lifewithmisskate's review against another edition
3.0
Glimpses of brilliance.
Glimpses of mediocrity.
Glimpses of mediocrity.
dcho's review against another edition
4.0
Very beautifully written, and you can tell Vuong's poetic abilities allow him to narrate this novel with a flowery language that is effective.
marthagregory11's review against another edition
4.0
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is the heartbreaking and raw account of Little Dog, the son of a Vietnamese immigrant. Written as a letter to his illiterate mother the story deals with the huge topics of war, domestic violence, same-sex relationships, the opioid crisis in the US and poverty. Each one is explored through his own experiences and the story of his family, giving a personal insight into both the trauma and tenderness that these topics encompass. The relationship between Little Dog and Trevor, the embodiment of the opposite of himself (white, gun touting, drug addicted), was the highlight of the novel for me. The tender and loving relationship shows that there can be beauty found in the unexpected and encapsulated the conflicting nature of the novel in showing both the beauty and trauma within Little Dog and his family’s lives. Vuong is known for his poetry and this beautiful prose weaves throughout the book creating a unique and organic debut novel.
giacarrara's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-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
4.5
oatylime's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Beautifully written.
I felt emotion build up in my chest while reading this. I don’t think I’ll red it again, but I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.
I felt emotion build up in my chest while reading this. I don’t think I’ll red it again, but I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.
kw1191's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
raiju's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Addiction, Cancer, Car accident, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Abortion, Alcoholism, Death, and Colonisation
nunulol's review against another edition
5.0
“i miss you more than i remember you” and what if i died