Enough

by Eric Karl Anderson

Lucy Summerson grew up in 1950s suburban America. Three decades later, she looks back at her life and simultaneously writes a novel about her most intense relationship: her affair and subsequent marriage to an illusive stage actor named Paul. As these two accounts interweave and the distinction between fact and fiction becomes increasingly confused, the novel calls into question the extent to which Lucy has chosen to fabricate her life. Through her recollections and reasoning, Lucy endeavors to understand the meaning of her identity as an American woman. Enough examines the transformation of a nation's culture through an era of rapid change.

Genres: Historical Fiction

158 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2004

Reviews

[Dianne Laheurte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before tackling my first read of Joyce Carol Oates’ re-release of “Mysteries of Winterthurn” on the recommendation of author and Book Blogger the Lonesome Reader, aka Eric Karl Anderson, I decided to do a re-read of Eric’s poignant and thought provoking first novel “Enough”.

This is the story of Lucille, growing up in a small town in the 1950’s, the nostalgia of the Nuclear Family sitting around the TV while the real world plays out, and of her yearning for something more. A move to the City exposes Lucy to lessons of life and love, and all of the nuances that work and love entails. The story quickly becomes a story within a story, taking us full circle whether we want to go, or not.

The setting of Eric’s novel shows how the interactions, or lack thereof, of our loved ones, shape who we become in life. It is also apparent how a moment in our collective history can define us as a generation, along with our hopes, fears and dreams.

The prose and writing style of this fine first novel had me living in the pages with the realization that we are all just simple actors on the stage of life. Eric’s characters are all too real. During various stages of my life, I realized that I was Lucille. I was Paul, and I was June. I was, and still am, Suzy and Richard.

This quote from the novel still strikes me: “Perhaps all we ever see of each other is a façade. Even when we believe we are removing the mask, we just replace one mask with another.”

If the whole world is a stage, then we are mere actors upon it, searching for our motivation, and for the meaning of it all.

Bottom line, we are all “Enough”.

[Robin Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Eric Anderson's debut novel ENOUGH. I wasn't quite sure what to think when I first started but was pleasantly surprised. Eric's writing style is a bit different than what I am used to but once I got the hang of it I really enjoyed reading this book.