True Enough

by Stephen McCauley

From the author of The Object of My Affection comes a warm and witty family drama about love and lust, trust and betrayal, commitment and denial.Jane Cody keeps lists. After all, how else would she keep track of her life—her job producing a Boston TV show; her amiable but frankly dull second husband; and her precocious six-year-old son who “doesn't do small talk” but loves to bake. And as if that weren't enough she has an acid-tongued mother-in-law living in her barn, an arthritic malamute lodger to walk, and a dangerously seductive ex-husband on the scene. In New York, Desmond Sullivan is fretting that his five-year relationship with smart, sweet Russell is too monogamous and settled. Perhaps a spell as writer-in-residence at Deerforth College will cure that, and also allow him to finish his biography of one of the 'sixties greatest forgotten mediocrities, torch singer Pauline Anderton? When Jane and Desmond meet in Boston, they embark on a TV documentary about the elusive Anderton, which is to take them on a journey of self-discovery in which they learn as much about their own secrets and lies than they ever wanted to know.

Genres: Fiction, LGBT, Gay, Humor, Gay Fiction

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

McCauley's first novel THE OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION seems to be the seed planted that each of his succeeding novels germinate from and grow and branch forward. His style is a comedy of manners mixed with a lot of sad truths about relationships that his characters find themselves enmeshed in and start to doubt and analyze. Usually two people meet one female and one male (check the box that signifies as gay male) and become friends and help each other peel back the feelings they have for those around them and those they love. This novel is no different, but still a great perceptive character study of two essentially lonely people married and/or living with a significant other who feel that the decisions they make or made in Life may have been wrong and each needs to find themselves in the swamp of emotions in their mind.

This one, also, has an underlying theme about truth and lies and how we often tell just enough to get through our relationships and every day life. Sometimes those we love need not to be doubted by how we think they feel or how we feel about them, but embraced by our real underlying feelings and not feel as if we are attending , metaphorically, a daily masquerade of going through the motions of deception.

McCauley has a great way of writing about his main and supporting characters, likable or not, and making them very human.

[Elinor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded up to 3.5 stars. Every character in this novel was so darned miserable, struggling with career and relationship issues. I couldn't like any of them because they were also blatantly dishonest, lying to their bosses and partners and therapists. One woman even wrote lies in her diary because she could not tell the truth even to herself.

But the writing is so clever and ironic that I just kept going back for more. There are some great insights into both the heterosexual and the homosexual lifestyle. For example: "Desmond had found that most of the closeted men he knew assumed that all openly gay men spent at least ten of their sixteen waking hours pursuing or engaging in sex. It was an insulting assumption that took profligate promiscuity for granted and discounted the possibility of professional pursuits and emotional fidelity; the actual number of hours was probably much closer to six."

I liked the writing enough that I will try another novel by this author. Oh, yeah, and the book has a good ending, which is a bonus after all that suffering and angst.

[Suzan Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty, clever & insightful writing about love & life, lies and secrets - lots of fun!

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[Aaron Ambrose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grim. McCauley is usually so good at crafting plausible, imperfect, winning characters, and hiding the craft. This is a Bizarro version of that - the characters are full of false notes, sitcom-level condescension and neurotic second-guessing, and the clunky logistics have left their oily fingerprints on every page. The characters never truly engage with each other, and they didn’t with me, either. Big miss.

[Neet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novel of two people who find themselves at a crossroads in their relationships and careers. We meet Jane Cody, a fortyish woman who is married to a man who loves her, has an overweight and smart mouth 6 year old boy who calls her Jane instead of mom, and whose cranky, and complaining mother-in-law lives in a carriage house on their property. Jane makes list in code, feels because she is forty,she feels she has become invisible at her career as a PBS producer for many of the shows at her local station. Especially with a younger and more energized co-worker beating at her heels. She is also good friends with her exes current wife (Carol).Carol thinks that Jane's ex and her current husband, Dale is cheating on her. Carol begs Jane to meet with Dale and find out the truth. Also,we get Jane's endless lists that are written in code and that aren't always truthful. We next meet Desmond Sullivan, a biographer that had moderate success in a biography of another writer who was a closet case. Desmond lives in New York and is in a 5 year relationship with Russell. Desmond, who is almost 40 and been working on another biography of a Z level singer who had a little success in the 50's. Desmond has decided (without discussion with Russell) to accept a 4 month long teaching position at Deerforth College in Boston. Since the person in the biography lived in Boston in her latter years, Desmond feels it will be great for research (he seems to have been working on the book for a couple of years). Russell isn't happy with Desmond leaving. Desmond seems to be in a rut, in his relationship, in writing his book, in his life. Of course, Desmond meets Jane's husband, Thomas who teaches also at the college. When worlds collide...Thomas strikes up
a friendship with Desmond who comes to dinner at his home, where he meets Jane. Jane makes a proposal (that's not indecent) to Desmond. I won't say what the proposal is,but it's just the start in this funny, heartwarming, and dad novel.This is a good read and high!y recommended.😍

[Tom Leland · Rating 4 out of 5]

7 out of 10. Some brilliant bits in this, and at all times there was at least one scenario, often more, that I was curious to see played out. At times the critique or analysis of individuals is so brutal, and nearly no one escapes this -- which makes me shudder to imagine how McCauley might describe me or people I love. But my only real beef with it is Gerald -- who I found to be precocious beyond all plausibility. I've been around many hundreds of precocious 6-year-olds -- I used to cast for Barbie commercials, if you can imagine -- and for many other commercials for various toy brands -- the most obnoxious and witty-beyond-their-years kids on earth. I've never met a single one like Gerald, and I doubt one exists anywhere.

