Ocean Vuong and Fleur McDonald reimagine Connecticut and Kalgoorlie
The Emperor of Gladness is the latest novel from the Vietnam born, American-based writer Ocean Vuong who made his name with his 2019 novel On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous. His new novel, The Emperor of Gladness, takes you to a forgotten, rundown town in Connecticut called East Gladness which is a place of overgrown lawns and trampled weeds, of potholes and roadkill. Ocean shares why he thinks his latest book is self-indulgent (and that's ok), how he came to writing from business school and why his mother never knew that he dropped out of college to study literature.
Australian novelist Fleur McDonald is 25 books into her writing career but as well as writing page-turning novels, she's also lived an incredible life and founded the WA organisation DV Assist which is aimed at rural victims of domestic violence. Fleur is based in Esperance - on the southern coast of Western Australia - but her new book, The Prospect, takes the reader inland to Kalgoorlie, a gold mining town, which even today holds tight to its frontier sensibility.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Axed Channel 10 star Jonathan LaPaglia rumoured to host US version of Survivor after brutal sacking
Just days after he was brutally axed from Channel 10, Jonathan LaPaglia is rumoured to have bagged a new gig in the US. It was revealed last week that the current host of Survivor Australia had been informed over a 'cold' email that Channel 10 had decided the show needed a refresh and that he wouldn't be part of it. But now, LaPaglia could have the last laugh as rumours are swirling that he could be being lined up to replace US host, Jeff Probst, according to New Idea. LaPaglia and Probst are good mates, and have met up for dinner on numerous occasions, with the Australian previously confessing to being a huge fan of the US series. 'JLP is the best. I think a lot of the issue with Jeff is his evolution into this motivational speaker that none of us asked for. Jeff in the early days was more interesting to watch host. Not so much anymore,' remarked one fan amid the speculation. 'He's [JLP] my pick to for replacement host if Jeff retires,' another Survivor fan shared. Rumours of Probst's departure were further fuelled when he shared a video of himself advertising the 50th season of the show. Fans of the franchise were quick to remark that the long-running presenter looked 'unhappy' and 'over' his job, sparking suggestions that it could be his last season in front of the camera. Meanwhile, the rumours emerged after new details about how longtime Survivor host LaPaglia was axed from the Aussie version of the show. The Australian TV host, who has helmed the Channel 10 show since its revival in 2016, will not return as a presenter next year. LaPaglia initially made a statement telling fans that he had been 'blindsided' by the network, and now it's been claimed that the long-running star was informed of his sacking via a 'cold' email. 'He got an email first,' a source told Daily Mail. 'That was the initial comms from EndemolShine.' 'Then a call came from Ten, but by then it was already done. It's really not how you treat someone who's been part of the show for almost a decade.' To make matters worse, the source alleges that LaPaglia received the sudden email before he had finished filming Survivor: Australia vs. The World. The insider claimed that the decision to fire LaPaglia was 'locked in' for months, but in order to avoid any trouble during the filming of his latest season they wanted to wait until the show was complete.
SBS Australia
3 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Plat du Tour S6
SBS's award winning companion podcast. Join host Yumi Stynes for Seen, a new SBS podcast about cultural creatives who have risen to excellence despite a role-model vacuum.
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Billy Brownless targeted by social media trolls over anniversary post
Billy Brownless has found himself the target of social media trolls as the AFL icon celebrated his one year anniversary with partner Crystle Fleur. The 198-game Geelong Cats star was soaking up the bubbling romance, but a post on social media quickly took an ugly turn. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Fleur, 52, took to social media to gush about Brownless, 58, and hinted at what may be in store for the couple. 'Happy 1st anniversary to this amazing man!' Fleur captioned the upload. '365 days of love, laughter and amazing adventures as we fly off to start the biggest one yet.' And while the post received a flood of support from friends, the nasty comments quickly began to pour in. One commenter wrote: 'Money can buy u happiness.' A second posted: 'And I thought Bradman batted way above his average.' A third added: 'Gary Lyon somewhere lurking looking to swoop in at any given opportunity.' Another wrote: 'Punching above your weight there big man.' Several however came to the defence of Brownless and took aim at the trolls trying to dampen the happiness of the couple. A fed up commenter wrote: 'I can't believe some of the comments on this! People are gross, and likely just jealous of you guys (or unhappy in their own sh*tty lives). You both look very happy. Congrats on 1 year, & many more to come!' Former AFL player Dale Thomas wrote: 'Congrat guys' alongside the raising hands emoji. Brownless and Fleur went public with their relationship in October last year at Geelong's best and fairest night. The then 57-year-old Cats Hall of Famer was seen arm in arm with the 52-year-old mum of three with the two being sighted at a plethora of events since. The pair had reportedly been going strong for two months before their first public outing. The happy couple were spotted after the AFL Grand Final speaking with his ex-wife Nicky Brownless and former best mate and Melbourne great Garry Lyon. Brownless and Nicky were together for 18 years before splitting in 2014. In 2016 Lyon's friendship with Brownless fell apart after he went public with Nicky. A month after their relationship made headlines, Billy revealed how the relationship had impacted his family, saying 'a good mate wouldn't do that'. 'I couldn't believe it. I found out three or four months ago. I asked Garry and Nicky earlier on what is going on and they said they were just good friends,' he said on the Footy Show at the time. 'That's what hurts the most.' The former best mates have since reunited with the duo spending several Christmases together as an extended family. Lyon surprised Nicky in December, 2023 when he proposed and she said yes. Nicky clearly wasn't expecting the move, announcing the news of the engagement on her Instagram account, posting a black and white photo of the pair embracing with the caption 'the best surprise'. The duo, who have been together for eight years, took off to New York shortly after the proposal.
