On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
Paperback Published on: 01/09/2020
Price: £9.99
Bookseller Reviews
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Tender and raw...
Sometimes you read a book which hits you in the solar plexus, in every sense powerful raw and full of emotion. Ocean Vuong’s debut novel is one of them. Yo... READ MORE
I'm unashamed to say that I have fallen in love with a piece of writing.
I was told by my colleagues that this would be the best book I read this year. What I didn't anticipate, is that it would become my favourite book of all t... READ MORE
An extraordinary and original debut
Every so often a book comes along that takes your breath away with the sheer beauty of its language, and the fierce intellect behind it. On Earth We're Bri... READ MORE
Absolutely Stunning
I had been so excited to read this book ever since the publication was announced and it never disappointed. This is a stunningly written debut that flows l... READ MORE
Beautiful and transformative
Ocean Vuong has done something truly special with this debut. The power of his writing is absolutely phenomenal, lyrical and - unsurprisingly due to his p... READ MORE
The best medley of raw emotion that will leave you breathless.
I first was introduced to Ocean Vuong when I did a work experience at Vintage Publishing. His book of poetry Night Sky With Exit Wounds was just coming out... READ MORE
Gorgeous, and not just briefly.
Beautifully and poetically written, at the heart of this novel is the relationship of a son and his mother. But there is so much more to it than that. Thro... READ MORE
Heartbreaking and heart-mending.
This book was everything I wanted it to be - Vuong's masterful poetry distilled into a novel that beats, that moves, and that speaks. Heartbreaking and hea... READ MORE
Beautiful and Brutal Coming Of Age Novel
This was recommended by a colleague who loved Caleb Azumah Nelson's; Open Water as much as me, so I was compelled to buy it. I can see why she recommended ... READ MORE
This book was GORGEOUS!
This book much like the title, was GORGEOUS!
I went into this book with the hope of beautiful prose and a heartbreaking story and that is exactly what I re... READ MORE
Synopsis
Waterstones Fiction Book of the Month for September 2020
Shortlisted for the Swansea University International Dylan Thomas Prize 2020
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.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Vintage Publishing
- ISBN: 9781529110685
- Number of pages: 256
- Dimensions: 196 x 128 x 18 mm
- Weight: 178g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allBeautifully written but not exceptional.
If you read Vuong's prize-winning poetry collection you'll notice similar autobiographical themes running through his first novel. Vuong explores love and ... READ MORE
A Poetic, powerful debut novel
Ocean Vuong has decided to follow up his 2017 TS Eliot prize winning debut collection of poetry “Night Sky With Exit Wounds” with a novel. This autobiogr... READ MORE
Truly Remarkable - a rare 5 Stars
What a powerful book !
I've just finished reading it and think its truly remarkable.
There is a psychological theory that trauma can be passed down thro... READ MORE
A Life in a Letter.
This novel is written as a letter from a son to his mother and gives an account of their relationship with feeling. The son, now in his 20's describes grow... READ MORE
Poetic, moving debut
Ocean Vuong's debut collection of poetry, Night Sky With Exit Wounds, was a beautiful selection of often very personal verse, experimenting with the form a... READ MORE
Pushes fiction to the limits of poetry - reminded me of The Magpie by Alan Edward Roberts
This is a literary feast, poetic, lyrical, heart wrenching, amazing story! My emotions are everywhere and I am so shaken, stunned, speechless and never tho... READ MORE
Superb - reminds me of The Magpie by Alan Edward Roberts. Sad, uplifting and raw.
This is a literary feast, poetic, lyrical, heart wrenching, amazing story! My emotions are everywhere and I am so shaken, stunned, speechless and never tho... READ MORE
Not for the faint-hearted
I picked this one up just as an extra from the Buy One, Get One Free table, but with a good review on the back thought it would be a good read. Having liv... READ MORE
Neither gripping nor interesting
Not a good read, it's difficult to have empathy with the central character. Even though it's short, it's not worth finishing. Not one I would recommend, ... READ MORE
Powerful, thought provoking read
An exciting/ gripping read, I couldn’t put this book down. The constant imagery created to enhance the story is beautiful. Loved it!
Disappointed
I was so exited to read this because of the incredible reviews and I wish I hadn’t even bothered. It is so pretentious. It is just dismembered. Each time I... READ MORE
stunning!
An absolutely STUNNING debut. Written from a son to his mother, this novel charts a young queer man's childhood and adolesance, his relationship with his m... READ MORE
Beautiful
This book is an absolute masterpiece. There’s something different and something amazing about Vuong’s style. I love how his language, though dark and gritt... READ MORE
a truly immersive experience
I'm lost for words really on what to say about this book. This was beautifully written, and I felt completely immersed every time I picked it back up. I fe... READ MORE
Lush and Lyrical
'On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous' by Ocean Vuong (Vintage, 2021) is a coming-of-age story about a young Vietnamese boy growing up in America. It's beautifu... READ MORE
A phenomenal debut novel
I'm not sure where to start with this review as I've never read anyhting like it.
I went in to this book without any prior knowledge of the story, and I'm... READ MORE
Beautiful Cover Design
I fell in love with the hardback cover of this book, but knowing very little about it I strangely managed to resist buying it.
However, that resistance was... READ MORE
『Sometimes being offered tenderness feels like very proof that you’ve been ruined. 』
『Sometimes being offered tenderness feels like very proof that you’ve been ruined. 』
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This story was a body full of wounds. Wounds from lov... READ MORE