- Published in January 2002, the hardcover was welcomed with a torrent of gleeful acclaim, including profiles of Elizabeth Crane in periodicals thr...
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May 05, 2007
Seth
rated it: 
Son-of-a-gun. It turns out that finding a book that is written in a voice that is just like that of all of your favorite ex-girlfriends at their most clever, funny, and sophisticated is oddly enjoyable.
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Aug 05, 2010
Jamie
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The author has a unique voice, but sadly the stories don't. They're all told by what might as well be the same character, and what might very well be half a step away from the author herself. OK, collections like that can still be good, but this one was just all right. The stories are mildly entertaining and a few are written in a mildly unusual style, but I'm struggling to find anything better to say about these stories. The book is a very quick read, solicits little thought, and doesn't leave
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Jun 14, 2009
Julia
rated it: 
I just walked into a random used bookstore in Bayview and found this. What are the odds?
I liked these well enough. They were an extremely quick read- I read most of it during a session on the stationary bike. I still have to read the story with "New Zealand" in the title. The stories were warm and cute, although "Christina" and "Return from the Depot!" reminded me a little too much of the American suburban magic realism that Douglas Coupland has trie More...
I liked these well enough. They were an extremely quick read- I read most of it during a session on the stationary bike. I still have to read the story with "New Zealand" in the title. The stories were warm and cute, although "Christina" and "Return from the Depot!" reminded me a little too much of the American suburban magic realism that Douglas Coupland has trie More...
Oct 29, 2008
Aaron
rated it:
"Intervention" just might be my favorite story in this collection. In Crane's story, a woman joins A.A. even though she is not an alcoholic and believes that she has found fulfillment in the organization's teachings. What she has actually done is make a horrid mess of her life and her friends step in to correct her ways.
It's a very funny and relatable story.
Every story in this collection is relatable and funny.
Favorites include:
"Pr More...
It's a very funny and relatable story.
Every story in this collection is relatable and funny.
Favorites include:
"Pr More...
Sep 13, 2008
gwen
rated it: 
Elizabeth Crane is just hitting my sweet spot right now -- I haven't allowed myself much fiction since I started school and am trying to read about reference services before I fall asleep, but I cracked on the long bus ride to and from NYC.
When the Messenger is Hot felt like a continuation of All This Heavenly Glory to me, although Crane wrote Messenger first and I'm sure it Glory felt that way to people who read them in the right order. Both books have the same breathlessness, the More...
When the Messenger is Hot felt like a continuation of All This Heavenly Glory to me, although Crane wrote Messenger first and I'm sure it Glory felt that way to people who read them in the right order. Both books have the same breathlessness, the More...
Nov 09, 2007
Harriet
rated it:
I really liked Crane's second collection of stories, All This Heavenly Glory, but these stories were neither differentiated enough nor linked enough to be as satisfying as her second book. Most of the stories here deal with, at least in passing, a dead/dying mother and rehab and all feature the same kind of breathless narration and quirky interpolation of odd details and supernatural elements. It was a little too much of the same for me (I had a similar reaction when reading all of John Irving
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May 10, 2007
Kelly
rated it:
Elizabeth Crane's prose is smart yet straightforward, funny yet meaningful. In When the Messenger Is Hot, she experiments with form and point of view while creating memorable characters and scenarios.
There are lots of stories in this book, so I'll just highlight a couple of my favorites. The opener, "The Archetypes Girlfriend," is more of an extended description than a traditional story. Is there such thing as a stereotypical idiosyncrasy? Yes: Crane manages to display tons More...
There are lots of stories in this book, so I'll just highlight a couple of my favorites. The opener, "The Archetypes Girlfriend," is more of an extended description than a traditional story. Is there such thing as a stereotypical idiosyncrasy? Yes: Crane manages to display tons More...
Jan 27, 2009
Ichaerus
rated it:
A really great story collection. At first, I kind of felt like each story was just sort of a rehashing of the previous one, but then I realized that the continuing thematic elements weren't a cop out, that is was more that each story seemed to inform the one that followed it, I really found myself caught up in the collection. The story "An Intervention..." in particular really left me feeling satisfied. No glowingly happy endings, but who says you need those anyway.
Nov 07, 2008
Tracy
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 16, 2011
Anna
rated it:
I read her later collection of short stories and those were much stronger. Maybe if I hadn't read the collections back to back I would have liked this one better but two collections with the same voice in nearly all the stories is a bit much. Crane seems to put a lot of herself into her protagonists. And, she's very likable but it becomes a bit tiresome since it's the same refrain. Plus, the use of run-ons was confusing at times and broke up the flow of her writing. I get it, I just wished she c
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Jan 27, 2009
Nancy
rated it:
Gloriously written collection of short stories. Crane's "stream of consciousness" writing can get a bit tedious at times, but truly does add to the effect. My favs: "The Daves" (frighteningly close to home story about a gal who just dates too many "Daves" only to realize that they are really just one "Dave") and "The Super Fantastic New Zealand Triangle" which might as well be about just the one "Dave."
