This is a collection of fifteen short stories that all deal with the notion of happiness, but each in a different way and form. Among the themes that are analyzed: seduction, eroticism, homosexuality, heterosexuality, human behavior in the corporate world, social problems. Characters include a teacher and a student, a judge and welfare people, a bus driver, boss and workers, psychopaths and therapists.
"The form of these stories is somewhat exploded, fragmented, and each page shows a remarkable mastery of the genre and its codes. In short, as always in Brulotte's fiction, the collection is nicely wrapped with finesse, intelligence and inspiration. Most of all, it is spiced up with this corrosive, yet discreet, humor, a trademark of this great master of the genre." Stanley Péan, Le Libraire, Québec, No 18 (Spring 2003), 7.
"Daily life is analyzed here with a very lively gift of observation, an incomparable sharpness, a humoristic finesse, and acid irony and sarcasm. (…) Are under attack unfairness, hypocrisy, stupidity, imposture, whatever the form they have. One must underline the completely personal art with which the short story writer hooks us and seduces us: his attention to details, his choice of the right words to reach his target, numerous effects of style, his apparently relaxed tone which is terribly efficient (….) His collection is a jewel. Please read it!" Gilles Dorion, Québec français 129 (Spring 2003): 9
"Brulotte's characters have nothing simple about them, they are even highly complex, always in a state of questioning (..) the twelve short stories of Life Sideways form a whole of a great thematic, aesthetic and formal complexity. (…) Since The Secret Voice (…) Brulotte never ceased to explore new avenues to tell our world. (…) There are short stories which speak of love (…) in an often strange way, but that is always fascinating, and never "simple". (…) This is what we call the exactingness of the form." Michel Lord, "Rien n'est simple", Lettres québécoises, Montréal, 110 (Summer 2003), p. 27-28.
"(…) Twelve unusual atmospheres, sometimes at the frontier of the Fantastic (…) Absolutely unpredictable (…) irresistibly funny (…) each has a its own personality in tone, style, structure (…) This exploitation of original structures, along with the admirable mastery of writing make the strength of Life Sideways. To be marked with a white stone." Hélène Rioux, XYZ, la Revue de la nouvelle No 73, Montréal (Spring 2003), 77-78.
"Beach Hotel", a short text with a remarkable punch to it. (…) As a whole, "Putiphar's Complex" is a rather acute social critic, which is served by a continuous humor. (…) small pictures that are jewels in style, fill of finesse and nuances." Réginald Martel, La Presse, Montréal, Dec. 8, 2002, F-2.
"Everything is scrutinized under his efficient and funny pen." Francine Fiore, Le Babillart, Feb. 24, 2003
"A virtuoso," "eccentric lives," "in Kafka style," "a blown-up discourse"
Stanley Péan, www.radio-canada.ca - zone Culture.html, April 2003