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Summary: A Welcomed McCauley Entry
Review: "True Enough" brings eager readers the latest McCauley tale of self-deluded characters fumbling toward (and away from) love. As with his other novels, this one has a large cast of interesting persons, most of whom seem detached or alienated from a sense of what satisfies them in the romance department. Once again, McCauley examines the dynamics of the longer-term, more established partnerships as well as the budding romances. Once again, he provides a realistic and compelling voice to a major female protagonist. And once again, he shows us winning people with major warts engaging in frustrating, self-defeating behavior because they are so remote from what is genuinely gratifying.There is less bittersweet quality in this novel than in the author's others; this time around the plot is bit more forceful as the reader is taken down alleys that threaten disaster for their unsuspecting travelers. In this novel McCauley has given both of the main characters-- gay and straight-- more confidence and less uncertainty. The characters glitter with an entertaining and not quite convincing blend of sharp analysis of their friends and associates on the one hand, with cluelessness about their own motivations on the other. Sarcasm and irony are wielded by the characters like fencing epees. The resolutions of the entwined stories are satisfying, given what passed before, but somewhat pat. McCauley is, however, well worth seeking out, especially his strongest novel, "The Easy Way Out."
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Summary: A wonderful read
Review: 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.
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Summary: True Enough is true to McCauley's irreverent style
Review: I bought my copy of True Enough at a book signing. In person, the author is disarmingly modest. "Am I reading too long?" he asked more than once. But in print Stephen McCauley writes with a caustic cursor, sprinkling his narrative with epigrams worthy of Oscar Wilde. He observes, closely and sharply, the social milieu he is most familiar with -- picture Jane Austen reincarnated as a gay man in 21st Century Manhattan. Not that True Enough will only appeal to a gay audience. The two main characters, Jane Cody and Desmond Sullivan, become confidants not only because they join forces on the same public TV project, but because they are struggling with similar issues. Both fear their careers are going nowhere fast; both feel smothered by their significant others. Jane's second husband would never run around on her, like her hunk of an ex did, but does his lovemaking have to remind her of a folk singer who sings the same few songs at every concert? No wonder she is fantasizing about that sexy ex, even though she knows that, "An important part of putting the past in the past is believing that people really can change and that ex-husbands really can't." Desmond, meanwhile, is looking forward to four months away from his partner, Russell, while he teaches "Creative Nonfiction" at a small Boston college. Not only does he hope the break will mean an end to his writer's block, but "he assumed the promise of monogamy would begin to grow fuzzy, like a radio signal, outside a hundred-mile radius of the broadcasting tower." The characters in this book seem a bit more fully rounded and believable than in McCauley's earlier works -- though I've never met a six-year-old like Jane's son Gerald. Possibly that's because as a married woman, I could identify with Jane. But I imagine nearly everyone in a committed relationship -- married or otherwise -- has felt the relationship blow hot and cold, as Jane does. In order to adapt Desmond's unfinished biography of a deservedly forgotten pop singer for the pilot of a TV series on American mediocrities, Desmond and Jane have to discover the hidden truth of the singer's life. In the process, the two must cope with professional jealousies and office politics, Desmond's suspicious lover and Jane's embarrassment as the other occupants of a crowded hotel elevator give her cold stares while eavesdropping on a cell phone conversation in which she assures her husband she is in her car, only blocks away from picking up their son from his piano lesson. Can Jane and Desmond make a new, truthful start on their own lives? Or, as Jane wonders, "not a whole new life, a concept that was too exhausting to even consider at this stage, but the starting point of a life that was a little better, a little more truthful." Read this delightful novel and find out.
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Summary: Disappointing, but better than Man of the House
Review: I enjoyed the novel, particularly all of the jazz references. Liked the main characters well enough, although had trouble believing them. Loved the title and how it applies to the material -- can something be untrue, but true enough for specific purposes? The author set the bar high with his first two books, The Easy Way Out and The Object of My Affection. This is not close, but is so much better than his dismal third (Man of the House), it's a relief.
