Gwen Davies

Gwen Davies' first volume of short fiction depicts the struggle of people young and old to find meaning and solace in the surprising obstacles and opportunities that life throws in their path. The volume's ten loosely structured stories are also loosely linked, in the sense that we encounter the same characters at different stages of their lives, chronologically cutting a swath across the last thirty years or so of the previous century. In “No Endings” it is the summer of 1969 and Emily is hitch-hiking through Europe before starting university in the fall. Somewhat of an innocent, but intelligent and fiercely independent, Emily must grow up quickly when she finds herself on the receiving end of two gifts, each of which leaves her pondering an ethical dilemma. “Marrying Gilbert” finds Emily a couple of years later, at the height of the hippie counterculture, residing in a commune, her life in a holding pattern as she tries to navigate a delicate path between her own half-formed dreams and the demands being made on her by others. In “She Knew I’d Be There” a different young woman, Melannie, acts impulsively to help a pregnant street kid, sacrificing her own identity in the process. And the powerful and deeply felt closing story, “The Joneses of Fellowes Harbour,” set in 1997, brings characters from the previous stories together with their offspring to mourn and celebrate the life of Lorraine, who is suffering through the final stages of cancer. Gwen Davies does not write flashy prose, but it is precise and detailed and all the more effective for not drawing attention to itself. Her stories present us with characters who, well into adulthood, are still growing and learning, vulnerable and often troubled by shame, regret or disappointment. She probes their motives with a clear and impassive eye, showing us their selfishness, their weaknesses, but doing so in a manner that does not judge or condemn. These are insightful and emotionally authentic stories, filled with revelatory moments when we recognize ourselves in the characters. A notable and memorable debut from an accomplished writer, Facing the Other Way impresses on multiple levels.… (more)