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A review by jenzhg
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
4.0
I love this book. In fact idek where to begin? The prompts and concepts in ‘On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous’ is simply…gorgeous! I’d definitely say check the trigger warnings because oh boy was i so unprepared…Being completely true to myself I think this book lies somewhere between a 3 to a 3.7 however that is only because I felt like some paragraphs were lost on me, maybe it’s because i’m not as exposed to the vast world of literature so I couldn’t properly grasp the references, or I’m just stupid. More on the writing, I felt that the prompts were great but it would often end abruptly with no explanation? Granted, he did state many times that it is a mess and is supposed to be however I felt that there were some unfinished prompts that were dropped halfway :-((
Moreover, I also think that the writing was sort of hard to follow. Of course the digestion of ‘On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous’ is very much subjective to a reader’s knowledge and experience—much like how beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I found the writing to be too (emphasis on too) abstract/poetic? It went to the point where amazing concepts were lost and muddled because of the “fancy” language. However, while some parts were extremely confusing, a large majority of the epistolary novel had me by the neck—it is a siren and I am its helpless sailor. Overall, the writing was, while a pain in the ass, so breathtaking, vivid and fluent that it had me physically reacting.
Ps: Looking back at this paragraph, this is very much a rant and I’m more so just explaining the things I’m dissatisfied with. Anywho, I think I would definitely reread this once I’m older. This book was a delight from beginning to end :-))
Pps: Much much much much love to Trevor
Moreover, I also think that the writing was sort of hard to follow. Of course the digestion of ‘On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous’ is very much subjective to a reader’s knowledge and experience—much like how beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I found the writing to be too (emphasis on too) abstract/poetic? It went to the point where amazing concepts were lost and muddled because of the “fancy” language. However, while some parts were extremely confusing, a large majority of the epistolary novel had me by the neck—it is a siren and I am its helpless sailor. Overall, the writing was, while a pain in the ass, so breathtaking, vivid and fluent that it had me physically reacting.
Ps: Looking back at this paragraph, this is very much a rant and I’m more so just explaining the things I’m dissatisfied with. Anywho, I think I would definitely reread this once I’m older. This book was a delight from beginning to end :-))
Pps: Much much much much love to Trevor