Equal Love

by Peter Ho Davies

'Witty, intelligent . . . definitely a name to watch.' Scotland on Sunday In his new collection, prize-winning author Peter Ho Davies takes as his starting point the essential imbalance of the relationship between parent and child. Drawing on the author's own cross-cultural inheritance, these stories range across a series of settings and backgrounds. From a Chinese son gambling with professional mourners to a mixed-race couple who experience a close encounter with an alien being, Ho Davies' characters share an instantly recognizable sense of displacement - these are children of one century, adults of the next - caught between debts to their parents and what they owe their offspring. Sharply observed and compassionate, Equal Love imparts the talent of a truly original writer, whose work has already earned comparison with that of Raymond Carver, James Joyce and V. S. Naipaul. 'Smartly written and sweetly subversive.' Independent 'A set of delicate variations on the theme that love brings pain.Davies'.writing is poignant and humane.' Sunday Times 'This is Ho Davies on top form; funny, touching, off-beat. Like his first collection, Equal Love deserves the laurels.' Literary Review

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Peter Ho Davies is a contemporary British writer of Welsh and Chinese descent. He was born and raised in Coventry. Davies studied physics at Manchester University then English at Cambridge University.

In 1992 he moved to the United States as a professor of creative writing. He has taught at the University of Oregon and Emory University and is now on the faculty of the MFA Program in Creative Writing at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

He has published two collections of short fiction, The Ugliest House in the World (1998) and Equal Love (2000). His first novel, The Welsh Girl came out in 2007.

Davies is a recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown.

Reviews

[Celeste Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first introduction to Peter Ho Davies! The first story, "The Hull Case," is still one of my favorites of his, period.

[Sea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I am just not the short story person. Even though I enjoyed some of the ones in this book, others I just didn't get. And every time that happens I am just not sure if there is a hidden meaning I am just too stupid (or unused to the format) to understand, or if there just is no deeper meaning to it. Sure, all this stories had something to do with Love but since Love is such an ambiguous word, that wasn't hard at all.
I don't know. This collection just didn't convince me.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the fact that it's dated in spots - the book is nearly twenty years old - this story collection is a wonderful example of craft as it examines the subtle, irreversible ways that relationships between parents and children change over time and the implications of those changes. It's likely out of print now, but well worth chasing down a copy if you're so inclined.

[Meghan]

Looking for stories for a library program. found some. I read most of the book, which means I must have liked it.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of stories about families (couples, partners, etc.) in crisis. Tragedies large and small loom from a melancholic mist; these stories are the kind that work best after a glass or two of wine. At times the "message" is a little too heavy-handed, the metaphors a little too obvious. But none of these stories are terrible, and most of them will make you, at the least, sigh deeply. Especially if you take my advice about the wine.

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

this has one of the best short stories i've ever read about an old couple who believes they've seen and been abducted by aliens. It's sweet and funny, but their interview with the government speaks more about their relationship than their alleged alien abduction. The rest of the collection is fantastic too.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine short story collection. My favorite story is about an alien abduction -- but don't be fooled, it's not science fiction fluff. This story, like the other works in this collection, explore the deep human connections we have to the world and to each other.

[Zoe Ballesteros · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perhaps the worst book I've ever read. The stories are simple, cliched, and for the most part, mundane. Sure, "love" can be all these things, but the writing (the stories alone) make it all appear valueless.

[benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Middling!

[Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'd still take the other collection of stories over this one. but I do like alien abduction stories...

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some sound pieces here but overall, nothing too remarkable.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter is amazing teacher/speaker. I am looking forward to reading his other work.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good stuff

[Adam Olenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many great stories in this collection, and "Everything You Can Remember in 30 Seconds is Yours to Keep" might be king among them.

[Mills College Library]

823.914 D2572 2001

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

very nice and diverse set of short stories.

[Bess · Rating 2 out of 5]

1. Frog Men