the emperor of gladness
I just finished reading The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong, and until the movie is written, filmed, and released for it, I will be the most annoying person on Earth.
"You never know how big a horse is until you have to bury it."
I was intimidated by the first chapter of the novel, which paints a poetically intimate picture of the town of East Gladness, Connecticut. The omnipotent narrator carries us along a tour of small objects, abandoned buildings, and bridge-side graffiti with no clear director or purpose. It is a confusing but fitting beginning to this novel. It reminds me of the ways in which I remember my home town, a flutter of images and sounds and smells which are indescribable (with any sense) to anyone else.
After this first chapter, I was almost ready to put the book down, but Vuong seemed to anticipate this. The true first chapter begins with the novel's protagonist, Hai, seconds away from jumping off of a bridge. After this point, I was quickly sucked into the characters and their relationships. The characters are some of the best I've read in years, so fleshed out and real I swear I've met them before or could point them out in a crowd.
Though it took nearly two months to finish The Emperor of Gladness, the time I spent with it was necessary for me to do a few things. First, to fully immerse myself into this setting. Second, to ruminate on the previously mentioned relationships (as complex as they are). Last, to breathe. If you've read any Vuong before (looking at you, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous), you know that his writing can be as beautiful as it is devastatingly sad. I will also warn against anyone wanting to read this novel based on my recommendation that it tackles topics of grief, addiction, and other sensitive areas intimately.
"He shut his eyes and left the world for a while, the world their mothers brought them in, the one that they, in their hurry, barely survived. But he would survive, he decided once and for all, the money pressed against his wet skin. He was the richest he'd ever been."
I left this novel feeling lighter than before. It made me feel grateful for my found family and the life I have created for myself, despite everything. I've been accidentally consuming a lot of existential/coming of age media lately (Stoner by John Williams, Train Dreams dir. Clint Bentley, etc.), and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. I don't have anything profound to say. I just loved this book, and I really want you to read it.