Play Book Tag discussion

The Emperor of Gladness is a quiet, heartfelt novel that follows Hai, a nineteen-year-old Vietnamese American living in a struggling town in Connecticut. When he’s on the verge of ending his life, an elderly woman named Grazina, who has dementia, unexpectedly pulls him back. From there, the two form an unusual and touching connection, and Hai slowly becomes part of a makeshift family made up of people who, like him, are trying to hold themselves together.

Ocean Vuong’s writing is as poetic as ever, with lovely moments and gentle observations. There’s a softness to the way he writes about loneliness, memory, and chosen family that can be really moving. You can tell he cares deeply about his characters, and there are some beautifully written scenes that stay with you.

That said, the novel does feel uneven at times. The story drifts rather than moves forward with much momentum, and while the emotions are genuine, they don’t always hit as hard as they could. Some parts feel a little too vague or slow, and the structure can be a bit loose.

Overall, The Emperor of Gladness is a tender and well-written novel with flashes of beauty, but it doesn’t quite come together in a fully satisfying way. It’s a book that some readers will connect with deeply, especially if they appreciate a slower pace and introspective tone.