A review by dawntin
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

dark 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

5.0

Ocean Vuong tackled a lot in this novel—generational trauma, sexuality, and the immigrant experience—and he did it beautifully. The balance between prose and the more flowery parts of the book was brilliant. I enjoyed the animal imagery and how Vuong related it to his character’s story. The plot centers on the experiences of a Vietnamese family, but one particular section read like William Faulkner’s writing with the stream of consciousness, and it’s in these unexpected moments when the book truly shines as an American novel.
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