The Emperor of Gladness

Like I expected, I loved this book. Ocean Voung is a poet and you can feel it on every page. He describes the characters and scenes with such tenderness that makes my heart ache. You can tell by the sincerity of his writing, that he explores topics that he cares about deeply and some had experienced himself. It makes me wish that everyone could see the world with all its mundanity in such a magical light and with so much kindness in their heart. This book was also unexpectedly funny in a really absurd way. Thankfully, because the characters also struggle with many serious and sad issues: addiction, poverty, trauma, war, … but the atmosphere is also hopeful. They are clinging onto their dreams and each other, in the form of a little found family. The Friendship between Hai and Grazina is heartwarming and beautiful, but like everything in this book has its sad moments. Her declining health and dementia. The Emperor of Gladness is not a plot driven book it shines through poetic writing and a cast of beautiful characters, that will stay with me for a long time.