The best kind of celebrity interview is one where you find out that the person who made a thing you love also thinks in a way that you love.

Nothing is more foreign than when Ariel says in The Little Mermaid, I want to be where the people are.

I don't want to be where the people are. I just don't.

I'm Rachel Martin. Listen to the Wildcard

podcast, only from NPR. From W. H.Y.Y. In Philadelphia, this is Fresh Air Weekend. I'm Tanya

Mosley. And today, poet and novelist Ocean Vong talks about his new novel, The Emperor of Gladness.

In it, Vong tells the story of a suicidal man who has talked off the ledge by an elderly

woman suffering from dementia.

Through their friendship, Vong challenges the very foundation of what makes us American,

including individualism and every man for himself.

And yet, in the working poor communities, the black and brown. including individualism and every man for himself.

And yet, in the working poor communities, the black and brown communities that I grew up in,

the generosity came first. That sort of doggy dog world was shameful.

Book critic Marine Corrigan also has a review of Bond's novel.

And we hear from comedian Otzko Akatska. She's known for finding humor and the dysfunction of her immigrant family. Her new stand-up special is about her

father who reappeared in her life after decades away. That's coming up on Fresh Air Weekend.

This is Fresh Air Weekend. I'm Tanya Mosley.

Our first guest is writer and poet Ocean Vong.

Before we hear our interview,

let's listen to book critic Maureen Corrigan's review of his new novel,

The Emperor of Gladness.

Ocean Vuong's 2019 debut novel,

...