A sassy collection of vivid and moving stories portraying edgy modern lives in highly-charged though recognizable relationship situations.
Not for the faint of heart, Crane's humour has a dark, almost sinister, edge. However, her tired pessimism is tempered with grace and frequent avenues of hope. A profusion of sex delivers surprises, not all of them pleasant.
A new father, shopping for groceries with his baby and a hangover, worries that the child may not actually be his. An ultrasound technician, envious of her co-worker's sex life, has an unexpected second encounter with a creepy male patient. The wife of a hockey player is faced with his ambiguous sexuality. A young woman waits her turn at an abortion clinic, harbouring the secret that the baby's father might not be the boyfriend sitting beside her.
These wonderfully-drawn characters sweep the reader into their anxious and often funny lives. Sophisticated story-telling makes the most complicated situations crystal clear and a pleasure to read. Crane's male points of view are as effective as the female. Her endings are just right and satisfying.
Joint the Cult of Quick Repair and prepare to see another side of all-too-familiar contemporary life, in all its fraught and aching glory.
Endorsements for The Cult of Quick Repair
“The Cult of Quick Repair is a vivid, witty, ultra-smart, and smarting collection of short stories. Mothers and daughters, men and women, betrayal, generosity, forgiveness, the heart-snatching fears and lusts and loves of being alive and attentive. It’s all here. Crane is wise and hilarious.” – Lisa Moore
“These nervy tales tempt us into moments of surprising eroticism and insight. Dede Crane puzzles for us over how we’re put together, how we fall apart.” – John Gould
* Finalist, Award for Publishing, 2008 Saskatchewan Book Awards
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