Time Is a Mother

by Ocean Vuong
Time Is a Mother cover
Good Books rating 4.06
Poetry
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £13.00
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 1599
  • Added: 2025-10-08
  • Updated: 2025-10-19
  • ISBN: 9781473596795
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2022-04-07
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 4

Time is a Mother is a profound second poetry collection by Ocean Vuong, where he navigates the aftermath of his mother's death with raw honesty and emotional depth. The poems delve into personal loss, the complexities of family, and the pursuit of joy amidst a fractured American landscape. Vuong's work is celebrated for its vivid imagery and bold exploration of human experiences, making it a testament to tenderness and survival. This collection is a return to the themes of his critically acclaimed debut, Night Sky with Exit Wounds, and continues to redefine the boundaries of elegy and personal narrative.

Reviews
Dana Huff · Dana Huff · 2025-02-01
worthwhile 3.00

The collection is not among the reviewer's favorites but is still worth reading. It offers a unique perspective on grief and loss.

Dana Huff finds the collection to be a worthwhile read, even if it doesn't rank among their favorites. They appreciate the unique perspective on grief and loss, noting that the poems offer a fresh and poignant take on these universal experiences. While the collection may not resonate with everyone, Huff acknowledges its value and the emotional depth it brings to the table.

Quick quotes

    Overall, I would not say this collection is one of my favorites, but it was well worth a read.

    The poems offer a fresh and poignant take on grief and loss.

    The collection provides a unique perspective that is both moving and thought-provoking.

Los Angeles Review of Books · 2022-07-01
piercing 4.75

The collection is a piercing exploration of survival and grief, delving deeply into the poet's experience of losing his mother. The poems are both tender and bold, offering a unique perspective on the grieving process.

The Los Angeles Review of Books praises Vuong's ability to convey the depth of his grief while also celebrating the life of his mother. They note that the collection is not just about loss but also about the resilience and hope that can emerge from it. The reviewer appreciates the tender and bold nature of the poems, highlighting how Vuong's use of language and imagery creates a powerful emotional impact. They also note that the collection is a testament to the enduring power of memory and the ability to find meaning in the midst of sorrow.

Quick quotes

    Ocean Vuong's piercing Time Is a Mother, his second poetry collection, delves deeply into how he survives the death of his mother.

    Bold and prescient, and a testament to tenderness in the face of violence, Time Is a Mother is a return and a forging forth all at once.

    The poems are a testament to the power of memory and the enduring presence of those we lose.

Masters Review · 2022-05-10
poignant 4.00

The poetry collection is subdued and centers around the death of the author's mother. It is a short but impactful compilation that explores themes of loss and grief.

This review highlights how the collection is a deeply personal exploration of grief. The reviewer appreciates the subtlety and emotional depth of the poems, noting that the brevity of the collection does not diminish its impact. They find the focus on the mother's death to be a powerful center around which the poems revolve, making it a poignant read.

Quick quotes

    This new book of poetry is subdued.

    It is a relatively short compilation that centers around the death of his mother, a center which is not entirely ...

    The collection is a testament to the power of poetry in capturing the essence of personal loss.

The Guardian · 2022-04-11
profound 4.50

The collection is bold and tender, illustrating what it means to be out of control. It is a testament to tenderness in the face of violence.

The reviewer praises the collection for its boldness and tenderness, seeing it as a profound exploration of loss and control. They highlight how the poems capture the raw emotion of grief and the struggle to find meaning in the aftermath of a loved one's death. The reviewer finds the collection to be a powerful and moving read, appreciating its ability to convey complex emotions with simplicity and grace.

Quick quotes

    The Vietnamese-American poet's second collection, written in the aftermath of his mother's death, illustrates what it means to be out of control.

    Bold and prescient, and a testament to tenderness in the face of violence, Time Is a Mother is a return and a forging forth all at once.

    The collection demands all of your lungs, pulling you into a world of profound loss and tender resilience.

Appears in Lists