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A review by meliflowers
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
"All this time I told myself we were born from war - but I was wrong ma. We were born from beauty. Let no one mistake us for the fruit of violence - but that violence, having passed through the fruit, failed to spoil it."
I keep starting over and over. It's hard to put all of my thoughts into words. I'm mostly worried I'll end up putting too many of them.
I cried a few times and then frowned some times. Some of the scene coming dangerously close to my own experiences and feelings and other scenes so far removed from my world I had a hard time imagining them.
This book is filled with beautiful prose and I could quote a hundred things out of it. But the one I chose captures the essence of this book perfectly. It captures the reality of a Vietnamese boy growing up in the United States as a immigrant child. He explores various themes like war, trauma, abuse, addiction, immigration and racism but also gender and sexuality. Despite its heavy themes, the book is well balanced in its storytelling.
I picked this book up for its gorgeous title & cover and I don't regret it for one bit. I would recommend this as a mellow story, preferably read in a warm space with sunlight (the sun ought to compensate for some of the sadness you might feel).
I keep starting over and over. It's hard to put all of my thoughts into words. I'm mostly worried I'll end up putting too many of them.
I cried a few times and then frowned some times. Some of the scene coming dangerously close to my own experiences and feelings and other scenes so far removed from my world I had a hard time imagining them.
This book is filled with beautiful prose and I could quote a hundred things out of it. But the one I chose captures the essence of this book perfectly. It captures the reality of a Vietnamese boy growing up in the United States as a immigrant child. He explores various themes like war, trauma, abuse, addiction, immigration and racism but also gender and sexuality. Despite its heavy themes, the book is well balanced in its storytelling.
I picked this book up for its gorgeous title & cover and I don't regret it for one bit. I would recommend this as a mellow story, preferably read in a warm space with sunlight (the sun ought to compensate for some of the sadness you might feel).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, War, Xenophobia, and Homophobia