Nov 04, 2011
Amy
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I kinda feel like I know everything Elizabeth Crane can do now, which is disappointing. Reading this book of short stories after reading her novel (that I didn't like much) and her other book of short stories (which I loved) felt like checking off boxes. Fun little surreal stories? Check. References to dead opera singer mom? Check, check, check. References to alcoholism? Check, check....and we're done. I kept waiting to be surprised again, like I was with "You Must Be This Happy to Enter,"
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Apr 27, 2009
Jennifer
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Reading this book right now is kind of like viewing conceptual art--I appreciated the concepts behind a lot of the stories more than their actual execution as stories. The first story made me wonder how someone decided that this book was even publishable; somewhere in the middle it reminded me of the last chapter of Ulysses. Somewhere in between is how I'd rate this--sometimes bold and funny and sometimes a mess.
Sep 05, 2009
Kristen
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I was interested by the first story but did not get my hopes up. I felt the stories got bette throughout. I esp. enjoyed the AA story. A good, light read for when you need a break between heavier things.
Jun 01, 2008
Jillian
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Okay, so I am between one and two stars for this review...It's not that this wasn't entertaining--it was in some places. Definitely a beach read book. Requires very little attention. I guess I'll choose a one star rating because I really didn't like Crane's portrayal of women--they came across as helpless, unable to see their own faults, all making stupid decisions (primarily about men), and lacking self-awareness. This would be okay for a couple of stories, but it seemed like it was the formula
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Jan 12, 2010
Mara
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A couple of 5 star stories in here, and it made me laugh loudly several times.
Oct 01, 2009
Rachel
rated it:
These stories are cute, but not cutesy - I'm enjoying them more than I thought I would.
Dec 16, 2009
Amanda
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My best friend gave me this book for Christmas in 2005, and while I love her very much, I don't think she read this book all the way through - because within this collection of short stories there are at least three stories of "my mother is dying/died of cancer" - and wouldn't you know it, my OWN mother was dying of cancer at the very same time. Not exactly fun reading. But, taken separately from that, the stories are fun and fluffy but not brilliantly written. This one is just OK.
Jun 30, 2008
Ruth
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These are interesting short stories narrated by neurotic but literate women. The stories definitely held my interest, as I kept hoping for some stability to enter the lives of these weird women. Some of the sentences filled a page as the characters listed, outlined, or even footnoted the explanations for the unsettling events in their lives. All in all, the tone is entertaining and upbeat rather than depressing.
Aug 04, 2008
Mandy
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I hated this book. Every short story would start out exciting and I would get interested, then it would turn into some rediculous twist and I would ask myself, "why am I wasting my time with this book?" I only continued so I could say, " I did it. I threw away hours of my time just to tell everyone to avoid this book like the plague."
Aug 07, 2007
Molly
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Elizabeth Crane is my favorite short story writer. She has an amazing voice that comes off the page so clearly; reading her stories is like talking with a close friend. I think I legitimately laughed out loud at least one time per story, and I read it in Starbucks, so that was embarrassing.
Jan 28, 2011
I thought I was getting a collection of funny attempts of finding love instead I got abook full of stories about dating alcoholics, druggies, mand a bunch of stories about mothers dying. I was thoroughly disappointed. SOmeone shulod really re-write the jacket.
Dec 17, 2007
Nicole
rated it:
I loved that this was very literary chick lit.
Also,just saw one of the stories performed on the stage by the Steppenwolfe company.
Crane has this incredible manic, clipped voice that is totally addictive. Read all the stories in one sitting.
Also,just saw one of the stories performed on the stage by the Steppenwolfe company.
Crane has this incredible manic, clipped voice that is totally addictive. Read all the stories in one sitting.
Jun 20, 2007
Justin
rated it:
any story that can start out with a line like: "so get this: they're going to make movie of my life."(from the story Something Shiny)has me hooked.
life is given a new, more honest portrayal, in all of Elizabeth Crane's work. READ THIS.
life is given a new, more honest portrayal, in all of Elizabeth Crane's work. READ THIS.
Jul 13, 2007
Lani
rated it:
Have you ever experienced love, lust, burning passion, dating apathy, or romantic disillusionment? Of course you have. And so has Elizabeth Crane. There's a story or two for all of us in this sweet, sarcastic, bitter, funny, hopeful collection.
Mar 29, 2011
Leslie
rated it:
I'd like to echo all the positive reviews on this book and add that its shiny red cover makes it an excellent platonic Valentine's day gift for your friends. Especially your bookish-yet-sexy-yet-single ones.
Aug 24, 2008
Lisa
rated it:
Meh...Would have appreciated this more as a twenty-something when the world revolved around my love life, or lack thereof given the month or year.
