Literary
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
A young Vietnamese American man writes a long letter to his mother, who cannot read it. He recalls their family's history, his childhood in Hartford, and a first love, in poetic, fragmented prose.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2019
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 252
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you like lyrical, intimate fiction about family, inheritance and love, and enjoy poetry in prose.
Skip this if you prefer straightforward plots, or you would find the portrayal of family violence and addiction painful.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
- What is On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous about?
- A young Vietnamese American man writes a long letter to his mother, who cannot read it. He recalls their family's history, his childhood in Hartford, and a first love, in poetic, fragmented prose.
- Who should read On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous?
- Read it if you like lyrical, intimate fiction about family, inheritance and love, and enjoy poetry in prose. Skip it if you prefer straightforward plots, or you would find the portrayal of family violence and addiction painful.
- How long and how fast is On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous?
- It is a slow-paced, short read of about 252 pages, first published in 2019.
- Does On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Abuse, War, Addiction, Sexual content, Grief.
- Can I borrow On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Namesake, The Joy Luck Club, Pachinko.
Your shelf
Saved in this browser only. Open my shelf
Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
Prices appear here as retailer feeds are connected. Where none is shown, check the store. Links open the store in a new tab.
Some store links, including Kobo, are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Library links are never affiliate links. How this works
Share this pick
Because you might love it
If you loved On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
-
The Namesake
A quieter, more traditional novel about an immigrant family and a son finding his place.
-
The Joy Luck Club
Another book that moves between mothers and their American-raised children across a language gap.
-
Pachinko A sweeping family saga of immigrants and survival, with a broader historical canvas.
Literary
