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A Virtual Visit with Ocean Vuong
When: Tuesday, April 13, 2027 at 7:00 PM
Where: Virtual/Online, Champaign, IL — Champaign, IL
Price: Free
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, T he 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.
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.
Zoom registration approvals for this event will now 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.
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ILLINOIS LIBRARIES PRESENT | Spring 2027
Jan 19, Funny on Purpose with Sasheer Zamata , 7 pm
Feb 18, Navigating Hallowed Ground with David Grann , 7 pm
Mar 16, Global Voices, Personal Stories: Megha Majumdar , 7 pm
Apr 13, The Shape of a Story: Ocean Vuong , 7 pm
May 11, On Resistance and Responsibility with Angela Davis , 7 pm
Illinois Libraries Present is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). Illinois Libraries Present is committed to inclusion and accessibility. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Closed Captioning are provided.
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