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Summary: Excellent writing.
Review: I really enjoyed his writing. This was the first McCauley's book that I read. It, along with the movie, compelled me to read another book of his, "The Object of My Affection."
Rating:
Summary: Excellent writing.
Review: I really enjoyed his writing. This was the first McCauley's book that I read. It, along with the movie, compelled me to read another book of his, "The Object of My Affection."
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Summary: Fun,witty and touching
Review: I think we need books like this: books who explore whit gentle wit and understanding the lives of real people in the real world. Or something... What I mean is, this book is funny,humorous, intelligent and wonderfully written,and makes a wry description of the quandaries of love, affection and desire. It also shows a deep insight on what makes people tick. Some of his observations are remarkably,if regretfully, true to reality. And its characters are fabulous: zany and sympathetic.I've loved it!
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Summary: Another "McCauley" Masterpiece!
Review: 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!
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Summary: Families in a country village 2002
Review: In terms of plot structure, it seems not much has changed for Stephen McCauley since Jane Austen came out with that simple line about "two or three families in a country village." Only now the village is global and the two or three families are extended and include one or two gay marriages as well.
Because of the author's intense dynamism and his insightful wit (I want to say one-liners because there are some brilliant passages) the plot is almost incidental: Desmond leaves his lover Russell to teach a course in Boston and meets Jane Cody who has become re-involved with her ex-husband while trying to understand where her life and those of her husband's and son's meet in harmony. There are a series of effective sub-plots: Russell's job and his state-of-the-art lesbian co-worker; a jaded widow writer whose success rests on a book entitled DEAD HUSBAND; Jane's be-wigged and judgemental mother-in-law; Jane's extraordinarily erudite six year old son; and a mysterious 60s female vocalist about whom Desmond is writing a biography.
I don't make the comparison to Jane Austen too glibly: just as Emma, Catherine and Elizabeth do, these modern characters discover what it means to love and learn better how to love, they become aware of their own mistakes and weaknesses while suffering the pain of recognizing their errors and amending the harm done. McCauley has his characters attend the most engaging parties during which they discover and reveal themselves with a punch, very much like Austen's gatherings where characters such as Darcy, Wickham and Henry Crawford display themselves perhaps more than they intended. Within the very serious subjects of love and self-awareness, the humor is astute and hilarious.
All this nonsense aside, McCauley's book is a pleasure to read, and far better than most of the current crop.
Rating:
Summary: Families in a country village 2002
Review: In terms of plot structure, it seems not much has changed for Stephen McCauley since Jane Austen came out with that simple line about "two or three families in a country village." Only now the village is global and the two or three families are extended and include one or two gay marriages as well.
Because of the author's intense dynamism and his insightful wit (I want to say one-liners because there are some brilliant passages) the plot is almost incidental: Desmond leaves his lover Russell to teach a course in Boston and meets Jane Cody who has become re-involved with her ex-husband while trying to understand where her life and those of her husband's and son's meet in harmony. There are a series of effective sub-plots: Russell's job and his state-of-the-art lesbian co-worker; a jaded widow writer whose success rests on a book entitled DEAD HUSBAND; Jane's be-wigged and judgemental mother-in-law; Jane's extraordinarily erudite six year old son; and a mysterious 60s female vocalist about whom Desmond is writing a biography.
I don't make the comparison to Jane Austen too glibly: just as Emma, Catherine and Elizabeth do, these modern characters discover what it means to love and learn better how to love, they become aware of their own mistakes and weaknesses while suffering the pain of recognizing their errors and amending the harm done. McCauley has his characters attend the most engaging parties during which they discover and reveal themselves with a punch, very much like Austen's gatherings where characters such as Darcy, Wickham and Henry Crawford display themselves perhaps more than they intended. Within the very serious subjects of love and self-awareness, the humor is astute and hilarious.
All this nonsense aside, McCauley's book is a pleasure to read, and far better than most of the current crop.
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