Good Enough was recommended to me by a writing teacher as a "funny YA (young adult) book." But I ended up being captivated by the book's focus on creativity and passion.
As someone working in a creative field, I think a lot about how to
integrate your passion into your life.
What I Liked Best:
- The parts about Patti playing her violin, especially towards the end when she tells herself "Don't think, just play" and "Suddenly the beauty of this music takes over and I am no longer afraid of missing the high notes."
I've read many books where something like playing the violin is given a passing mention by the author, as if it were just an item from a characterization checksheet. (Mention a hobby. Check!) But the violin is an integral part of Patti and her story. As Patti says, "There's always this moment while I'm playing the violin when it no longer feels like I'm holding a violin in my hands. The instrument and the bow disappear, and all I can feel is the music." - The humor fits perfectly into the character. It's not generic jokes or situations. For example, at one point Patti tells her friend that he needs to drive faster "like, 83.52 miles faster." It's not a random number. She's actually calculated how fast he need to drive to get her to her destination on time. (She is taking AP Calculus, after all.)
- The writing is excellent—simple, but smart. For example, "I'm stuck somewhere between Dante's eighth and ninth circles of Hell—this is that special area of brimstone and fire reserved for people like me who hate field hockey . . ." It's the kind of straightforward, easy-to-read writing that looks like it must have been easy to write. (If you write, you know better!)
You'll Like This Book If:
- You're a teen (or someone who enjoys teen books) and is looking for an enjoyable, quick read with short chapters and atypical formatting (lists, recipes, quizzes).
- You miss (or are looking forward to) the anxiety of SATs and college applications.
- You struggle with the question of how to integrate your passion into your life or are (still) asking yourself, "What do I want to be when I grow up?"