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The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

4.26 AVERAGE

marcie_peeters's review against another edition

4.5
dark emotional funny hopeful sad 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
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selraereads's profile picture

selraereads's review against another edition

5.0
emotional hopeful inspiring 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: Complicated
andrea819's profile picture

andrea819's review against another edition

DNF @ 29%. There’s nothing wrong with this book. The first several chapters I thought I would really love it. But when the restaurant part started, I just sort of lost interest. It’s due back in 3 days and I find myself not caring if I finish…so I’m calling it a DNF. Maybe one day I’ll come back to it
jcatlin's profile picture

jcatlin's review against another edition

4.75
challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

aoiln's review against another edition

4.25
emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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
malvina's profile picture

malvina's review against another edition

5.0
adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

corey_spence's review against another edition

4.5
emotional reflective sad slow-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
e_o_c's profile picture

e_o_c's review against another edition

4.5
adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
artist_lace's profile picture

artist_lace's review against another edition

4.0
emotional reflective sad slow-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

clarissacardona's review against another edition

4.0
challenging dark emotional hopeful 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
 “The hardest thing in the world is to live only once."

That's the essence of the novel. It encompasses the complexity of surviving in this world through the eyes a suicidal 19-year-old and the friendship he develops with an 82-year-old Lithuanian woman suffering from dementia. We're immersed into their static lives as we explore themes of immigrant experiences, drug addiction, the working class, and the weight of memory, among others, through lyrical prose. The emotional depth is devastating but the reflection taking place will leave you with hope.