You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
a beautiful, big-hearted novel. reminiscent of 'demon copperhead' in breadth of and love for the characters, and murakami in simplistic writing that cuts you to the core.
i already knew that anything ocean vuong writes will be amazing, but this novel surprised me. 'on earth we're briefly gorgeous' was haunting and raw, but was literary as much as it was memoir. writing what you know is one thing, but to construct a fully real, multi-dimensional, deeply moving novel that feels nostalgic and wistful for something i've never experienced-- now that's a feat.
i was a bit worried after reading the premise of this novel simply because it was not one i'd have picked up on my own to read. the story seemed interesting enough, but a bit lacking in being monumental. after finishing it, i can say this book isn't colossal, nor is it meant to be. it's meant to be for the simple, soft life we all lead. nothing grand happens, in fact not much happens at all. you live alongside the characters and get to spend time with them, as they make mistakes, grow, and become wholly real and indistinguishable from real life.
i cannot emphasize enough how great the characters are written. my former comparison to 'demon copperhead' is the highest compliment i can give. hai's voice, as all the others, is so singular it's a bit bittersweet to be inside his head so fully. my entire reading experience felt a bit like that; a bittersweet candy you get to enjoy until you slowly realize it's now shrunk to the size of a pea in your mouth. your own doing.
when the book was wrapping up, i wanted a happier ending. i'm normally not that person, but maybe it's the point and time i'm at in my life that made me irritated things couldn't have been completely tied up neatly for hai and sony. but isn't that life? it wouldn't have been true to the story to have everything work out exactly right. a simple life isn't like that. looking back, i like the ending. it's true to the characters, while giving them room to live on after the last page.
i'll be thinking about these characters and the feeling he's evoked for a while. this book will be a modern classic, mark my words. and vuong will be an author we talk about for generations.
i already knew that anything ocean vuong writes will be amazing, but this novel surprised me. 'on earth we're briefly gorgeous' was haunting and raw, but was literary as much as it was memoir. writing what you know is one thing, but to construct a fully real, multi-dimensional, deeply moving novel that feels nostalgic and wistful for something i've never experienced-- now that's a feat.
i was a bit worried after reading the premise of this novel simply because it was not one i'd have picked up on my own to read. the story seemed interesting enough, but a bit lacking in being monumental. after finishing it, i can say this book isn't colossal, nor is it meant to be. it's meant to be for the simple, soft life we all lead. nothing grand happens, in fact not much happens at all. you live alongside the characters and get to spend time with them, as they make mistakes, grow, and become wholly real and indistinguishable from real life.
i cannot emphasize enough how great the characters are written. my former comparison to 'demon copperhead' is the highest compliment i can give. hai's voice, as all the others, is so singular it's a bit bittersweet to be inside his head so fully. my entire reading experience felt a bit like that; a bittersweet candy you get to enjoy until you slowly realize it's now shrunk to the size of a pea in your mouth. your own doing.
when the book was wrapping up, i wanted a happier ending. i'm normally not that person, but maybe it's the point and time i'm at in my life that made me irritated things couldn't have been completely tied up neatly for hai and sony. but isn't that life? it wouldn't have been true to the story to have everything work out exactly right. a simple life isn't like that. looking back, i like the ending. it's true to the characters, while giving them room to live on after the last page.
i'll be thinking about these characters and the feeling he's evoked for a while. this book will be a modern classic, mark my words. and vuong will be an author we talk about for generations.
What a fuckin' drag. Everything Vuong has written since his Night Sky with Exit Wounds has somehow been more boring and lifeless than the last.
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated