On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
The book is a poignant letter from a son to a mother who cannot read, delving into their family's history that began before he was born with roots stretching back to Vietnam. It explores the enduring and complex bond between them, marked by the mother's sacrifice and the silence imposed by their past traumas. The narrative weaves through themes of identity, race, and sexuality, confronting the legacies of violence and resilience that shape their lives and the immigrant experience in America. Through lyrical prose, the novel captures the beauty and pain of relationships in the face of unspeakable loss, ultimately revealing the transformative power of storytelling.
The 2522nd greatest book of all time
- Published
- 2019
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 240
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.7)
- Alternate Titles
-
- Na Terra Somos Brevemente Magníficos
- Na Zemlji Smo Nakratko Predivni
- Vi Er Kortvarigt Smukke Her På Jorden
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This book is on the following 9 lists:
- 48th on Readers Pick Their 100 Best Books of the 21st Century (NY Times)
- 73rd on Truelit's 100 Best Books of the Quarter Century (/r/truelit)
- 1313th on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature (The Center for Fiction)
- A Century of World Literature 1925 - 2025 (Der Spiegel)
- Best Fiction Books of the 21st Century (So Far) (Kirkus Reviews)
- Ezra Klein Show's Most Recommended Books (Ezra Klein Show)
- Not the NYT list: 100 fine books from around the world (and not just the USA) of the 21st century (The Bookshop Inc)
- The 100 Best Novels Of All Time (Runners-Up) (The Guardian)