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A review by juwaria
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I read a review the other day complaining that the reader wanted some humour or anecdotes in this book, and that’s why they gave it a poor review.
I disagree. This book was so profoundly human. It was beautifully written, the pages jumped out at me in colourful metaphors and imagery that it felt like, as I was reading it, a movie was also playing out in front of my eyes. Not every story needs to make you laugh. Sometimes you just need to listen to or read a story and reflect on it, not everything is written merely for entertainment. It’s funny how we’re so accustomed to being entertained we expect an anecdote or something funny to make us feel less uncomfortable about a persons truth being laid out in front of us. This book contains every marginalised persons truths. Be it that they’re queer, born of an immigrant family, struggling working class or emotionally and physically neglected. The truths are laid out bare and unfortunately for some it’s uncomfortable but for a lot of us it’s knowing that even though we feel alone wrapped up in our diaspora and search for identity, we’re not as alone as we think.
I disagree. This book was so profoundly human. It was beautifully written, the pages jumped out at me in colourful metaphors and imagery that it felt like, as I was reading it, a movie was also playing out in front of my eyes. Not every story needs to make you laugh. Sometimes you just need to listen to or read a story and reflect on it, not everything is written merely for entertainment. It’s funny how we’re so accustomed to being entertained we expect an anecdote or something funny to make us feel less uncomfortable about a persons truth being laid out in front of us. This book contains every marginalised persons truths. Be it that they’re queer, born of an immigrant family, struggling working class or emotionally and physically neglected. The truths are laid out bare and unfortunately for some it’s uncomfortable but for a lot of us it’s knowing that even though we feel alone wrapped up in our diaspora and search for identity, we’re not as alone as we think.