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On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
Author: Ocean Vuong
Brilliant, heartbreaking, tender, and highly original - poet Ocean Vuong's debut novel is a sweeping and shattering portrait of a family, and a testament to the redemptive power of storytelling — On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. Written when the speaker, Little Dog, is in his late twentie...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780525562047
ISBN-10: 0525562044
Publication Date: 6/2/2020
Pages: 256
Rating:
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 2

3.5 stars, based on 2 ratings
Publisher: Penguin Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 19
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

debbiemd avatar reviewed On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous on
Helpful Score: 2
debut novel written by a poet. Beautiful lyrical prose and some sections are poems. Written like one long letter to his mother (who does not read or speak English) but tells the story of their family and covers many themes and subjects. It is not plot driven but the story comes out in bits and pieces interposed among various stories and themes. The author was born in Vietnam and grew up in Hartford Connecticut. Section I is his mother and grandmother's story in Vietnam and the effects of the Vietnam war, his American grandfather, the ravages of war through the years to present day nightmares. Section II is his teenage years in CT, his sexual coming of age, poverty, growing up an immigrant, his mother's job in a nail salon, prejudice, abuse. Section III is college in New York. And death. Death of his grandmother and death of his high school boyfriend from drug overdose. Lots of drug overdose. But the beauty is that interwoven through this story of tragedy, prejudice, abuse, war, death, loss is this feeling of love. Especially the love between the author and his mother, but also his grandmother, his American grandfather, his boyfriend. So with all the awfulness there is also love and beauty. Written in beautiful lyrical prose style.
Read All 1 Book Reviews of "On Earth Were Briefly Gorgeous"


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