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Giorgia Reads's Reviews > On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
by
by
4.5 Stars
This is one of those books that reminds me why I read.
Sure, I read for pleasure and to keep at bay anxieties and worries that otherwise occupy my mind (that’s what my romance/chick-lit stacks are for) but my true love for the written word came from discovering the beauty of depth and emotion that’s hidden within the lyrical prose of select writers.
To say that the writing in this book is gorgeous would be an understatement. There is one measure I use to determine if I find a particular writer/book worth of high praise and that’s if it makes me jealous. And boy am I jealous of Vuong’s ability to write so rawly that it almost bruises you.
Of the top of my head, I have a few favorites when it comes Today I’ve just added Ocean Vuong to the list.
I’ve forgotten how much I love to stare at a phrase and reread it in my head until it involuntarily imprints itself in my memory . I tend to read a lot of “feel good, easy to digest” books with simple writing, for the obvious fact that I won’t dwell on them, I won’t torture myself with existential questions and most importantly I can file them away as soon as I’m done. There will be no extra burden on my mind, I won’t obsess for days questioning life, meaning, history, etc.
But sometimes I want to invite that kind of reaction, I want to feel, I wanna be awed and lured in by gorgeous words that cut deep and then I wanna be healed of their bruising force, by extending my own understanding and contemplation to their meaning and purpose.
I did all that with this book. And I loved every second of it.
I realise this sounds more like a diary entry than a review but I feel like I don’t need to talk about plot, characters, or any of the usual suspects because this book inspires so much more than a clinical analysis. So pick it up and enjoy it, don’t give it that much thought.
This is one of those books that reminds me why I read.
Sure, I read for pleasure and to keep at bay anxieties and worries that otherwise occupy my mind (that’s what my romance/chick-lit stacks are for) but my true love for the written word came from discovering the beauty of depth and emotion that’s hidden within the lyrical prose of select writers.
To say that the writing in this book is gorgeous would be an understatement. There is one measure I use to determine if I find a particular writer/book worth of high praise and that’s if it makes me jealous. And boy am I jealous of Vuong’s ability to write so rawly that it almost bruises you.
Of the top of my head, I have a few favorites when it comes Today I’ve just added Ocean Vuong to the list.
I’ve forgotten how much I love to stare at a phrase and reread it in my head until it involuntarily imprints itself in my memory . I tend to read a lot of “feel good, easy to digest” books with simple writing, for the obvious fact that I won’t dwell on them, I won’t torture myself with existential questions and most importantly I can file them away as soon as I’m done. There will be no extra burden on my mind, I won’t obsess for days questioning life, meaning, history, etc.
But sometimes I want to invite that kind of reaction, I want to feel, I wanna be awed and lured in by gorgeous words that cut deep and then I wanna be healed of their bruising force, by extending my own understanding and contemplation to their meaning and purpose.
I did all that with this book. And I loved every second of it.
I realise this sounds more like a diary entry than a review but I feel like I don’t need to talk about plot, characters, or any of the usual suspects because this book inspires so much more than a clinical analysis. So pick it up and enjoy it, don’t give it that much thought.
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Reading Progress
February 28, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 28, 2020
– Shelved
February 28, 2020
– Shelved as:
literary-fiction
May 6, 2020
–
Started Reading
May 12, 2020
– Shelved as:
2020-read
May 12, 2020
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-23 of 23 (23 new)
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Thanks Lana, I’ve been putting off reading it for awhile and I finally made the jump. I get that you need the right frame of mind, it’s not the kind of book you just pick off your shelf and just start without preparation. Sometimes I buy books like this one and read them after 2 years and I don’t feel like I need a timeframe as long as the moment is right.
I know what you mean, I do the same and buy those usually as paper copies. The physicality brings something more to the experience I guess.
