Montreal writer Anna Leventhal launches her first book, Sweet Affliction, a collection of fifteen short stories that is by turns caustic, tender, and darkly funny. A short reading by the author will be followed by a conversation with Pasha Malla, author of People Park and The Withdrawal Method.

A pregnancy test is taken at a wedding, a bad diagnosis leads a patient to a surprising outlook, and a civic holiday becomes a dystopian nightmare. By turns caustic, tender, and creepily hilarious, Sweet Affliction reveals the frailties, perversions, and resilience of Anna Leventhals cast of city-dwellers.

"Leventhals work grasps multiple and brazen connections between sisters, lovers, strangers, friends. These stories wander and please. They knife unexpectedly. Truth is lodged in all the cuts. These stories 'know the things energy can do.'"

Tamara Faith Berger, author of Maidenhead

"Sweet Affliction is no big deal or anything one of the most successful, high-functioning, sometimes perfect collections of short stories Ive read in recent memory."

Andrew Hood, author of The Cloaca

"These stories stand Canadian literature on its head amazing characters, totally original and unexpected situations, absolutely hilarious and heartfelt prose Anna Leventhal is a one-of-a-kind talent."

Lee Henderson, author of The Man Game