On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous (Ocean Vuong) In-Depth Book Discussion

Welcome to our 27th episode in the monthly book discussion series hosted by Marisa Serafini (@serafinitv) and myself, Phil Svitek. If books are your passion, you've come to the right place! In this episode, we delve into On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous which is the debut novel by Vietnamese-American poet Ocean Vuong. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous 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 — a history whose epicenter is rooted in Vietnam — and serves as a doorway into parts of his life his mother has never known, all of it leading to an unforgettable revelation. At once a witness to the fraught yet undeniable love between a single mother and her son, it is also a brutally honest exploration of race, class, and masculinity. Asking questions central to our American moment, immersed as we are in addiction, violence, and trauma, but undergirded by compassion and tenderness, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is as much about the power of telling one’s own story as it is about the obliterating silence of not being heard. With stunning urgency and grace, Ocean Vuong writes of people caught between disparate worlds, and asks how we heal and rescue one another without forsaking who we are. The question of how to survive, and how to make of it a kind of joy, powers the most important debut novel of many years. Join the conversation! Share your thoughts, queries, and viewpoints in the comments or connect with Marisa (@serafinitv) and me on social media. In our upcoming discussion, we'll explore Treasure by Clive Cussler. And be sure to catch Marisa's new podcast, "Friends & Favorites w/Marisa Serafini," available at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-and-favorites-w-marisa-serafini/id1693327509. For more insightful resources from your 360 creative coach, visit my website at http://philsvitek.com. Thank you for tuning in, and we're eager to hear your thoughts on this captivating book! #bookclub #bookreview #oceanvuong Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe! Yours truly, Phil Svitek Filmmaker, author, podcaster & 360 Creative Coach ⁠http://philsvitek.com⁠