On Earth we're Briefly Gorgeous

On Earth we're Briefly Gorgeous written by Ocean Voung is presented as a collection of letters written to a mother who can't read English in first person narrative. It takes us through the thoughts and experiences of a Vietnamese boy raised in the USA by his mother Rose and grandmother Lam. 

Vietnamese history and the destruction caused by war is one of the most heart-wrenching ones. There are so many instances in the book that would make us shudder. The book not only deals with the impact of war at an individual level, but also about homosexuality, drug abuse, mental illness, suicides, generational trauma, racial discrimination among other things. 

I was glued to the first 30% of the book. There was a poetic quality to the writing which urged me to pause and reflect. The next 30% or so of the book seemed more like an Instagram reel or YouTube shorts. It was moving from one instance to another, delving into one subject after another, jumping so frequently that my head started to flood. I wanted to scream and say, stick to one thing at a time. There will be a brief account about sexual expedition with his gay partner immediately followed by a disheartening abortion account by his mother rapidly followed by a narrative on the addictive nature of a prescriptive drug called oxycodone to be succeeded by another instance of a sexual experience and so on. The last 30%, however, finds its grounds and gets back to the poetic and reflective quality. Therefore, the books fails to emotionally connects with us.

In short, the book is briefly gorgeous and calls for your patience. 

⭐⭐/5