“No, eat the carrot first. Please.” She leaned forward, knife and fork on each side of the plate, a paper towel tucked in her collar. “It’s important.” He finished the carrot, then picked another from the bowl and put the whole thing in his mouth. “They’re good for you, believe me.” … “For the eyes, right?” “That’s a lie… Carrots,” she paused for effect, “give you the will to live.” “What do you mean?” he said, chewing. “It’s a root. And roots prevent you from getting the blues.” She picked one from the bowl; it gleamed under the kitchen light. “You see, carrots become bright orange because it’s so dark in the ground. They make their own light because the sun never reaches that far—like those fish in the ocean who glow from nothing? So when you eat it, you take in the carrot’s will to go upward. To heaven.”
— Ocean Vuong, The Emperor of Gladness: A Novel (Penguin Press, May 13, 2025)
Notes:
- NY Times Book Review: “Odd Couple Roommates, Bonds by Pills and Precarity. Ocean Vuong’s florid new novel, which seeks to find the dignity in dead-end jobs.”
- Guardian Book Review: “‘Heartbreak and hope”
- Post Title & Inspiration: Aldous Huxley: “It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them.
OMG, isn’t he just so precious? Precious in the best possible way. We used to joke on ‘carrots are good for your eyes’ with: Have you ever seen a bunny with glasses…. but THIS is pure magic. I shall never look at a carrot in the same way thanks to Ocean Vuong and DK! Thanks my friend.
So glad you loved it Kiki. I had same reaction, and don’t think I’ll ever look at carrots the same way.
That’s special.
So agree!
Ocean Vuong is one of a kind.
I love carrots and had the weirdest reaction to them all my life. If I bite into one, instantly get the hiccups. Until I discovered the employee vegetables garden at work last October. That was the first time in my life pulling a carrot from the ground. Gave it a quick rinse with the little water I had in my bottle. Bit into it, dirt and all. No hiccups since then.
Amazing. Thanks for sharing.
You found a treasure in Ocean Vuong. Aren’t people amazing? the various ways our minds work!
He is a treasure Valerie!
love that tidbit of philosophy
Me too!
Just like Kiki said, “I will never look at a carrot the same way again.”
Me too!
this is awesome, and definitely means that when i drink my carrot juice in the morning that i am literally drinking heavenly sunshine. 🙂
I need to start drinking carrot juice in the morning. I’ve never even had a glass or carrot juice.