By Ocean Vuong
Ocean Vuong’s The Emperor of Gladness follows Hai, a 19-year-old Vietnamese American grappling with depression and addiction in East Gladness, Connecticut. His life takes an unexpected turn when he is saved from suicide by Grazina, an elderly Lithuanian widow with dementia, leading him to become her caregiver. Through their evolving bond and Hai's work at a local fast-food restaurant, the novel explores themes of survival, memory, and the quiet resilience found in everyday acts of care and connection.
The Emperor of Gladness left me feeling both heartbroken and hopeful. Hai’s journey through grief and addiction is raw and unflinching, yet his bond with Grazina adds a tender, humanizing layer that stays with you long after you finish reading it. Vuong’s prose is poetic and deeply empathetic. The novel is as much about survival as it is about the quiet moments that make life worth living.
5 Stars