World Famous Love Acts

by Brian Leung

"An entire book of good stories. . . . Leung] gains trust the old-fashioned way--through confidence, craftsmanship and compassion. There are no shortcuts here, no tricks or gimmicks, no glib patinas to conceal weak underpinnings. . . . This is a book about loss, twined irrevocably with hope, a hope that surges below the surface of all life. . . . Read it] and see a bold new writer making himself vulnerable on the page. He gives us all hope."--Chris...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1889330167
• ISBN13: 9781889330167
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Sarabande Books
• Length: 202 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Great Writer and Great Reader!

I saw Brian Leung read from this book recently and I bought a copy. The story he read was amazing, and I had hoped that the others would be similarly solid. I wasn't dissapointed. I could't put this book down. I would usually read a story a night, but I stayed up all night reading this book cover to cover. Thanks for writing such a great book!

A different Perspective

In his book World Famous Love Acts, Leung takes a jump into exploring the side of relationships that one usually pretends is not there. The side of the self that is somewhat stranged from the part that one presents to the world. Leung's success is admirable in his approach to that side of relationships and inner character. In his montage of short stories that he delivers in a T.S. Eliot-like manner, he shows the disconnectedness that lures over most of contemporary society, encouraging to evaluate ourselves and our relationships. I applaud Mr. Leung on his successful book, and look forward to more of products of his imagination. His expertice on the craft of story telling is incomparable.

Superb Superb Superb.. Well Done Mr. Lueng!

This book is a MUST READ. I cannot put into words how overwhelmingly suprised I was and how well written this book is from cover to cover and back again! I am buying for friends to read..... it is that good!

Some Calm in the Storm

What makes this book special to me is that it offers so many quiet moments of clarity. The world I live in doesn't serve these up too often, and to find this thoughtful calmness between these pages was a genuine pleasure. And yet, it's not as if the characters are living easy lives or have easy answers. Their lives are as difficult and complicated as mine. In some ways, it seems as if the reader is being softly reminded that the simple act of reflection can clear away alot of life's problems. My favorite stories in here are "Drawings By Andrew Warhol," which is crazy, "Leases" and the title story, the latter two of which deal with their characters in a way that kind of startled me in a good way.

A Book that Pulls No Punches

What's stunning about this collection of stories is that the writer manages so many authentic voices and yet maintains a key and unifying lyricism. The range of sexualities and cultures is impressive. And no character here is left off the hook for their dubious life choices. Yet, all are respected in their journey of reflection on those choices. The results are both open, and surprising. Equally as impressive is that Leung avoids the cliche's and well-trod ground of fiction with (...)Chinese characters. Any reader who has pre-concieved notions of how family relationships, love relationships, and cultural relationships are "supposed" to be written will be wholly and usefully challenged by these stories. This is a new and authentic reading of what it means to be human.