2.14k reviews for:

The Emperor of Gladness

Ocean Vuong

4.26 AVERAGE

arlucadamo's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

penguinfeathers's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

olsugarbread's review against another edition

2.5

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

dye2knit's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

mm280111's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

dishing_on_books's review against another edition

4.25

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

jadedinh's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

cecetee's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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Stunning. I think Ocean Vuong did what he intended to do, he set out to do and immortalised those who live their quiet working class lives in gorgeous prose for they too live dignified lives and are worthy no matter how difficult their circumstances. What a sensitive soul he is. Sony is my fave character 

wellreadred's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Ocean Vuong is so full of heart

lorenag5's review against another edition

3.5

dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, War

Minor: Cancer, Child death, Racism, Blood, Excrement, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury