#496: Beginnings

The author Ocean Vuong: An essay, an interview, and a book

Dear Loyal Readers,

This week’s issue is a shorter one than usual. The reason is that I’m the principal of my school this week (usually I’m the assistant principal), and wow, it’s taking a lot of hours — and sort of kicking my butt.

But I have two pieces of good news. The first is that school ends next Wednesday, so there are just a few more days to go. The second is that this past weekend, I was able to read The Emperor of Gladness, Ocean Vuong’s new book, and loved it.

Today’s quick issue is all-Ocean Vuong. I have three selections for you:

1. An essay he wrote 10 years ago that was the precursor to his book

2. An interview with Mr. Vuong about his book

3. A few words about the book itself

All right, let’s get to it!

Beginnings: New York

by Ocean Vuong • The Adroit Journal • 16 min • Gift Link

Given Ocean Vuong’s previous work, I can’t say for certain if this essay is entirely autobiographical. But I am going to infer that it is. The piece explores Mr. Vuong’s days as an early writer — moving to New York, finding himself broke, and not knowing what to do to survive. He ends up taking care of an elderly woman with dementia, living with her in lieu of paying rent. Her name is Lina. Mr. Ocean writes:

It’s a rainy night in Brooklyn. Lightning silhouettes an oak tree outside my window, its twisted branches rinsed with rainwater. I’m lying in bed, waiting for her voice to break through the dark hallway and into my room, the way it has every stormy night since I’ve lived here. By the third thunderclap, a sharp wail shoots through the house and into my bedsprings. I bury my face into the blanket and curl into myself, hoping she will calm and return to sleep. Within minutes, my bedroom door bursts open and the shade of a small woman collapses onto the hardwood, screaming and writhing on a square of light fallen through the window. I leap from the mattress and gather her frail body into my arms. I stroke her back, my fingers frantically rubbing the length of her arm, trying to coax her back to the present, to herself. This isn’t a nightmare. The woman is eighty-four-years old and suffers from severe dementia.

Originally published 10 years ago, this essay focuses mostly on the relationship that Mr. Vuong builds over time with Lina. But as with all pieces by Mr. Vuong, it’s about so much more: his grandmother, his immigration story, the power of reading, the power of writing, the importance of language. I hope you’ll read it.

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A Conversation with Ocean Vuong

with David Marchese • The New York Times • 50 min • Apple Podcasts

Ocean Vuong is all over the Internet right now as he promotes his new book. (It’s hard not to be all over the Internet when Oprah chooses your book for her book club.) I’ve listened to many interviews with him. Because Mr. Vuong is so thoughtful, I could listen to him for days. This conversation with David Marchese of the New York Times is one of my favorites so far. It’s pretty intense, so listen with care. Here’s an excerpt:

When my mom died, I was like, That was it. Everything was for her, and ultimately I’ve got to ask the question I didn’t want to ask: What would I write for myself? Existentially it’s like, Now what? When I finally got to do what I thought I was doing this whole time, which is writing on my own terms, it felt empty to me.

The Emperor of Gladness

Article Club is about reading and discussing nonfiction articles, so it’s rare that I recommend a book of fiction. But I highly recommend The Emperor of Gladness. As with all of Ocean Vuong’s work, the language is beautiful. The characters are nuanced and memorable. And the themes are serious and sometimes dark. But what delighted me most is that there are parts where this book is also very funny. (Am I allowed to say that?)

If one of Mr. Vuong’s goals was to illuminate the beauty of ordinary people’s lives, and to reveal the humor that emerges from authentic human relationships, he certainly succeeds in this book. My hope is that you consider reading this book, and if you do, that you share with me your thoughts.

Thank you for reading and listening to this week’s issue. Hope you liked it. 😀

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