The Brutal Language of Love Stories [Paperback]

Alicia Erian's characters are brave, disarming, affectionate, and deeply flawed. They inhabit the not-so-very-wide space between a good intention and a bad outcome. In Alcatraz, we meet a middle-school spelling champion who spends her afternoons taking baths with the boy next door. In Almonds and Cherries, a young woman turns an unexpectedly arousing bra-shopping experience into a short film, with ramifications for everyone around her. In On the Occasion of My Ruination, a college-bound student plots to lose her virginity to a pizza parlor waiter.The Brutal Language of Lovechallenges traditional notions of right and wrong with what has become Erian's signature -- an achingly stylish humor and a deep understanding of the brutal truth about human nature. These surprising, provocative, and deeply resonant stories marked the emergence of a major talent Seductive, erotic, smart and tartly humorous, these tales are true gems. --Publishers Weekly, starred review A jumble of contradictions -- silly and smart, truthful and ridiculous, heartless and suddenly, painfully heartfelt. Original and very funny, too. -- Mary Gaitskill, author ofBad Behavior This isn't just a book. This is hilarious, heartbreaking torture. -- Chuck Palahniuk, author ofFight Club