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

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

So... To sum up my experience with this book, I would say Vuong is a much better writer than he is a storyteller.
I know this novel is partially inspired by his life, and therefore doesn't give much room for invention and innovation, but I think it could've been crafted in a more personal way. What I mean is I haven't formed an attachement to any of the characters, nor have I felt emotional when some of them passed away or had terrible situations thrown at them. The story is crafted almost as if to impress the reader, but doesn't convey the emotion it was meant to, at least for me (and I'm a cry-baby).

I did cry reading this book, but only because of Vuong's stellar prose (and the relatable aspect of some passages), which is this novel's saving grace. Some of his one-liners are simply heartwreching. So many quotes in this book suffice to make my eyes well-up, he truly put every effort in the very craft of writing.
I'm looking forward to reading Vuong's poetry, which I can already tell to be magnificent, but I was definitely disappointed by this novel.