yolie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.25
This book needs you to take your time. Although the novel appears slim it is quite tense in terms of the content and Vuong’s prose. Some chapters read more like short stories and long form poetry than a linear account. The book has moments of absolute hopelessness, you’re shattered by Little Dog’s accounts of growing up an Asian immigrant in America, gay and poor.
But there’s beauty in it too - a nod to the book’s title. Vuong/ Little Dog is able to hold so much compassion for people, he chooses to see them in their gorgeousness - irrespective of the brevity of that moment. Long after the novel is over you’ll keep coming back to certain phrases, marvelling at how stunning and lyrical Vuong’s writing is.
One of my favourite passages from the book reads:
“Because the sunset, like survival, exists only on the verge of its own disappearing. To be gorgeous, you must first be seen, but to be seen allows you to be hunted.”
But there’s beauty in it too - a nod to the book’s title. Vuong/ Little Dog is able to hold so much compassion for people, he chooses to see them in their gorgeousness - irrespective of the brevity of that moment. Long after the novel is over you’ll keep coming back to certain phrases, marvelling at how stunning and lyrical Vuong’s writing is.
One of my favourite passages from the book reads:
“Because the sunset, like survival, exists only on the verge of its own disappearing. To be gorgeous, you must first be seen, but to be seen allows you to be hunted.”
Graphic: Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Drug use, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Blood, Dementia, Drug abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Violence, Addiction, Racism, Toxic relationship, and War
Moderate: Abandonment, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Alcoholism, Vomit, Violence, Animal cruelty, Bullying, and Cursing
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Classism, and Biphobia
hettyreads's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Excrement, Terminal illness, Racism, and Xenophobia
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