In 2019, CJ Hauser called off their wedding –– ten days later, they went on an expedition to study the whooping crane. This is the setup of “The Crane Wife,” a 2019 Paris Review essay that quickly attracted over a million views. Later, it became the title essay for Hauser’s memoir-in-essays, “The Crane Wife,” published in 2022. “The Crane Wife” looks at the stories about love passed down from generation to generation, questioning our assumptions and challenging our beliefs. It’s an honest look into the “self-erasing” that Hauser experienced in many of their relationships –– and, judging by how the piece was received, with which many of us can identify. Read More
