Reviews

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

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tanisha97's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad

5.0

guime's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

aespaldon24's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The quality of the writing in this book is stunning, and I found myself tabbing and highlighting so many lines throughout the book. However, I did find myself a little bored throughout some parts, as there was very little plot to follow and it felt scattered towards the end.

leslieknope14's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

sunritz's review

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

caobooks's review

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4.0

Ocean Vuong knows how to place his reader, if only briefly, into the discomfort that has defined so much of his life. The discomfort of feeling utterly ashamed of where he comes from and what he feels. I highly recommend the audiobook read by Ocean, himself. His soft and delicate voice reverberates the emotionality of his becoming. I listened to much of this book while running, and dare I say the physical exertion was necessary to bear the painful parts. Someone give this man a hug.

“All this time I told myself we were born from war—but I was wrong, Ma. We were born from beauty. Let no one mistake us for the fruit of violence—but that violence, having passed through the fruit, failed to spoil it.”