On Earth We're Briefly at the Gay Reads Book Club

December 11, 2019

On Earth We're Briefly at the Gay Reads Book Club
Together for just a while, we spoke.

Though the day was dreary, we welcomed thoughtful and lively conversation this evening over the Gay Reads Book Club, featuring Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly GorgeousVuong's writing is evocative, moving, and distinct. The title - contrasting and direct - is characteristic of his style of prose and poetry.

Impressions began with the loss of roots, connection, and language. The power and failure of the latter was a recurring theme.
"What good?"
"She pain." 
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“I’m from Alberta, and found a lot of this very relatable.”

As Little Dog says “Let me begin again...” he sets off on another attempt, and evokes his past failures. “The impossibility of you reading this makes this possible to write.”

The books leaps from letter, to novel, to poetry, to documentary. “You...” is used confusingly; referring to his mum, to Trevor, to the reader… Broken passages invoke feelings of discomfort, panic, and loss.

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Kathleen takes the lead.
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“I thought a lot about the American dream while this book - class mobility - the immigrant story.”

Join us next time when we'll be discussing Carmen Maria Machado's In the Dream House!

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On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

Ocean Vuong

Named one of the most anticipated books of 2019 by Vulture, Entertainment Weekly, Buzzfeed, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Oprah.com, Huffington Post, The A.V....

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In the Dream House

Carmen Maria Machado

A revolutionary memoir about domestic abuse by the award-winning author of Her Body and Other Parties.In the Dream House is Carmen Maria Machado's engrossing...

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Tamara Elali

Tamara Elali

Operations Assistant