The theory of light and matter

The Theory of Light and Matter contains ten long stories about secrets, desires, loneliness and sorrow. They are set in idyllic suburbs, where the narrators try to give meaning to their everyday lives. In
In 'Hot' a young man investigates the causes of the death of his childhood friend. In the story 'River Dog' the narrator doubts the true circumstances of the assault of a classmate during a party. And in 'Azul' a childless couple has great difficulty setting boundaries with an exchange student who lives with them.
In the stories of The Theory of Light and Matter, the characters try to come to terms with their past and the choices they made then. The tone of the stories is poetic, but at the same time clear and accessible. Porter writes in the tradition of the grand masters of the short story such as John Cheever and Raymond Carver, but with the speed and intensity of the new generation.