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The first book I ever read by Ocean Vuong was On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, and I rated it a 10/10 without hesitation. It was powerful, emotional, and completely unforgettable. Naturally, I wanted to read more from him, which led me to Time Is a Mother.

What surprised me right away was that this book is not a novel but a collection of poems. I hadn’t realized that going in. I had heard it was written after his mother’s passing, so I assumed it would mirror the storytelling style of his novel. Instead, I found something different, and equally meaningful.

What Makes This Book Unique

Time Is a Mother contains tributes, stories, and reflections on many different topics. It doesn’t just stay within one narrative but instead opens itself to multiple layers of emotion and experience.

What struck me most was Ocean Vuong’s poetic style. He has a gift for weaving together the vulgar and the delicate, making them coexist in a way that feels raw yet tender, almost like stitching opposites together into something whole. Many of the poem endings left me stunned, lines that lingered long after I’d finished reading.

My Experience Reading It

At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a book of poems, but the variety kept me engaged. Some pieces felt like tributes, others like fragments of memory, and all of them carried Vuong’s signature voice. His words hit with weight and beauty at the same time, making even the shortest passages feel full.

It’s a short read, but one that stays with you.

My Honest Take

I’d give Time Is a Mother an 8.6/10. It’s not quite the masterpiece that On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous was for me, but it’s still incredibly moving and worth reading.

Ocean Vuong is quickly becoming one of the most prevalent authors in my reading journey so far, and I can already tell I’ll continue to seek out his work.

Final Thoughts

If you’re open to poetry, or even if you aren’t sure about it, Time Is a Mother is worth picking up. It offers fragments of grief, memory, and love that piece together into something uniquely healing.

It may not be as heavy or immersive as his novel, but it carries the same kind of honesty that makes Ocean Vuong’s writing unforgettable.