From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books…

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

Ocean Vuong

Start date: June 15, 2020

Finish date: July 15, 2020

Discussion: Group Reads Discussions

Why we're reading this: June selection for migration theme.
[close] June selection for migration theme.

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Group Reads Discussions

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What Members Thought

Sep 05, 2019 Alisa rated it liked it

3.5 stars. This debut novel is beautifully written, often in a stream of consciousness mode. The author is a renowned poet, and his use of language in describing his life growing up as a gay, Vietnamese immigrant in impoverished Hartford, CT is masterful and startling. It tackles very heavy subjects...racism, mental illness, the opioid epidemic, domestic abuse. But while I can appreciate this book, I did not enjoy reading it. Too bleak, too disjointed.

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Jun 28, 2020 Danise rated it it was amazing

This is stunning at the word and sentence level. I listened to the audio, which I recommend since Ocean is a poet, and poetry is meant to be heard out loud.

I cried during the last few pages of this. It is incredibly moving and gorgeous.

It doesn't have a conventional fiction narrative, but instead it feels more like personal poetic essays about the narrator's mother, war and colonization, and his first love. ...more

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