NPR's Book of the Day With new novel, Ocean Vuong says he wants to reframe America as a place of salvage
May 23, 2025
Ocean Vuong discusses his novel, focusing on the unlikely friendship between a young college dropout and an elderly woman with dementia. He explores how shared experiences can transcend generational gaps and societal barriers. The conversation highlights the power of storytelling to find beauty in ugliness and the realities of the American dream, particularly through the lens of fast food workers. Vuong aims to reframe American identity by revealing the resilience found in difficult circumstances and the deep connections that arise from them.
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America as Salvage and Survival
- Vuong sees America as a place where debris from historical wars and trauma can be salvaged.
- Survivors are not trash but debris that rebuilds new lives with meaning.
Living with Dementia Patient
- Ocean Vuong shared living with an elderly woman with dementia while he was a young college student.
- This experience changed his perspective on human interaction and personal usefulness.
Language Redeems the Ugly
- Vuong was taught wonder and resilience by illiterate women who raised him.
- He believes language and description can redeem even the ugliest experiences.
