Oprah Winfrey

Welcome back to Oprah's Book Club. I'm sitting down with award-winning author Ocean Vuong, author of my 114th book club selection, The Emperor of Gladness. It's a sweeping tale, so poetically and vividly written. On every page, it feels like you're in the story. You're in it with the characters. I know our audience felt the same way. So let's hear what questions our readers have for Ocean.

I love to hear what parts of the book they connected to. So let's get back to it. Our audience has read this book, and I know you're all excited to be able to ask questions. Prashita is here. Hi.

I love to hear what parts of the book they connected to. So let's get back to it. Our audience has read this book, and I know you're all excited to be able to ask questions. Prashita is here. Hi.

I love to hear what parts of the book they connected to. So let's get back to it. Our audience has read this book, and I know you're all excited to be able to ask questions. Prashita is here. Hi.

Hi.

Hi.

Hi.

That's how the book begins. The hardest thing in the world is to live only once.

That's how the book begins. The hardest thing in the world is to live only once.

That's how the book begins. The hardest thing in the world is to live only once.

Thank you, Prashita. When you started the book, did you start it with high story? Because I've talked to authors, they start in the middle. Wally Lamb told me he started, you know, this much is true. He started it in the middle because he had the idea for the twins. Where did it start for you? It started with landscape.

Thank you, Prashita. When you started the book, did you start it with high story? Because I've talked to authors, they start in the middle. Wally Lamb told me he started, you know, this much is true. He started it in the middle because he had the idea for the twins. Where did it start for you? It started with landscape.

Thank you, Prashita. When you started the book, did you start it with high story? Because I've talked to authors, they start in the middle. Wally Lamb told me he started, you know, this much is true. He started it in the middle because he had the idea for the twins. Where did it start for you? It started with landscape.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, on page three, where you're just scribing the natural area and you say, look how the birches blackened all night by starlings shatter when dawn's first sparks touch their beaks. I went, holy Jesus, who is this guy? When dawn's first shadow touches their beaks, it felt like we were right there watching them.

Yeah, on page three, where you're just scribing the natural area and you say, look how the birches blackened all night by starlings shatter when dawn's first sparks touch their beaks. I went, holy Jesus, who is this guy? When dawn's first shadow touches their beaks, it felt like we were right there watching them.

Yeah, on page three, where you're just scribing the natural area and you say, look how the birches blackened all night by starlings shatter when dawn's first sparks touch their beaks. I went, holy Jesus, who is this guy? When dawn's first shadow touches their beaks, it felt like we were right there watching them.

Wow. Crystal is here. I hear the small town setting of this story. Really, you connected with this?