Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

45 reviews

buchstabenmaedchen's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
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

Content Warnings

lenni_sc's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark informative tense 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

3.0

Vielleicht geht in der Übersetzung zu viel verloren von dem was Ocean Vuong ausmacht. Anders kann ich mir die Begeisterung des Großteils der Lesenden nicht erklären. Das Thema ist so wichtig und interessant, aber die Hälfte der Worte hätten für mich gereicht. In seinen Gedichten mag die Schreibweise großartig sein, hier wirkte es (erstaunlicherweise) eher pretentious.

Das Grundkonzept des Romans ist meiner Meinung nach großartig: ein Brief, der von der Empfängerin nie gelesen werden wird, erzeugt eine emotionale Tiefe, die anders vielleicht nicht möglich wäre. Aber Umsetzung na ja.

Content Warnings

yolie's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark 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

4.25

This book needs you to take your time. Although the novel appears slim it is quite dense in terms of the content and Vuong’s prose. Some chapters read more like short stories and long form poetry than a linear account. The book has moments of absolute hopelessness, you’re shattered by Little Dog’s accounts of growing up an Asian immigrant in America, gay and poor. His one-sided and ill-fated relationship with Trevor makes me cautious (and sad) to say he is Little Dog's 'first love'. So much of their relationship is marred by Trevor's homophobia and recklessness.

I wish less time was spent on that relationship and more weight was given to the other significant relationships in his life and the milestones he achieves in his adulthood.

But there’s beauty in it too - a nod to the book’s title. Vuong/ Little Dog is able to hold so much compassion for people, he chooses to see them in their gorgeousness - irrespective of the brevity of that moment. Long after the novel is over you’ll keep coming back to certain phrases, marvelling at how stunning and lyrical Vuong’s writing is.

One of my favourite passages from the book reads:
“Because the sunset, like survival, exists only on the verge of its own disappearing. To be gorgeous, you must first be seen, but to be seen allows you to be hunted.”

Content Warnings

threeundertwopnw's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

mariafatima's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

as a first gen asian immigrant, this book hit so close to home. first, i need to praise ocean vuong’s splendid writing. he is a literary genius who writes words that hold so much power. every line in this book is poetic and absolutely beautiful.

this book explains the hardships of immigrants, the dynamic between many asian families, the way trauma haunts families for generations… this book presents a person who tries to navigate life when it throws them challenges after challenges. i felt seen through this book. this is a read i will never forget—it will forever occupy a special space in my thoughts & my heart.

Content Warnings