Fiction. Short Stories. Denial, God, dystopia, academia, and reality TV collide in acclaimed author Elizabeth Crane's third collection of stories. 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. These stories aim to convey something fresh in literature: utter sincerity. With a trademark mix of hyperreality, humor, and heartfelt emotion, Crane asks readers to connect with the loopy ways of her characters. 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. Elizabeth Crane is the author of two previous story collections, and her work has been featured in numerous publications including the Chicago Reader and The Believer, as well as several anthologies.

Author City: Chicago, IL USA

Elizabeth Crane was born and raised in New York City. Her writing has been featured in publications including Washington Square, New York Stories, Sycamore Review, Book, Florida Review, Eclipse, Bridge, Sonora Review, the Chicago Reader, Sleepwalk, the Believer, McSweeney's Future Dictionary of America, The Banana King, and All Hands On: The 2ndhand Reader. Betsy lives in Chicago with her husband and teaches writing at Northwestern's School of Continuing Studies and The University of Chicago.

Reviews and Other Links
http://www.hipsterbookclub.com/reviews/copy/0208/you_must_be_this_happy_to_enter_elizabeth_crane.html
http://quarterlyconversation.com/you-must-be-this-happy-to-enter-by-elizabeth-crane-review