On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

This is, without a single doubt in my mind, the most beautiful thing I've ever read in my life.

The writing is so beautiful. I had chills down my spine so many times, and i cried a few times too.

I love how this book goes so many places and talks about mother-son relationships, immigration, racism, war, queer identity, love, sex, acceptance, cancer, death, drug abuse, nationalism, self love and so much more.
I also love how from beginning to end, the author's perception of his mother changes entirely.

In addition to that, probably my favourite thing about this book is the irony of it all. A son writing a letter to his illiterate mother. It's so much more about him acknowledging things to himself, admitting things to himself and finally expressing everything that he has the right to.

I'm so grateful I could be a part of this journey that the narrator takes.
This broke me a little, I think.

Here's some of my favourite parts of the book.

“He loves me, he loves me not, we are taught to say, as we tear the flower from it's flowerness. To arrive at love, then, is to arrive through obliteration. Eviscerate me, we mean to say, and I'll tell you the truth. I'll say yes.”“I believe the wound is also the place where the skin reencounters itself, asking of each end, where have you been?  Where have we been, Ma?”