One of America's most in demand poets, Ocean Vuong, talks about On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, his first novel which, in letter form, tells the story of a young Vietnamese migrant and his mother and grandmother, struggling to carve out a life and identity in the Northeast United States, learning every day what it means to be American.  New Yorker  writer, Jia Tolentino says that in the novel Vuong “evokes a vision of comfort and stability that feels as distant as a fairy tale,” and though the circumstances are far from unique, Vuong’s use of language opens up the experience for the reader in this highly readable novel that will make you laugh and will make you cry.

Ocean Vuong talks with one of Canada's most acclaimed and buzzed about young poets, Souvankham Thammavongsa (How to Pronounce Knife, recently long-listed for the  Scotiabank Giller Prize) about the writing and reception of his first novel.

About this event's guests:
Ocean Vuong
Souvankham Thammavongsa

This event is part of TPL's Asian Heritage series.

Asian Heritage: Ocean Vuong: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous