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

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I really wanted to like this book but I couldn’t. It didn’t really have a cohesive story, just death and suffering backwards and forwards. It was way too metaphorical, like reading poetry that made no sense. Some bits were moving but overall it was just frustrating (and there was a really unnecessarily brutal bit involving a monkey).

Fave line “to be gorgeous you must first be seen, but to be seen allows you to be hunted.”
Expand filter menu Content Warnings