Oprah's Book Club: The Emperor of Gladness

More about the book

An instant New York Times bestseller and Oprah’s Book Club Pick, this novel by Ocean Vuong explores themes of chosen family, unexpected friendship, and the narratives we create to endure life. It begins on a rainy evening in East Gladness, Connecticut, where nineteen-year-old Hai stands on the brink of despair, contemplating suicide. His life takes an unexpected turn when Grazina, an elderly widow battling dementia, reaches out to him, urging him to reconsider. As he becomes her caretaker, an extraordinary bond forms between them, rooted in empathy, spiritual reflection, and shared heartbreak. Their relationship profoundly alters Hai's perception of himself, his family, and a community facing its own struggles. The narrative delves into the cycles of history, memory, and time, revealing how love, labor, and loneliness shape American life. At its core, this story is a powerful exploration of existence on society's fringes and the haunting wounds we carry. Vuong’s signature writing style—marked by formal innovation and a blend of grit and grace—shines throughout this poignant tale of loss, hope, and the quest for a second chance at life’s fleeting mercies.