The glittering new book from the author hailed by the Chicago Tribune as "unique, intriguing, and often hilarious."
Here are the events ... read full description
Here are the events ... read full description
reviews
Mar 23, 2011
Anna
rated it: 
She's a good writer and it's funny if you haven't read her other stuff. Otherwise, you have to wonder if she ever tires of writing about herself. She has a "voice" but why must it always be the same character? Neurotic, attractive, artsy girl crippled by self-doubt and bad decision-making wends her way through a series of bad boyfriends to ultimately find some sort of confidence in herself. Not only do her protagonists have the same biographical details but the same personality, the sa
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Dec 05, 2009
Misa
rated it: 
Elizabeth Crane as a short-story writer is great. Elizabeth Crane as a novelist is a big old mess. I knew we were off to a bad start when the first chapter read like something I would have written for a creative writing class in college. "All This Heavenly Glory" seemed ostensibly like something I would relate to, but I just couldn't get over how awkward and rambling and self-conscious it was (I know, you are probably all thinking that it sounds EXACTLY like something I should have
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Aug 03, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. For the most part I loved Elizabeth Cranes writing & the run on sentances! Very conversational. I think that many girls/women will be able to relate. I relted to a lot of it. Sometimes the run on sentances became old .... have to admit I skipped a few paragraphs that I thought weren't adding anything.
I also have to admit that I loved her connection to Chicago. "... someplace that might be home, someplace like let's just say Chicago, which has been haunting he More...
I also have to admit that I loved her connection to Chicago. "... someplace that might be home, someplace like let's just say Chicago, which has been haunting he More...
Aug 29, 2011
Amy
rated it:
Ugh. I loved Crane's weird book of short stories, but this thing. Jeez. I kept forcing myself to read it, but still only made it halfway through before remembering that life is too short for bad books. The book starts promisingly, with a ten-page, one-sentence personal ad for the protagonist. The ad is blissfully crazy, with lots of asides and explanations and insights about the character and life in general. I figured I was in for a fun ride. But no.
Charlotte Anne is just dull and or More...
Charlotte Anne is just dull and or More...
Apr 14, 2009
Becky
rated it: 
I was given this book in June when I was preparing for a week-long vacation...and I finally got around to reading it two weeks ago. That being said, I found this book to be worth the wait! It could probably fall in the 'chick lit' category, but I think it's chick lit with a brain. The main character is certainly easy to identify with, and the timeline of the book (alternating between past tense and present tense with each chapter) kept me very interested. I would recommend this book to any gi
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Dec 09, 2007
Trish
rated it:
These stories are more tightly coupled than those in When The Messenger is Hot -- in fact, Glory might even be a novel. Each story/chapter deals with the life of Charlotte Anne Byers, who is probably mostly Elizabeth Crane: New Yorker, transplanted to Chicago, former alcoholic, divorced parents, opera singer mother who dies of cancer, hapless in matters of romance ... These are also the characteristics shared by the protagonist(s) in When the Messenger.
This time, the writing style i More...
This time, the writing style i More...
Jan 08, 2008
Marcy
rated it: 
This book did not go over well with my book club. I think I was the only one who actually read the whole thing. I surmise that the style of writing and lack of an obvious plot line was frustrating for the other clubbers. I also found myself having to stop and take a breath while I was reading many of the passages. It was an exhausting read for me due to Ms. Crane's writing style and copious use of semi-colons, parentheses, and brackets, but I found that I identified with Charlotte in several
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Dec 18, 2008
Donna
rated it:
Possibly the worst book I've ever read. The writing style is annoying, the main character not likable, and the plot nonexistent. Reads like a too long text message. Only finished it because it was a book club selection! Our whole group really disliked this book.
Oct 11, 2009
The journal of a classic over-thinker. I related so strongly -- I wondered if maybe I'd written it. Weird to hear someone talking so openly about the fellowship though. She and Augusten Burroughs should get together and spawn crazy, sick, brilliant babies.
Aug 24, 2008
gwen
rated it:
Hard to pinpoint exactly why I liked this book so much -- maybe partly because it was a break from all the heavy, heavy stuff I've been reading recently, and this didn't take itself seriously, and it was one of the first "funny" books I've read recently that truly was funny. Sometimes laugh-out-loud-on-the-bus funny.
Charlotte is a really recognizable character, and she is written self-consciously in these interconnected stories. But there was just something fresh and wonder More...
Charlotte is a really recognizable character, and she is written self-consciously in these interconnected stories. But there was just something fresh and wonder More...
Dec 07, 2009
MariNaomi
rated it:
The stories were interesting and the character intriguing and well-developed. My only complaint was that the stream-of-consciousness style of writing was sometimes difficult to follow.
