Oprah Winfrey

I welcome you back, dear listener, to Oprah's Book Club. And I'm at a Starbucks in Chicago right now with an audience full of devoted readers. We are diving into what critics are calling epic, astonishing, and a masterwork. Ocean Bong's The Emperor of Gladness, my 114th Oprah's Book Club selection. Let's get back to the conversation. There was a wild moment.

I welcome you back, dear listener, to Oprah's Book Club. And I'm at a Starbucks in Chicago right now with an audience full of devoted readers. We are diving into what critics are calling epic, astonishing, and a masterwork. Ocean Bong's The Emperor of Gladness, my 114th Oprah's Book Club selection. Let's get back to the conversation. There was a wild moment.

I can see why that would live with you forever.

I can see why that would live with you forever.

I can see why that would live with you forever.

Intimate, personal, vulnerable, that he probably hadn't shared with anyone. With anyone, yeah. So I've heard you say writing is about listening. rather than making. I think that is so fascinating. What is it you're listening for? You say writing is about listening rather than making.

Intimate, personal, vulnerable, that he probably hadn't shared with anyone. With anyone, yeah. So I've heard you say writing is about listening. rather than making. I think that is so fascinating. What is it you're listening for? You say writing is about listening rather than making.

Intimate, personal, vulnerable, that he probably hadn't shared with anyone. With anyone, yeah. So I've heard you say writing is about listening. rather than making. I think that is so fascinating. What is it you're listening for? You say writing is about listening rather than making.

And that's what this whole story is all about. It means you've watched and observed and... I feel that parts of you are high, but then you're not high. So you are high and not high, right? He's a lot better than me.

And that's what this whole story is all about. It means you've watched and observed and... I feel that parts of you are high, but then you're not high. So you are high and not high, right? He's a lot better than me.

And that's what this whole story is all about. It means you've watched and observed and... I feel that parts of you are high, but then you're not high. So you are high and not high, right? He's a lot better than me.

Okay, so I will tell you that I read chapter one sometimes just to soothe myself, particularly in these times. And over Christmas holidays, I was with my chosen family. I've raised these girls since they were 12 years old. And now they're in their 30s. And there were four of us at my house. And we were sitting around a crackling fire. Reading out loud. Chapter one.

Okay, so I will tell you that I read chapter one sometimes just to soothe myself, particularly in these times. And over Christmas holidays, I was with my chosen family. I've raised these girls since they were 12 years old. And now they're in their 30s. And there were four of us at my house. And we were sitting around a crackling fire. Reading out loud. Chapter one.

Okay, so I will tell you that I read chapter one sometimes just to soothe myself, particularly in these times. And over Christmas holidays, I was with my chosen family. I've raised these girls since they were 12 years old. And now they're in their 30s. And there were four of us at my house. And we were sitting around a crackling fire. Reading out loud. Chapter one.

I mean, when I think of that, I think about the people as teenagers drinking in their father's trucks. And I think, wow, all of that's true. And then time passes and then they're sitting there in the same trucks or different trucks. And there they are with the babies in their arms and they don't even know how they got there. How were you able to able to get that?

I mean, when I think of that, I think about the people as teenagers drinking in their father's trucks. And I think, wow, all of that's true. And then time passes and then they're sitting there in the same trucks or different trucks. And there they are with the babies in their arms and they don't even know how they got there. How were you able to able to get that?

I mean, when I think of that, I think about the people as teenagers drinking in their father's trucks. And I think, wow, all of that's true. And then time passes and then they're sitting there in the same trucks or different trucks. And there they are with the babies in their arms and they don't even know how they got there. How were you able to able to get that?

And then life goes on. Yeah. And you think life goes on just as it was before. Right. Yes. Well, High is a 19-year-old who meets Grazina, an elderly woman who brings hope into High's life against all odds. And she and High form an unlikely friendship. What was your intention in bringing these two characters together?

And then life goes on. Yeah. And you think life goes on just as it was before. Right. Yes. Well, High is a 19-year-old who meets Grazina, an elderly woman who brings hope into High's life against all odds. And she and High form an unlikely friendship. What was your intention in bringing these two characters together?

And then life goes on. Yeah. And you think life goes on just as it was before. Right. Yes. Well, High is a 19-year-old who meets Grazina, an elderly woman who brings hope into High's life against all odds. And she and High form an unlikely friendship. What was your intention in bringing these two characters together?