Happiness Is a Chemical in the Brain: Stories Audiobook

Quotes

• “Lucia Perillo isn’t just a strikingly original poet; she’s a top-notch fiction writer as well. The stories in this bleakly funny and harrowing collection are reminiscent of both Raymond Carver and Denis Johnson, but the vision than animates them is Perillo’s own, unique and unmistakable.”

  — Tom Perrotta, New York Times bestselling author

• “With bleak whimsy and sweet sadness, Perillo’s poetry—a body of work spanning more than twenty years—celebrates a world that often hurts her. This first story collection echoes versions of her history, as a variety of flawed but enduring characters in a small town in the Pacific Northwest struggle against the confines of their lives.”       

  — New York Times Book Review

• “A lyrical short story collection that reveals a genius for plot and metaphor…Perillo shows a supple imagination and wit as she explores fate and its ironies…Perillo strikes a glorious balance between wryly intelligent prose and emotional force, recalling Alice Munro at her best. This volume’s vibrant stories demonstrate the full potential of the short-story form when put in the hands of a true artist.”

  — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

•  “These tales are as beautifully patterned as poetry, as saturated in feeling, open to ambiguity, and laced with electrifying images. Here, too, are Perillo’s distinctively knowing humor and naturalist’s eye, making for startling stories that, like a drop of pond water under a microscope, teem with unexpected and intricate life.”

  — Booklist (starred review)

• “Emotionally unflinching stories of considerable power, wonder, and humor.”

  — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

• “Perillo has an eye for the rich juxtapositions and ironies that can enliven a story…A memorable collection.” 

  — Library Journal

• “Perillo’s characters are tough but with an edgy wit and a refreshing lack of self-pity, despite their often dead-end circumstances.” 

  — BookPage