Apr 01, 2010
Masika
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She writes like she thinks. She reminds me of most females in their twenty's that are not married with kids. Confused about what they what or what they dont want. lol!
Nov 10, 2009
Kara
rated it:
Frankly, I enjoyed the excerpts from Crane's blog at the back of the book far more than the actual book. I may still try her short stories, though.
Jul 31, 2009
Simon A.
rated it:
Sort of a novel done in short stories. Good stuff. "Football" is a particularly fantastic story and a perfect way to end the collection.
Jul 31, 2007
Jenna
rated it:
You have to love Charlotte Anne Byers, or at least identify with her trials. Her life isn't pretty, and at times can feel a bit contrived, but I buy it all, because the narrator's voice is so convincing. I never use the term chick lit, even disparagingly, but if I could assign a book for any woman who is struggling with who she is and where she is going, All This Heavenly Glory would be it. I can't wait to read Crane's first collection, which is apparantly debuting on stage at Steppenwolf nex
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Aug 10, 2011
Donna
rated it:
I just couldn't get very interested in this book. Not my type, I guess.
Sep 22, 2008
Adam
rated it:
I only bought this because it was in the bargain bin, and a blurb mentioned David Foster Wallace.
I was ripped off and deceived.
There's a huge difference between what DFW does and Crane pointlessly (and humorlessly) making her sentences elaborate and opulent to the point of ostentation. Technically hideous, and boring as hell.
Here's a bunch of pointless punctuation:
[{[:;((())));)-}]]]
I was ripped off and deceived.
There's a huge difference between what DFW does and Crane pointlessly (and humorlessly) making her sentences elaborate and opulent to the point of ostentation. Technically hideous, and boring as hell.
Here's a bunch of pointless punctuation:
[{[:;((())));)-}]]]
May 10, 2009
Holly
rated it: 
At first the stream-of-consciousness style was a little difficult ot read, but midway through the first story (different episodes from the same character's life) I got into it. It's as if Charlotte Ann Byers is having a conversation with the reader. I loved her and really wanted her to "get it together"; she's a very real, funny and sympathetic character. I laughed, I cried (a little)....
Nov 10, 2008
Stephanie
rated it:
This was a tough one to get through. There were only a few of the stories that I really liked (fantastic stories) I read one of them several times because I loved it so much. She has a particular tone in her writing that halfway through the book started to bore me. On the other hand she is clever and her stories perspective unique. I am on the fence with this one.
May 13, 2008
Liz
rated it:
I had a really hard time getting into this story because it is stream-of-conscience writing. The first chapter is one long thought and sentence, I almost put it down after that. But, I powered through and liked it by the time I got toward the middle. The character is quirky and honest and struggles. Who doesn't relate to that!?
Sep 22, 2008
Marian
rated it:
It took me awhile to get into the swing of this book, which is a bunch of different stories all about the same character, Charlotte Anne, who ranges from 9 to 40-something throughout the course of the book. Excellent writing, funny, quirky, hopeful -- I really enjoyed it and it made me want to read Crane's other book.
Jun 05, 2008
Jillain
rated it:
i don't know...maybe i'm not deep enough...or hip enough...or maybe my life isn't as messed up as everyone elses (who would have thought that????) this book did NOTHING for me...i'm amazed i finished it...i kept thinking it would get better...it didn't.
Apr 12, 2008
AC
rated it:
Sometimes a little too absorbed with sounding like a confessional for the sake of pity, overall the book succeeds well and there are some good moments that are without affectation and whose power grows the more you consider them.
Sep 16, 2007
Megan
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at first, i didn't think i would ever feel connected to this story simply because of elizabeth crane's writing style (run-on sentences, no dialogue, etc.), but then i started loving and identifying with charlotte, the main character.
Feb 16, 2008
stillme
rated it:
When I opened this, I thought it was short stories, but the stories ended up being more like not-so-continuous chapter. It was really quite enjoyable to read. I liked the main character a lot, especially as a child.
Sep 29, 2007
Sheila
rated it:
Liked her style and want to read 'When the Messenger...' but not sure the plot is completely fulfilling. The characters can come across as really warm or really cold, so it can be disjointing.
Mar 02, 2008
Josh
rated it:
I can't tell if I liked it despite or because of the fact that it's written almost entirely in run-on sentences. But it's good, and I'm getting another of her story collections.
Dec 17, 2009
Jennifer
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For some reason, this book just spoke to me. I loved it. I especially enjoyed the train of thought, running on and on sections. It was funny and touching.
Jan 28, 2008
Danielle
rated it:
I loved this- but nearly as much as "When the Messenger is Hot." She reminds me of Lorrie Moore.
