A review by finnthehuman217
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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

5.0

I think there’s something to be said for intergenerational frienships. I loved the adventures that Grazina and Hai would go on together, specifically because he created a persona to keep her calm during fireworks. She was obviously traumatized by her time in the refugee camps and escaping the cruelty of stalin’s regime. Meanwhile, Hai is the child of Vietnamese immigrants who came as refugees after the horrific conflict in Vietnam. They are children of war, one of them a generation removed from the conflict that brought his family here. This book was such a powerful statement about the things people will do for you after you work some of the worst shifts of your life. I loved the relationship between Hai and BJ the most. The two queer people seeing each other, very loving. I love how people show up for their people, like when Sony needed to go to the spot where his dad died, and the entire team went with him AND THEY TOOK GRAZINA! I love adventure!!! Great story! 10/10. 

As someone whose grandmother had Dementia, I was around for the worst of her sundown moods. 2 moments between Grazina and Hai  I loved were: when she was in the rehab center and Hai tells her the story of Noah and his overdose while still sticking to the story, and the scene where without any kind of sexual intent, asks to have Hai take off his clothes. And they just exist, two humans wearing no clothes. It’s such a beautiful moment! It’s those two scenes that cement the book as a top book of the year for me
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