Davies's worldly stories, reflecting his Welsh and Chinese heritage, delight in odd--and memorable--juxtapositions and counterpoints. Elegant and original, they travel "with an offhand grace" (Elle) from Coventry to Kuala Lumpur, from the past to the present, and from hilarity to tragedy. With its humanism and pointed wit, this collection "signals the debut of a major talent" (Chang-rae Lee).
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
Tell me a story:
********** 10 Stars
I loved to listen to short-stories as a child in Wales, well that's what I like to think, and this collection of beautifully sculpted, humoress and enchanting tales will keep you spellbound long enough to forget about everything else around you.
Peter Ho Davies has written a remarkable book which indicates a brilliant ability to observe, interpret and create images, ideas and stories.
regards,
Martyn R Jones
Excellent in variety and delightful in style:
Davies' collection of short stories is a wonderful amalgam of short stories that are both memorable and unique. Although the subjects vary, from an elite officers' dinner party during the Boer War to a quarry workers' strike in Wales, Davies is consistent throughout with his insightfulness and a wonderful sense of humor. More specifically, the stories are not written in any atypical or outrageous manner; rather, Davies simply tells his stories in voices that are confident and direct, and each is perfectly... more info
A brilliant, bracing debut:
To read this delightful collection of stories is like taking a balloon trip around the world with an acute spyglass to your eye; you see diverse moments in history and across cultures with tremendous specificity and clarity. But Davies' best accomplishment is the tenderness with which he presents his odd characters--the chinese painter pressganged by a group of violent communist buffoons, the striking Welsh miner who must choose between pride and love. Even a buttoned-up group of colonialist Brits striving... more info
A complex, compelling, and substantial collection.:
Here is a collection that defies the current rules of publishing. Each story is whole unto itself, fully realized, sophisticated, at times comic and always poignant. Davies repeats nothing and holds nothing back. A remarkable achievement in a current literary world marked by monotony and reiteration.
