Book Review; On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Earlier this year, I read the novel On Earth Wr're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong to see what the hype was about, and today I'll post my review.

Description from Goodreads

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.

My Thoughts on the Book

Due to Vuong's prose, language, and technical skills I totally get why On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeus is such a popular book and it explores themes such as mental health issues, family dynamics, immigrant experience, and identitiy in a beautiful, yet tragic way. The abstract vignettes made the book a bit more dream-like in a sense.

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is a bit of a shattering book, but because of the prose and the author's writing style, it's totally worth the read.