Yess I’m exactly like that too, I like putting it back on the shelf when I’m done with it and just have it there, I’ve made myself a promise to only keep books in physical format if I loved them. (Well that and some classics I won't get rid of)
No, you put it beautifully and anyone who is mentioned in the same breath with Haruki Murikami immediately draws my attention. My kindle is stacked with Romance but my home is stacked with book after book of just what you speak of. Books that mark my life. Books I can pick up and remember what I was doing when I read them. Or what age I was. I have a sentence from Norman Mailer’s Harlots Ghost stuck permanently in my mind that I never memorised. A poem by Charles Bukowski that lives to pop up and hit replay. I still ponder the absurdity hidden between what seems like so many disjointed piece’s to Gravity’s Rainbow and the list goes on and on. While beautiful, thought provoking, sometimes world altering, the fact is the brain can only hold so much near and dear. So your post, Dear Georgia makes all the sense in the world. You’re not the only one who does this but you are the only one that wrote this entry and, as a result, I now have a new book to seek and wait to savour.
Now this is a title, so meaningful and eye catching. Great review, Giorgia. As Jade said, I too have a book to seek and savour. Seriously a meaningful review.
Beautiful review, Giorgia! I've been putting it off, because I need to be in the right mood for this type of story, but I love seeing your 5 stars! Really glad you loved it 🙂.
Wonderful review, Giorgia! I am excited to read this!
Fantastic review, Giorgia!
Beautiful review! I have this one, and it seems like I need to read it sooner rather the later.
Jade wrote: "No, you put it beautifully and anyone who is mentioned in the same breath with Haruki Murikami immediately draws my attention. My kindle is stacked with Romance but my home is stacked with book aft..."First, thank you for your comment. I loved reading it! I've also made note of all the references you made (because there's no such thing as too many books on my tbr). I know I'm not the only one to have these moments or connections with words and books but as you've said each individual experience is different. Some things resonate with us deeper than others. They speak to our sensibilities, give us questions, and sometimes answers. Some books are what I call universal whereas others speak to a select few. I was reading through other reviews of this book, and some people complain about the lack of plot structure, or how the lyrical writing is too much, too good, too perfect and it gives them the impression that the author is too concerned with aesthetics instead of essence (he is a poet and this is his debut novel - so his writing is heavily influenced by his poetic inclinations) and I suppose I can't deny any of those things. But what those people saw as faults I considered strengths which only reinforces the idea that perception is very individual, and our subjectivity is always linked with our enjoyment of any kind of art or creative product. I hope you love this book as much as I did or at least find something in it that speaks to you, be it the story or the writing. Can't wait for hear your thoughts! xx
Birjis wrote: "Now this is a title, so meaningful and eye catching. Great review, Giorgia. As Jade said, I too have a book to seek and savour. Seriously a meaningful review."Thank you Birjis! I absolutely love the title as well, and in the book he explains the meaning behind it. I hope you enjoy this if you decide to read it at any point. x
Snjez wrote: "Beautiful review, Giorgia! I've been putting it off, because I need to be in the right mood for this type of story, but I love seeing your 5 stars! Really glad you loved it 🙂."Thank you hon, you really need to be in the right frame of mind for this, just so that you can maximize enjoyment. Hope you'll enjoy it when the time comes. :)
Sophie wrote: "Wonderful review, Giorgia! I am excited to read this!"Thank you Sophie! I hope you enjoy it. x
Safa wrote: "Fantastic review, Giorgia!"Thank you, Safa! :)
Melissa wrote: "Beautiful review! I have this one, and it seems like I need to read it sooner rather the later."Thank you, Melissa! I really hope you enjoy it! :)
Thank you Anne! :)
Fantabulous review Giorgia!!😉💕👍💋
Great review Giorgia, glad you loved this!
Excellent review, Giorgia, Vuong's writing is exquisite!
With a review like that, I couldn't possibly say no to reading it! I love authors with a grasp on the beauty of language.
Swaroop wrote: "Giorgia,Beautiful review! thank you, for writing it. I will read this soon,"
Kat wrote: "With a review like that, I couldn't possibly say no to reading it! I love authors with a grasp on the beauty of language."
Vicky wrote: "Excellent review, Giorgia, Vuong's writing is exquisite!"
Kelli wrote: "Great review Giorgia, glad you loved this!"
Kat wrote: "Fantabulous review Giorgia!!😉💕👍💋"
Thanks girls! Hope you enjoy it too! x
I was thinking about reading it too, yet was also afraid for the same reasons I wanted to read it. Because it's raw and beautiful. Some books just make you speechless and inspire at the same time, yet they rip you open while doing it, so one needs to be really in the right state of mind for that... I'm glad you enjoyed it, maybe I'll get to it too. 🖤