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

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really struggled to read this not because it was written poorly, but because so many deep wounds Ocean described as a Vietnamese American were so real. His experience growing up in a family with deeply scarred people, with both physical and emotional abuse, with so much confusion and dealing with truths and hard realities that a child shouldn't have to face. It was a deeply powerful and transcendent read. The prose is beautiful, the poetry is poignant. The grief is palpable. It was a difficult book but an important read.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings