The Shape of a Story: Ocean Vuong

Join us for a special conversation with Ocean Vuong, award-winning poet, novelist, professor, and one of today’s most influential literary voices. Best known for his bestselling novel On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous and acclaimed poetry collections Night Sky with Exit Wounds and Time Is a Mother, Vuong’s work explores memory, identity, grief, family, and the quiet moments that shape who we are. His latest novel, The Emperor of Gladness, is an instant New York Times bestseller and Oprah’s Book Club Pick.

Born in Saigon, Vietnam and raised in a working-class family in Hartford, Connecticut, Vuong brings a deeply human perspective to his writing; one rooted in care, survival, language, and transformation. A recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Grant, the American Book Award, and numerous literary honors, his work has resonated with readers around the world for its emotional honesty and lyricism.

In The Shape of a Story, Vuong will reflect on the creative process, the power of storytelling, and the ways stories are shaped by memory, silence, community, and lived experience. Whether you’re a longtime admirer of his work or discovering him for the first time, this event offers an intimate look at the craft and heart behind one of contemporary literature’s most compelling voices.

Moderator
Adrian Matejka, an award-winning poet, editor, and educator, will join Ocean Vuong in conversation. The author of several acclaimed poetry collections and a leading voice in contemporary literature, Matejka is known for his work exploring history, identity, and culture through poetry and storytelling.

Register for this free online event today.

Zoom registration approvals for this event will close at 5:00 p.m. on the day of the event. Registrations received after this deadline will stay pending and will be processed after the live event, ensuring that those who missed the cutoff will still receive the event recording. Attendance is limited to patrons of participating ILP member libraries; registrations from non-member library patrons will be declined.

Once you submit your registration, please allow two business days for the host to approve it. You will then receive an automated confirmation email from Zoom with the link to join. An email reminder with the link to join will also be sent to registered attendees one week, one day, and one hour before the event.

ASL interpreting and closed captioning are now available for all ILP Season 6 events—no requests needed. Event recording will be accessible to registered attendees for a limited time, typically up to 30 days, in accordance with contractual agreements with the speaker.