addiction, Pregnancy, War, Sexual violence, Excrement, Cancer, Abortion, Homophobia, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse

marena02's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicide, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Deportation, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Colonisation, Drug use, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Vomit, Child abuse, Cursing, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Addiction, Medical content, Physical abuse, Animal death, Bullying, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Violence, Death of parent, and War

spookyaz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racism, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Dementia, Excrement, Homophobia, Violence, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

koiolee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

As we know, I'm a sucker for a book that breaks my heart and this book does just that. This story captures the experience of the invisible American. From the Asian-immigrant experience to the opioid crisis, this book covers so many topics in a short few pages. 
This book felt like staring into a mirror and for the first time seeing ourselves in the pages of a work that is almost unrelated to us, yet represents all of us. 
I really loved this book and I hope to read more of Vuong's work in the future. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Child abuse, Biphobia, Drug abuse, Racism, Grief, and Homophobia

pas_mater's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

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

1.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, and Sexual content

emlibe's review against another edition

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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Child abuse

sarahiev's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Addiction, Drug use, Sexual content, Grief, Domestic abuse, War, and Child abuse

Moderate: Cancer and Excrement

Minor: Abortion

paytonnmoore's review against another edition

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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Child abuse, War, Drug use, Homophobia, and Physical abuse

mel_muses's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

A beautiful novel full of nuance, grief, love, and ultimately self. This book is so vivid that I actually had to look up whether this was a memoir or novel. I may not have grasped everything, but I'm glad I read it and have this story to think back on. I know it'll stick with me.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, War, Addiction, Grief, and Mental illness

Moderate: Death of parent, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Bullying, and Excrement