BookTalk: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

BookTalk :On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

• Book : On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is the debut novel by Vietnamese American poet Ocean Vuong, published by Penguin Press on June 4, 2019. An epistolary novel, it is written in the form of a letter from a Vietnamese American son to his illiterate mother. It was a finalist for the 2020 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fictionn and was longlisted for the 2019 National Book Award for Fiction. It is less of a traditional narrative and more of an aching, lyrical exorcism. Written as a letter from a son (Little Dog) to his illiterate mother (Hồng/Rose), it explores the intersections of race, class, masculinity, and the lingering trauma of the Vietnam War.

• Author : Ocean Vuong Ocean Vuong (born 1988) is a Vietnamese-American poet, novelist, and essayist whose work has redefined contemporary literature through its "raw lyricism" and exploration of the immigrant experience. As of 2026, he remains one of the most vital voices in the literary world, recently expanding his reach from poetry and autofiction into broader narrative storytelling and visual arts.

• Date : 16 May Sat 11am

• Place : ArtNine EatNine
  (line7, exit 7, it is the cafe next to the movie theater called ArtNine)

• Free download
  https://www.are.na/block/11490373

• For your reference
  https://youtu.be/nNIo8E1ZKPM?si=KBXvaHZHa0OYWX-K

• Important Notice
24-hour notice is required for RSVP changes. Members with two No-Shows or same day cancellations will be disqualified from future participation.