[Olive · Rating 1 out of 5]

None of the characters are likeable! None! Most of them are behaving with such condescendance towards everyone else it is quite shocking. They seem to all lack empathy too. Even Jane kid is horrible.
All caracters display rather big disturbing narcissist behaviours and narcissistic shark mentality thinking.
Even Desmond isnt likeable. He is ...Getting a break from his boyfriend/on an excuse to have more fun elsewhere to find out (spoiler) that maybe. ..after all. ..he shouldnt feel " so demanding" about current boyfriend? Hum!
Opportunistic much here? Yes i should think so!
The book had some merits. Like showing all relationship are not that "rosy" but it could have been done in a much more humane manner. Gentler.
I still wouldnt recommend it as a read!

[Catmom 4 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't remember where I picked up this book but I only finished it to say I did.
I have nothing against LGBT Authors, however, their books should be labeled as such. It was a very unpleasant surprise and the characters of that sort, really had nothing to do with the storyline. It was as if the wrier wanted to write a book and had to find a way to add his sexual/relationship preference. The premise sounded promising, but, there was to much Adultery and Lies to make it worth while.
Truthfully, I am sorry to have wasted my time with this one.

[theStorykeeper · Rating 3 out of 5]

CW: sexual content, infidelity, a questionable assaultish scene (not graphic or anything, but... uncomfortable)

I didn't like the story in this one, which surrounds infidelity, but something about Stephen McCauley's writing hooks me. He has such an honest way of writing about the absurdities of human behavior that is quietly poignant. Character motivations are always clear and real - even if they're sometimes awful.

That said, I didn't buy anything to do with Gerald.

[P Bright · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had many clever observations. However, the overriding theme of unfaithfulness was too disturbing for me to appreciate the humor. Okay, I know that the American marriages are falling apart in record numbers and this author was attempting to show two people come to grips with their relationships in what turned out to be positive ways. Sorry, but I still found it too disturbing.

[Lorri Steinbacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up used while on vacation and devoured it. It is a perfect vacation read with the right balance of drama and comedy with characters you care about. Who hasn't had moments of wondering how you ended up where you did and if it is where you actually should be? Who hasn't had an ex that they can't quite sake even though they are THE WORST?

Relatable.

[Allyson Randolph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like McCauley’s stuff although the people in his stories never seem quite real to me. I found myself wanting to hear Russell’s and Thomas’s takes on the action.

This was a nice little story with a neat twist and just enough left ambiguous.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another McCauley masterpiece featuring characters who are mostly dissatisfied with the way their lives are going. Humor helps us all get through this slogfest called life and you will find yourself smiling and laughing out loud as you eagerly turn the pages of True Enough.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining. Too neat of an ending.

[Dominick Bartkewicz · Rating 2 out of 5]

My ex-life-great fiction.True enough-lousy fiction.A bland bore and mediocre writing.

[Mairi Byatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorry did not really like or relate with any of the characters in this novel.

[Olga · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t believe this book was written in this century. It reads like something from 1996. some parts are well observed, some cringe.

[Simon Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gossip heaven

An ideal read for sharing other people's misery, disappointments, deceits, and misadventures spiced by multiple confessions: everyone finds someone for spillng the beans. Fluid easy-reading prose and clever flourishes. Enjoyable.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

McCauley’s writing has been compared to both Jane Austen and Woody Allen! So, we fortunate readers get observant social commentary served up with perfect comic timing. This novel is really mostly character driven; Jane Cody and Desmond Sullivan meet, not as potential lovers (Desmond is gay and both are in monogamous relationships) but as two people who are drifitng off the course of their lives and how they help right each other. Charming!

[Jae · Rating 2 out of 5]

More forgettable than the last book, though I was entertained enough when I read it. But I did just have to get up and look at it to remember it at all, and I still don't remember it all that well. Kind of -- is there a term for gay chick-lit? This is that. No, actually it's more like the gay version of the last book, chick-lit aged and distressed a little.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

By the end of True Enough by Stephen McCauley, I definitely wanted to know what was going to happen with each of the characters. I do think, however, that he pulled everything together too quickly in the end, perhaps too succinctly or predictably.

[Suzanne Macartney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has comic moments featuring a struggling working mother (TV producer)with precocious son. Good passages but some disappoint compared to last novels. Follow-up novel is better too. But I'd read it again anyway if I was out of McCauley novels.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining book that helps one realize while not all relationships are perfect, perhaps it's true enough?

[BM · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting life lessons but story gets bogged down by too much commentary by the characters about their life. Plot got stuck that way.

[Reeshard · Rating 5 out of 5]

McCauley on speed, crack, or crystal meth. Either way, gotta love the man. He's still the greatest.

[Tajma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy, was this funny. Great no-brainer.

[Lapetitesteph]

Excellent.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light and entertaining, but with some trenchant observations of today's society. I'd like to read more from this author.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find McCauley's stories interesting, but much of the time his characters are unlikable, self-centered, and always emotionally stunted. The ones who aren't are never fully developed.

[Jackie Simons]

Read 2/02