Oprah Winfrey

I think it's a great place to meet a friend and connect over a good book and a delicious cup of curated coffee. The pairing for this book club pick is an ice brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso. They say it's the ultimate pick-me-up. So my 114th book club selection, we're here to talk about it today.

And I just have to say, I have to stop myself from tearing up when I think about this book because it is epic. It is poignant. It is hauntingly beautiful. And I read it back in October, and I still sometimes wake up thinking about the characters. The book is called The Emperor of Gladness by celebrated author Ocean Vuong. Welcome, Ocean Vuong!

And I just have to say, I have to stop myself from tearing up when I think about this book because it is epic. It is poignant. It is hauntingly beautiful. And I read it back in October, and I still sometimes wake up thinking about the characters. The book is called The Emperor of Gladness by celebrated author Ocean Vuong. Welcome, Ocean Vuong!

And I just have to say, I have to stop myself from tearing up when I think about this book because it is epic. It is poignant. It is hauntingly beautiful. And I read it back in October, and I still sometimes wake up thinking about the characters. The book is called The Emperor of Gladness by celebrated author Ocean Vuong. Welcome, Ocean Vuong!

I want to talk to you about being this accomplished author with so many awards, hard to mention them all. At just 36, you have a wild list of accomplishments. New York Times bestselling author. A professor of modern poetry at NYU, a multiple award-winning poet, essayist, novelist, screenwriter. You also won a MacArthur Genius Grant. And English isn't even your first language.

I want to talk to you about being this accomplished author with so many awards, hard to mention them all. At just 36, you have a wild list of accomplishments. New York Times bestselling author. A professor of modern poetry at NYU, a multiple award-winning poet, essayist, novelist, screenwriter. You also won a MacArthur Genius Grant. And English isn't even your first language.

I want to talk to you about being this accomplished author with so many awards, hard to mention them all. At just 36, you have a wild list of accomplishments. New York Times bestselling author. A professor of modern poetry at NYU, a multiple award-winning poet, essayist, novelist, screenwriter. You also won a MacArthur Genius Grant. And English isn't even your first language.

Where does this come from, this wellspring of creativity?

Where does this come from, this wellspring of creativity?

Where does this come from, this wellspring of creativity?

So I just want to say you and your family immigrated from Vietnam to the United States when you were just two years old. And I know your mother worked in a nail salon for 25 years to support the family. And she watched the Oprah show every day at four o'clock. That TV would be on. That's what you told me when I called you.

So I just want to say you and your family immigrated from Vietnam to the United States when you were just two years old. And I know your mother worked in a nail salon for 25 years to support the family. And she watched the Oprah show every day at four o'clock. That TV would be on. That's what you told me when I called you.

So I just want to say you and your family immigrated from Vietnam to the United States when you were just two years old. And I know your mother worked in a nail salon for 25 years to support the family. And she watched the Oprah show every day at four o'clock. That TV would be on. That's what you told me when I called you.

Oh, my God. Now I'm going to cry. Well, I think your mother is with us in spirit today. She would be so proud that it is now your book that I'm holding up and telling the world about her son And when you were, you know, working in the nail salon, you're working at the Boston Market, how did you get to be Ocean Vuong, the celebrated writer? Well, my mother knew I was a nerd.

Oh, my God. Now I'm going to cry. Well, I think your mother is with us in spirit today. She would be so proud that it is now your book that I'm holding up and telling the world about her son And when you were, you know, working in the nail salon, you're working at the Boston Market, how did you get to be Ocean Vuong, the celebrated writer? Well, my mother knew I was a nerd.

Oh, my God. Now I'm going to cry. Well, I think your mother is with us in spirit today. She would be so proud that it is now your book that I'm holding up and telling the world about her son And when you were, you know, working in the nail salon, you're working at the Boston Market, how did you get to be Ocean Vuong, the celebrated writer? Well, my mother knew I was a nerd.

Wow.

Wow.

Wow.

When I called you, I told you that when I told you I was choosing this as a book club, I said, I still think about High. I still think about Sony. I still think about these characters. Readers, didn't you love these characters? And don't they stay with you? And so I am just wondering how this story came to be. I'm always fascinated by the process by which authors come to tell their story.