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Review: "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" by Ocean Vuong

 

    

My first five star read ever and of 2022! 

    I LOVED "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous". This book.. is incredible. Beautiful. Whimsical. I don’t even know how to put into words how much I love Ocean Vuong’s lyrical writing, how he can say things so simply yet so deeply at the same time- how he manages to strike a chord with the soul every few pages. I found myself always having something to quote, something to take a picture of. His writing touched me deeply and left me wanting even more pages to go through of this beautiful book.

“Too much joy, I swear, is lost in our desperation to keep it.” 
― Ocean Vuong

    I will definitely be purchasing a copy of this book in the future just so I can fill it with tabs of my favorite quotes that I want to go back to. Not only did he make such poetic remarks, but the story that was told was told so well, so detailed. This book brings with it a unique feeling, and if you’re a fan of whimsical/dreamy music, poetry, or dabble in surrealism in any way, shape, or form- you will really appreciate this book. I don’t even know what else to say besides, read it. It profoundly touched me in a deep way that a book has not done for me in years. I can relate to so much of Vuong's words, his emotions... his prose is unlike any other. 

    I am absolutely going to read everything else Vuong writes, as I believe he is definitely an author to keep an eye on for the future. 

“Is that what art is? To be touched thinking what we feel is ours when, in the end, it was someone else, in longing, who finds us?” 
― Ocean Vuong
    * I also totally get how for some people, whimsical/metaphorical writing might be hard to read or not be for them, but for me, it really hit the mark because I am a huge fan of that kind of writing! Still, please give this book a chance because it is stunning and so much of the Vietnamese American experience as well as queer experiences can be learned from it if anything.


Rating: 5 Stars 

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