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bluemomo's review against another edition
5.0
On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
A recollection of emotion by Blue
I had so many thoughts about this novel when i finished to read it, but now they all seem meaningless.
Life should not be so poetic. Death, love, pain, anger, friendship, all part of one's life, all disgraceful.
Ocean Vuong wrote a novel, but delivered a poem, long 250 pages, long like the essence of life itself.
I had to pause frequently during the reading, phrases, words, letters so heavy i had to search outside, i had to ask strangers how to continue to read something that was slowly breaking me.
I never witnessed war, i never witnessed abuse from my own family, but i was once, also, someone who had so many words inside, but not the language to express myself, so i often stayed quiet.
And so now I'm using the same language of the author to write about a novel that even if so full of death and hate, still give the reader the stubborness of life and love. The purpose of life itself, we don't know what we have to do, but like the monarch butterfly we need to go forward, to find a new place, our place.
I'm thorn, because i loved the novel, but i don't know if i have the courage to reread it again, maybe it's too soon.
If you ever stumble upon a book shop and your eyes drop on this title, do yourself a favor, buy it and be enchanted by its tenderness and its ferocity, Its being human and inhuman at the same time.
A recollection of emotion by Blue
I had so many thoughts about this novel when i finished to read it, but now they all seem meaningless.
Life should not be so poetic. Death, love, pain, anger, friendship, all part of one's life, all disgraceful.
Ocean Vuong wrote a novel, but delivered a poem, long 250 pages, long like the essence of life itself.
I had to pause frequently during the reading, phrases, words, letters so heavy i had to search outside, i had to ask strangers how to continue to read something that was slowly breaking me.
I never witnessed war, i never witnessed abuse from my own family, but i was once, also, someone who had so many words inside, but not the language to express myself, so i often stayed quiet.
And so now I'm using the same language of the author to write about a novel that even if so full of death and hate, still give the reader the stubborness of life and love. The purpose of life itself, we don't know what we have to do, but like the monarch butterfly we need to go forward, to find a new place, our place.
I'm thorn, because i loved the novel, but i don't know if i have the courage to reread it again, maybe it's too soon.
If you ever stumble upon a book shop and your eyes drop on this title, do yourself a favor, buy it and be enchanted by its tenderness and its ferocity, Its being human and inhuman at the same time.
evyautumn's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.25
headinthebooks's review against another edition
2.0
2,5 stars
This book is beautifully written! The story is gorgeous! It such a good book about class, race, masculinity and sexuality!
The book can be hard to read in the beginning(it took me 3 times before I finished the book) simply because of the writing style but you just have to push through. I loved the first part of the story where you learn about the family. Then the second part came about this boy Trevor.. which in my opinion we didn't really need to have in that much details(but I understand why we have it!), and here I had to push through a bit.
I ended up crying in the end because of subjects and you fall for the characters! You both hate and love them! The main character could annoy me sometimes but others I loved him!
Each word has been polished to become so perfect that it can be so hard to take in. I love books that are messy and not every word is totally perfect(which this books is). That makes it really hard for me to read this beautiful book because I use my energy on taking in the beautiful word and not the story which I think is a shame.
I would recommend reading about some triggers or some warning before reading the book (;
TW: Addiction, war, drugs, sex, overdose, death.
This book is beautifully written! The story is gorgeous! It such a good book about class, race, masculinity and sexuality!
The book can be hard to read in the beginning(it took me 3 times before I finished the book) simply because of the writing style but you just have to push through. I loved the first part of the story where you learn about the family. Then the second part came about this boy Trevor.. which in my opinion we didn't really need to have in that much details(but I understand why we have it!), and here I had to push through a bit.
I ended up crying in the end because of subjects and you fall for the characters! You both hate and love them! The main character could annoy me sometimes but others I loved him!
Each word has been polished to become so perfect that it can be so hard to take in. I love books that are messy and not every word is totally perfect(which this books is). That makes it really hard for me to read this beautiful book because I use my energy on taking in the beautiful word and not the story which I think is a shame.
I would recommend reading about some triggers or some warning before reading the book (;
TW: Addiction, war, drugs, sex, overdose, death.
liinakaisa's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
miaolvr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.25
tsuntsun's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
zayla_13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
3.75