2.34k reviews for:

The Emperor of Gladness

Ocean Vuong

4.26 AVERAGE

miagw962's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional funny sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kuya_kes's review against another edition

4.25

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

a_jj's review against another edition

4.0

dark 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

ariesking's review against another edition

5.0

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, Suicide attempt

Moderate: War

mirrylu's review against another edition

4.5

emotional 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

---

Very poetic writing style, such interesting insights.

mckenzielowe's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional funny slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

loveandceleste's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ixren's review against another edition

4.0

---

Between pretty good and good with a perfect ending. I feel like I know Hai as a character, his personality, fears, and flaws. I loved all the scenes with the coworkers who are not friends but closer in some ways. My favorite scene was the winter at the hog butchery. Despite the known bleakness of working class, rural-ish America, I always held a glint of hope at every plot point while knowing that nothing miraculous would ever happen to save anyone. 

anorakkapuze's review against another edition

4.5

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-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

nahhhjahhh's review against another edition

3.5

hopeful 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