On earth we are briefly gorgeous

A few I'm a little embarrassed about

The creative director at Vintage discusses the book cover design for poet Ocean Vuong’s highly anticipated debut novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous.

In this luminous debut about family and first love, a gay Vietnamese immigrant man writes his mother a letter in which he reveals their painful family history and gives her insights about his own life. His mother doesn't know how to read but the letter is a window for her to better understand him, if she so chooses. With evocative prose, Vuong reminds us of the power in telling your own story, especially when your voice was previously silenced.

― Ocean Vuong, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous