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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautifully written slice of life novel about a son of immigrants and his fight to figure out where he fits in. Taking place in Connecticut, Hai meets Kryzyna, an old woman struggling with her memory. hai is struggling with addiction, and moves in with Kryzyna to help take care of her. Hai gets a job with his cousin Sony at a local restaurant where Hai slowly begins to find people who care about him and he finds the beauty in life. Lyrically written and lots of interesting commentary on memory, children of immigrants, and how to find meaning. Chapter 13 takes place in a slaughterhouse, hard read. I like how accurately portrayed these characters are- Hai isn’t trying to fight his addiction and continues his lies to his mom, his cousin picks up more than people expect him to, and the characters are really compelling.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So beautifully written! These characters will stay with me for a long, long time. I’d give it 4.5 stars.
Content Warnings
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
“Tu esi mano draugas.”
4.5 ✨
I do believe this book is in many manners a literary feat. Jam packed with humans’ hurts and hearts and Vuong’s cutting cultural observations. And still, I wanted the synthesis of it all to be just a teensy weensy bit better. Though a majority of the passages were amazing, some felt like they were trying too hard and I was taken out of the story. I really enjoyed the symbolism and repeated imagery/bits/themes/quotes, but, though most were done strategically and tenderly, others were so overt they felt tawdry (even though parts of me knew it could have actually felt substantive). There was certainly oomph and I loved the way so many of these characters and their struggles were treated with a delicate and husky esteem… it just didn’t wow me. For me, the story was more poignant than the book was excellent. (Does that make sense??) I can’t really articulate my thought on this any better right now and that’s on me.
Nevertheless, I will be thinking of Hai, Grazina, Sony, and all for such a long time (especially as my heart strings were capital P-plucked). Vuong is exceptional at portraying the nuance of human relations. And setting, too! The portrait of small town New England was marvelous and so well done that the nostalgia was painful. I was transported to 2010. The humor baked in was fun, especially paired with sentences so flowery you are stopped in your tracks. Truly, I have too many quotes I’d like to share and gawk at (in speechless adoration) or bawk at (cause there’s no way writing can be that good!!!!). The wit + dysphoria + found family combo was compelling and the way he integrated so many themes on labor/class, addiction, mental health, and elderly care and dignity was commendable. Some raw homo sapien shit, here!
4.5 ✨
I do believe this book is in many manners a literary feat. Jam packed with humans’ hurts and hearts and Vuong’s cutting cultural observations. And still, I wanted the synthesis of it all to be just a teensy weensy bit better. Though a majority of the passages were amazing, some felt like they were trying too hard and I was taken out of the story. I really enjoyed the symbolism and repeated imagery/bits/themes/quotes, but, though most were done strategically and tenderly, others were so overt they felt tawdry (even though parts of me knew it could have actually felt substantive). There was certainly oomph and I loved the way so many of these characters and their struggles were treated with a delicate and husky esteem… it just didn’t wow me. For me, the story was more poignant than the book was excellent. (Does that make sense??) I can’t really articulate my thought on this any better right now and that’s on me.
Nevertheless, I will be thinking of Hai, Grazina, Sony, and all for such a long time (especially as my heart strings were capital P-plucked). Vuong is exceptional at portraying the nuance of human relations. And setting, too! The portrait of small town New England was marvelous and so well done that the nostalgia was painful. I was transported to 2010. The humor baked in was fun, especially paired with sentences so flowery you are stopped in your tracks. Truly, I have too many quotes I’d like to share and gawk at (in speechless adoration) or bawk at (cause there’s no way writing can be that good!!!!). The wit + dysphoria + found family combo was compelling and the way he integrated so many themes on labor/class, addiction, mental health, and elderly care and dignity was commendable. Some raw homo sapien shit, here!
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
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
I really wanted to like this more than I did.
There were moments that truly stayed with me especially the story between Hai and Grazina, which I really loved. Their connection felt raw, intimate and beautifully written. Those sections kept me completely invested.
That said, I often felt pulled out of the story whenever it shifted to Hai at work with the other characters.
Those parts didn’t pull me in the same way and sometimes felt empty, breaking the emotional momentum I had with the central relationship.
I’ve read Ocean Vuong before, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is one of my favorites and I also loved Time Is a Mother so I had high expectations for this book.
While his writing is stunning and his exploration of human connection is deeply moving, for me this one worked best when it focused on the personal and emotional core.
Still, it’s worth reading if you appreciate delicate, heartfelt storytelling even if it didn’t fully hit the mark for me. ❤️
There were moments that truly stayed with me especially the story between Hai and Grazina, which I really loved. Their connection felt raw, intimate and beautifully written. Those sections kept me completely invested.
That said, I often felt pulled out of the story whenever it shifted to Hai at work with the other characters.
Those parts didn’t pull me in the same way and sometimes felt empty, breaking the emotional momentum I had with the central relationship.
I’ve read Ocean Vuong before, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is one of my favorites and I also loved Time Is a Mother so I had high expectations for this book.
While his writing is stunning and his exploration of human connection is deeply moving, for me this one worked best when it focused on the personal and emotional core.
Still, it’s worth reading if you appreciate delicate, heartfelt storytelling even if it didn’t fully hit the mark for me. ❤️
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
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