Death Sentences

Death may seem a grim and morbid subject matter, but in the capable hands of Suzanne Myre, nothing about death is beyond humour (and death isn't always what it seems).Numbering 13 in total, the stories are populated with eccentric characters, follow unexpected plotlines, and, though thematically united, are completely unique and distinct from one another. From a murderous croissant to a woman seeking salvation in a most unconventional way and a couple of precocious children whose fates are intertwined with a Rottweiler's, the tales in Death Sentences never fail to intrigue, surprise, and entertain. Myre's style ranges from the concrete to the abstract; her tone runs the gamut from touching, sincere, and uplifting to sarcastic, cynical, and bittersweet. What is unwavering, however, is that the writing is witty, mischievous, sharp, and vivacious-always invigorating, never dull or predictable.We come to realize that death comes in all forms (physical, spiritual, metaphorical), people cope in the most curious ways, and in the end, there's no reason we can't have a sense of humour about it all.This is the first translation of Mises a mort. Though Myre has been a prolific and acclaimed writer in Quebec for a decade, this is the first time her work has been translated into English.