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

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

5.0

Wow, this might be the most beautiful book I have ever read. The blend of poetry and prose was masterful; nearly every page had a sentence that made me stop in my tracks. The whole book felt like I was watching the author toss pebbles into a pond one by one and counting the ripples on the surface. It was so meditative and emotional and intimate and heartfelt and bittersweet; my eyes stung for a good portion of this novel. I can't believe that Vuong was able to write about love, family, war, addiction, violence, identity, and loss with such great nuance in under 300 pages. This was fantastic. I imagine that I'll keep thinking about this book for a long time to come. 
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