Sign in with Facebook
jessica's Reviews > On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
by
by
'all this time i told myself we were born from war, but I was wrong. we were born from beauty. let no one mistake us for the fruit of violence - but that violence, having passed through the fruit, failed to spoil it.'
wow. i am stunned. in a debut novel where prose so elegantly meets verse, a work of beauty is created and the world is a better place because of it.
i randomly came across this video (probably one of the most genuine interviews i have ever seen) and i immediately fell in love with the delicate, but intentional, way ocean vuong creates words. the emotive gentleness with which he speaks is exactly how he writes and is a tremendous asset to his first novel.
i will say that i found myself drawn to the more straightforward sections of story, the parts that explore the main characters family history, trauma, and identity. but the introspective parts that are more freeform and challenge the traditional narrative of a novel are worthwhile as well, even if i wasnt as invested in them.
the incredible thoughtfulness and grace that ocean vuong uses to explore themes of masculinity, language, love, coming of age, and family helped to tell a hauntingly personal story; one that is undeniably gorgeous.
↠ 4.5 stars
wow. i am stunned. in a debut novel where prose so elegantly meets verse, a work of beauty is created and the world is a better place because of it.
i randomly came across this video (probably one of the most genuine interviews i have ever seen) and i immediately fell in love with the delicate, but intentional, way ocean vuong creates words. the emotive gentleness with which he speaks is exactly how he writes and is a tremendous asset to his first novel.
i will say that i found myself drawn to the more straightforward sections of story, the parts that explore the main characters family history, trauma, and identity. but the introspective parts that are more freeform and challenge the traditional narrative of a novel are worthwhile as well, even if i wasnt as invested in them.
the incredible thoughtfulness and grace that ocean vuong uses to explore themes of masculinity, language, love, coming of age, and family helped to tell a hauntingly personal story; one that is undeniably gorgeous.
↠ 4.5 stars
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
July 10, 2019
– Shelved
July 10, 2019
– Shelved as:
to-read
Started Reading
August 13, 2019
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-6 of 6 (6 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
el
(new)
-
added it
Aug 14, 2019 07:10AM
omg ! what a gorgeous interview!! thanks for sharing that. I was on the fence about the book but that’s convinced me, really want to read this now!!
reply
|
flag
right?! i was so in awe by how eloquently he speaks, i went and got the book ASAP! i really hope you do, too!! <3
its such a treasure of a book, so i hope you get a chance to read it soon. <3
awww. yay! so happy you enjoyed it! :)
thank you for posted the Video!! What a lovely person, I will be looking for the next!!❤️
a great review - I really agree with your point about being more attracted to the straightforward aspects of the story, I felt I was occasionally having to switch between appreciating some of it on a poetry level & others on a storytelling level (though, maybe challenging the perception that those have to be separate was the point?) Also you used my favourite quote in the whole book (':
