on earth we’re briefly gorgeous by ocean vuong // book review

Hey, fellow ramblers! Today I bring to the blog a review of one of the latest books i’ve read (and loved), which I had been wanting to read for the longest time and am so glad I finally did! On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong is a book that’s definitely a lot different from the ones I usually read in terms of writing as well as genre.

This review is actually an extension of the post I made about this book on my bookstagram recently. I wanted to go into more detail about my thoughts, and hence, this post was born. I’ve also shared a few annotations in the instagram post, so definitely check it out if you’re interested! So, without further ado, here’s my review!

Author: Ocean Vuong

Genre: Literary Fiction, Poetry, LGBTQ+

Release Date: June 4, 2019

click to view content warnings

on-page death, child abuse, drug use, violence, depictions of war and sexual assault, animal abuse

Brilliant, heartbreaking and highly original, Ocean Vuong’s debut novel is a shattering portrait of a family, and a testament to the redemptive power of storytelling. This is a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. Written when the speaker, Little Dog, is in his late twenties, the letter unearths a family’s history that began before he was born. It tells of Vietnam, of the lasting impact of war, and of his family’s struggle to forge a new future. And it serves as a doorway into parts of Little Dog’s life his mother has never known – episodes of bewilderment, fear and passion – all the while moving closer to an unforgettable revelation.

All this time I told myself we were born from war – but I was wrong, Ma. We were born from beauty.

(literally shed a tear at this)

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous was one of the first books where I moved a bit out of my comfort zone when it comes to genre. While it is categorised as fiction, there was something so visceral about the writing, it felt like I was reading something incredibly personal. Maybe that’s what made the journey of reading this book so much better. The vulnerability that went into the letters was beyond anything I had read before and it was a unique experience that I don’t think will leave me for a very long time.

Vuong goes into detail about the lasting impacts of war and how it irrevocably changes not only those displaced at the time, but also the generations that come after. We, as readers, get to see the main character gradually unravel more about his family’s ties to the war, as well as embarking on a journey of self-discovery himself.

The MC, who is referred to as Little Dog for most of the book, is seen dealing with the generational trauma that comes from being in an immigrant family from a war ravaged time. We see him come to understand his mother’s actions more as the book goes on, as well as mend the relationship between them.

Something about this book that struck me as different is that it didn’t really have a structured plot. And, honestly, this isn’t something I consider a flaw. In fact, I think it was deliberate on the author’s part. It gave the book more of a memoirical feel to it, which is perhaps what the author was going for. The book is simply a collection of letters from a son to his mother, so it would make sense why the story alternates between timelines and while that may be confusing initially, I got the hang of it pretty quickly.

Moreover, the style of storytelling used by Vuong is definitely something I’ve not come across before, making this book a welcome breath of fresh air. It was a heartwrenching tale of familial, especially maternal, relationships and the experience of reading this book is one that’s going to stick with me for a very long time.

And that’s all for today’s post! I cannot stress this enough, YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK ASAP. If you’ve already read it, please let me know what you thought in the comments!!