True Enough

Having been a Stephen fan since his first book, I enjoy how he improves with each book. (And I thought his first book was flawless!) This book dazzles with insight, humor, quirky yet true characterizations and a plot that will honestly surprise. I am enjoying the ride he is taking us on with his literary works.

The thing I like best about Stephen McCauley's work is that the characters all have their frailties, but somehow they also all have their lovable characteristics as well. And, as usual, the main character, through whose eyes much of the story is reflected, has initimable sarcastic wit. The supply of wisecracks, always suitable to the occasion, seems bottomless. This one would make a very interesting flick...

Stephen McCauleys book "True Enough" is a wonderful book where love, and all the probelms and challenges with it, is the main theme. It is written in a non-sentimental way and combined with humour and excellent observations of human behavoiur. What adds to its value is that this book is one of the relatively few gay novels where one get the feeling that there may be such things as long-term gay relationships - a long waited message in a fast sex centered culture, which for decades has been emotionally depraved but nevertheless is still very dominant. Gay or not, the persons in the book are also faced with the difficulties of preseving the affection and respect for their partners, however, the description of their struggles and how they handle and mishandle their love life is both inspiring and entertaining.

I truly enjoyed all of Stephen McCauley other books, and certainly wasn't disappointed with this new one, "True Enough." I enjoyed this story from the very beginning to its surprise ending. Stephen's books are always hard to put down, his likable characters are easy to become emotionally involved with, especially the ones in this story. Desmond & Russell have been together five years now in a happy monogamous relationship living the good life in NYC. Desmond has been working on his second book, a biography of a 60's pop singer named Pauline Anderson, and after 3 years of writing it, he is almost finished. Desmond decides to take a temporary position at Danforth College in Boston, and be away from Russell for a while to see if he can find his own individuality again & perhaps find time to discover the missing ingredient to finish his biography. Will the separation deepen their relationship or cause problems they never expected to happen by being separated? Desmond meets Jane, a producer of a Boston PBS station while away, and they decide to collaborate on a documentary about forgotten pop singer Pauline Anderson. This could boast Jane's career at the station & perhaps help Desmond finally finish his book. Together Jane & Desmond help each other and eventually find the answers to each of their own personal problems. It's what they endure and discover at this point that makes this such a satisfying read. No doubt about it, I love this author's writing. He knows how to grab your attention, keep it there, and bring it all to a satisfying conclusion. A very pleasant read. I eagerly await his next selection!

Stephen McCauley just keeps getting better and better. This book has the same kind of witty, poignant observations about the human condition that his first 3 had, but with an added emotional depth and attention to subtlety. It is simultaneously hysterically funny and heart-breakingly melancholy as the two protagonists fumble their way through issues of commitment, career, marriage, children, and hitting middle age. This is the type of book that makes you wish the author were a friend of yours so you could invite him over to dinner and talk all night over coffee and cigarettes. It just doesn't get any better than this.