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

challenging dark informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Incredible – simply incredible. Again, the author of this masterpiece makes me think about the double meaning. Incredible – not unbelievable, but, in fact, astounding, marvellous. Breath taking. 6/5. 

A stroke of luck that this is such a good book. Not for the author, no. That would be diminishing the author’s talent. I meant for me because my track record with modern literature is horrible. Most of what I’ve read so far that has been published in recent years, is words, ordered into sentences without any care for plot, characters, or any other meaning. 

This (and I do not want to say ‘by comparison’, because this book stands so far apart from anything else) is a masterpiece. Each sentences forces itself to be read again and again, and with each read, you find a different, a deeper meaning. The mastery of the English language is beyond anything I’ve read from modern authors, and in some cases, even better than found in my beloved classics. 

Usually, when I read a good book, I slap 4+ stars on it and let the book speak for itself. But that would be a disservice in this case. 

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