News & Stories Within the new novel 'The Emperor of Gladness,' a love letter to fast food workers Alejandra Marquez Janse Ari Shapiro Matt Ozug May 14, 2025 / 2:35 pm Play AudioPlaying6 mins left In his new novel, The Emperor of Gladness, Ocean Vuong lovingly describes characters who worked together in a Connecticut fast food restaurant. Why you can trust KUOW