David Marchese

Yeah. Well, you know, that story and your book and the experience you described of working at a fast food restaurant really connect for me to a larger question I have about the country and how we understand each other. The Emperor of Gladness is set in this small town in Connecticut, and it's a town where it seems like there are not great job prospects. You know, there's a lot of poverty.

What do you understand about – places like East Hartford, that maybe doesn't get communicated widely enough.

What do you understand about – places like East Hartford, that maybe doesn't get communicated widely enough.

Are they still both in Connecticut?

Are they still both in Connecticut?

Where do you think it comes from?

Where do you think it comes from?

Were you, you exhibited cruelty?

Were you, you exhibited cruelty?

He was like a sloppy thief, basically.

He was like a sloppy thief, basically.

Right, he was showing you he could take your valuable thing. Yeah, yeah.

Right, he was showing you he could take your valuable thing. Yeah, yeah.

You don't have to finish the story. Can I give you a hug? Would you like... It's okay. I really appreciate that you're being honest, but if it's too much, we can just stop. So you just tell me, okay?

You don't have to finish the story. Can I give you a hug? Would you like... It's okay. I really appreciate that you're being honest, but if it's too much, we can just stop. So you just tell me, okay?

Yeah. You know, as we move forward, you should definitely just feel free to tell me if you need a break or if anything feels too intense. Thank you. Because I'm looking at my questions, you know, it's not going to get easier. I didn't think I would be here this quick either. But, you know, I realize in – the way I've described the novel.

Yeah. You know, as we move forward, you should definitely just feel free to tell me if you need a break or if anything feels too intense. Thank you. Because I'm looking at my questions, you know, it's not going to get easier. I didn't think I would be here this quick either. But, you know, I realize in – the way I've described the novel.

I've elided one of the most important aspects of the story, and that's the central relationship of the novel is between a young Vietnamese immigrant character named Hai. Yeah. and an 82-year-old Lithuanian woman whose name is Grazina. Grazina, yeah. And high and winds up through sort of series of twists and turns becoming a caregiver for Grazina who has dementia.

I've elided one of the most important aspects of the story, and that's the central relationship of the novel is between a young Vietnamese immigrant character named Hai. Yeah. and an 82-year-old Lithuanian woman whose name is Grazina. Grazina, yeah. And high and winds up through sort of series of twists and turns becoming a caregiver for Grazina who has dementia.

And the novel is dedicated to a real life Grazina. Yeah. Can you tell me about who she was and what your relationship with her was? She's my partner's grandmother.