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ALWAYS ENOUGH by L.K. Craft

ALWAYS ENOUGH

by L.K. Craft

Pub Date: June 20th, 2006
ISBN: 0-595-39551-1

An appealing 1960s coming-of-age story.

Sue Martin, struggling with an emotionally distant mother who refers to her as “poor ol’ Sue,” suffers from low self-esteem and feelings of abnormality. But with the encouragement of others, she begins to transform her life, losing weight and dressing in her own style. When a shy art student, Gary, asks her to the school dance, the two connect instantly and fall deeply in love. As their relationship deepens, they refuse to define their commitment, as they both want to allow each other to grow and follow their own paths as they mature into adulthood. At the same time, they struggle with the tension between their morals and faith and their desires to be sexually intimate. Gary savors every moment of what they already share, while Sue has a restless nature and wants to seek out new experiences. When Sue goes off to college in Illinois and Gary moves to New York City to study painting, they still remain deeply connected by their love. Narrated by Sue, the story reads like a diary, imbued with all of the attendant emotional intimacy and quotidian minutiae. Though the characters often seem impossibly good, forthright and articulate, they remain highly sympathetic as they travel through the predictable but engaging plot. The old-fashioned story occasionally becomes maudlin, but Always Enough is a pleasant reminder of the magic of young love and the importance of cherishing our loved ones.

A rewarding read.