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sheriffrockyraccoon's review against another edition
4.0
Especially now, everyone knows Ocean Vuong and his work. While I was familiar, this is the first time I’ve sat down and read one of his publications. His writing is absolutely beautiful and haunting, and can often be difficult to digest.
I don’t really have any criticisms of his work, I believe it has a strong voice and beautiful style, but I was not expecting the content to be so heavy and visceral. If you wish to read his work, make sure you are in a good headspace and take the time you need to process each poem, and care for yourself in the meantime.
I would recommend this to anyone interested in contemporary poetry. His work is beautiful, albeit incredibly depressing. I also think anyone interested in Woolf and Plath would greatly enjoy his work.
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
While these warnings are not explicit in their descriptions, the emotion and pain is there. Be cautious when reading.idesofmarch's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Drug abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
alondere's review against another edition
5.0
The novel title of his second book can be found here
Graphic: Drug abuse, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Terminal illness
Minor: Racial slurs and Violence
zackarinareads's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and War
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Drug abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism and Racial slurs
theinfinitebookcase's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, and War
emmaopaline's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and War
kia_y_k's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and War
gabbygarcia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
On nearly every page I went back and forth between loving and deeply disliking this book. At times I think it takes itself too seriously, especially in the first half (the second half is stronger, in my opinion). I did enjoy how the whole book felt like one long poem--the themes and verses often spilled into one another, complementing each other in thoughtful ways. However, some of the poems discussed too many things and could have been edited for clarity. They overflowed with so many images that it was hard to keep track of the main subjects. I also found myself frustrated with the way he wrote about women. I can't quite pinpoint why it made me so uncomfortable, but it did.
In his defense, Vuong is a master at crafting perfect lines--though they did not necessarily make whole poems great. Despite that, there are a lot of lines I will be coming back to for a long time, like:
Dear god, if you are a season, let it be the one I passed through / to get here ("Notebook Fragments" was excellent, one of my favorites from the collection)
and:
Know that I never chose/ which way the seasons turned. That it was always October/ in my throat/ & you: every leaf/ refusing to rust
and:
My son, tell them/ the body is a blade that sharpens/ by cutting
and:
Ocean. Ocean--/ get up. The most beautiful part of your body/ is where it's headed. & remember,/ loneliness is still time spent/ with the world.
and:
Red is only black remembering.
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Blood, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
skudiklier's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Sexual assault