After reading Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, I wondered if he could match that same level of beauty again. The Emperor of Gladness proves he can. Vuong’s prose stays poetically rich and packed with tender details. The story centers on an unexpected pair: Hai, a young man standing on the edge of despair, and Grazina, an elderly Lithuanian woman living with dementia who takes Hai in as her caretaker.
The novel explores trauma, lineage, and chosen family. Echoes of historical violence shape the characters, from Gražina’s childhood in war-torn Europe to Hai’s family roots in Vietnam. Despite these heavy histories and Hai’s personal struggles, the story shines in mundane moments. Hai gets a job at a local fast-food spot called HomeMarket. There, he connects with a quirky crew, including a manager dreaming of professional wrestling and a distinctively Midwestern coworker named Maureen. Together, they turn a simple workplace into a place of love.
Vuong treats every character flaw and quiet interaction with care. The story feels deeply queer in both its themes and its gentle focus on tiny details. If you plan to read it, try the audiobook. Vuong does not narrate this one himself like he did On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, but the voice actor James Aaron Oh gives an exceptional performance. He brings vivid personality to the entire cast, making an already great story stick with you long after it ends.