Whether breathlessly enthusiastic serenely calm, or really concentrating
on their personal zombie issues, Crane's happy cast explore the
complexities behind personal satisfaction. You Must Be This Happy to
Enter exists in a world very much like our own but infused with more
joy and magic. It's a place where the happy are jailed, the sincere
cause confusion, and pop culture so seamlessly melds with real life that
characters can walk right out of the television and come live with you.
Crane's third collection, aims to convey something fresh in literature:
utter sincerity. With a trademark mix of hyperreality, humor, and
heartfelt emotion, You Must Be This Happy to Enter asks readers to
connect with the loopy ways of her characters. Because even though
they're occasionally severed from reality, they still seem to know
something you don't about keeping upbeat in a strange and crumbling
environment.The opening story features a woman who can speak only in
exclamations. Betty may be a zombie on a reality TV show, but she's a
woman willing to work on herself. Sally is just plain old freaking
happy. (You shouldn't even read this story.) Another woman gives birth
to a baby who turns into Ethan Hawke, but by golly, she's not going to
let that stop her from being a good parent. What happens when a town
turns transparent overnight? Do people run away just because they're
basically naked? No. What would you do if your perfect man was jailed
for being happy? What would you do if you had words on your forehead?
You'd use it to your advantage, that's what! How does a couple manage
their differences over bananas? They freak out, and then they laugh. Do
you have a better idea?
