Ocean Vuong

And as an author, you have to say, well, let's just come with me and we're going to zoom in on something that people often drive past and don't think about. And so the book is a wonderful opportunity to recalibrate value systems, to create a different hierarchy of values. Let's just stay on these starlings and love this landscape.

And as an author, you have to say, well, let's just come with me and we're going to zoom in on something that people often drive past and don't think about. And so the book is a wonderful opportunity to recalibrate value systems, to create a different hierarchy of values. Let's just stay on these starlings and love this landscape.

And as an author, you have to say, well, let's just come with me and we're going to zoom in on something that people often drive past and don't think about. And so the book is a wonderful opportunity to recalibrate value systems, to create a different hierarchy of values. Let's just stay on these starlings and love this landscape.

Because it's so brutal, because it's so fruitful to the communities that live it. And also, what is America? You know, I was haunted by that. I don't know what next week is going to look like. But I know that this landscape in all of its paradoxes has sustained my imagination. And I want it to be true to its history.

Because it's so brutal, because it's so fruitful to the communities that live it. And also, what is America? You know, I was haunted by that. I don't know what next week is going to look like. But I know that this landscape in all of its paradoxes has sustained my imagination. And I want it to be true to its history.

Because it's so brutal, because it's so fruitful to the communities that live it. And also, what is America? You know, I was haunted by that. I don't know what next week is going to look like. But I know that this landscape in all of its paradoxes has sustained my imagination. And I want it to be true to its history.

I grew up in Hartford and Hartford is interesting because if you drive, you're in the middle of the city and it's the city that's often been forgotten. We often have a saying that all the good things are sucked up by Boston and New York. And so it is a place where when you come to it, the people there are the people who can't get out, right? They're what's left over. We have that mentality.

I grew up in Hartford and Hartford is interesting because if you drive, you're in the middle of the city and it's the city that's often been forgotten. We often have a saying that all the good things are sucked up by Boston and New York. And so it is a place where when you come to it, the people there are the people who can't get out, right? They're what's left over. We have that mentality.

I grew up in Hartford and Hartford is interesting because if you drive, you're in the middle of the city and it's the city that's often been forgotten. We often have a saying that all the good things are sucked up by Boston and New York. And so it is a place where when you come to it, the people there are the people who can't get out, right? They're what's left over. We have that mentality.

And Hartford's interesting. You drive 20 minutes and you'll be in a cornfield. You could be in the middle of skyscrapers, drive 20 minutes in any direction, you'll be in a smack dab in a cornfield.

And Hartford's interesting. You drive 20 minutes and you'll be in a cornfield. You could be in the middle of skyscrapers, drive 20 minutes in any direction, you'll be in a smack dab in a cornfield.

And Hartford's interesting. You drive 20 minutes and you'll be in a cornfield. You could be in the middle of skyscrapers, drive 20 minutes in any direction, you'll be in a smack dab in a cornfield.

Yeah, it's right across the river and a lot of people work in the fields and then live in the city and vice versa. And I realized that when you live in a small town, in a small community, you owe respect to everybody because you can't be... Pardon my French, an asshole. If you are, people know your name and they know your family and they know your grandmother.

Yeah, it's right across the river and a lot of people work in the fields and then live in the city and vice versa. And I realized that when you live in a small town, in a small community, you owe respect to everybody because you can't be... Pardon my French, an asshole. If you are, people know your name and they know your family and they know your grandmother.

Yeah, it's right across the river and a lot of people work in the fields and then live in the city and vice versa. And I realized that when you live in a small town, in a small community, you owe respect to everybody because you can't be... Pardon my French, an asshole. If you are, people know your name and they know your family and they know your grandmother.

And I felt like there's an incredible obligation that you have by offering each other dignity because there's nowhere to hide. You can be a jerk in New York and you just fade into the subway and then that's it. But there's no anonymity. You have to stand by what you believe. You have to defend and argue yourself. And then you have to face each other when you don't agree.

And I felt like there's an incredible obligation that you have by offering each other dignity because there's nowhere to hide. You can be a jerk in New York and you just fade into the subway and then that's it. But there's no anonymity. You have to stand by what you believe. You have to defend and argue yourself. And then you have to face each other when you don't agree.

And I felt like there's an incredible obligation that you have by offering each other dignity because there's nowhere to hide. You can be a jerk in New York and you just fade into the subway and then that's it. But there's no anonymity. You have to stand by what you believe. You have to defend and argue yourself. And then you have to face each other when you don't agree.

You might have to work side by side. And so I wanted to see that that's actually not a place left behind. That's an advantageous, even innovative way to relate to people. When you cannot hide behind anything, you have to face each other with respect, dignity, and a kind of proximity that so much of America really is.

You might have to work side by side. And so I wanted to see that that's actually not a place left behind. That's an advantageous, even innovative way to relate to people. When you cannot hide behind anything, you have to face each other with respect, dignity, and a kind of proximity that so much of America really is.