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

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I feel quite conflicted about this book. The language is absolutely stunning and so many scenes and phrases have attached themselves firmly jn my brain. I was captured by the many subjects touched upon, war, pain, immigration, language, queerness, love, addiction, generational trauma, mental illness, physical illness, race, and class, amongst many others. It’s a raw book that doesn’t shy away from pretty much anything. But it’s a mess full of shifting narrative povs, story lines, and character beats. At times it’s beautiful line after beautiful line but not much else, then followed by this bit and that one. It’s trying a lot of things but not everything works, and still this was an unforgettable read I can’t find myself regretting to read in the slightest.
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