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

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

3.0

The prose is gorgeous indeed and the book reads like an experiment in styles and a flexing of Vuong's craft. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is better described as a stream of conscious than an actual story, lacking a plot which isn't a complaint, some books like this don't need one.

But I do wish this could've had more prevalent character arcs as they all felt somewhat static which hampered the emotional impact for me. Little Dog feels less like a protagonist and more like a narrator. I did find his mother to be well realized though and she's arguably the real protagonist, despite the fact there are points where the narrative/stream of conscious drifts away from her.
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