The Plot

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz 336 pages

This is one time that I did not pick up a novel based on its cover art; the title was enough to capture my attention. And then I learned that it was a novel-within-a-novel about writers. Just up my alley!

It was fun to journey to a small college and its MFA program, even if said program isn’t that good.  I have an MFA from a great program here in St. Louis.  A quick stroll down memory lane reminded me of the hours and hours I spent with my peers discussing writing and publishing. Or the hours and hours I spent crafting short stories that were just okay. But enough about me,

The protagonist is Jake Bonner; well Jacob Finch Bonner is the name on his first novel that was well accepted with decent reviews. Sales were okay, but not huge. His second novel was a flop. He’s hasn’t published anything in years and cannot seem to find a plot or write anything with any substance. He’s resorted to teaching, consulting with other writers on how to make their work better and editing.

The fall semester is about underway at a small Vermont college. Jake is not looking forward to reading the pages his soon-to-be-students have turned in for his critique. I can see him running his hand through his hair in despair as he begins prepping for the course.

One of the students, Evan Parker, is an obnoxious elitist who believes that his “plot” will take the world by storm. I was never sure why Evan was in the program, as he thought he has “the plot” that would make him rich and successful. Although he is reluctant to divulge his sure-fire hit, he does give Jake a brief synopsis. And Jake is highly impressed.

Jake waits for Evan to finish the novel and dreads the fame that will surely be garnished on him. But as the years go by, Jake never hears anything about Evan Parker, or Parker Evan, as he considers using his inverted names as a pen name. One afternoon, Jake decides to Google Evan. It isn’t too long before he discovers that Evan has died. Jake doesn’t know if the book is finished or if was ever written.

Desperate for a hit, Jake takes Evan’s idea and writes a blockbuster. I feel like author Korelitz tried to pull one over on readers---ideas cannot be copyrighted. In fact there are only four basic plot lines in all of writing. Even is Jake ‘stole’ the idea, he would never be able to write the same story as Evan.

As I read, I kept thinking about Korelitz’s story the same way Jake thought about many of his students’---so what?  This novel is hailed as a thriller, but all I could think was so what?  Oh sure, once Jake hit the big time, he started getting cryptic texts that were supposed to cause fear that someone knew that he had stolen Evan’s “idea.” But Jake’s fear wasn’t worthy of the word.  

I found “The Plot” repetitive and boring. As far as the novel that Jake/Evan wrote, it was also dull. If you like the novel-within-a-novel formats try Margaret Atwood’s “The Blind Assassin.” Unlike “The Plot,” which receives 1 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world, it’s a page turner.

 

The Talented Miss Farwell

The Talented Miss Farwell by Emily Gray Tedrowe   352 pages

Two hours south of Chicago is the small town of Pierson, Illinois. Becky Farwell is a quiet, single woman who is the town’s treasurer and accountant.  She knows the books by heart. She is always able to find some money by juggling the books to fund whatever project the town needs funding. Her one outlet is art, and soon she begins collecting it.

However, Becky doesn’t want to be quiet intelligent Becky. She wants to be sophisticated, well versed in the art of conversation, especially art. So she re-invents herself, going by the name Reba Farwell.  She has a different wardrobe and a completely differently personality than Becky.

Becky/Reba becomes obsessed with collecting art and making as much money as she can. She is tired of struggling in her small farming community and trying to run the family farm-equipment business. The problem is, Becky/Reba needs money to feed her new obsession.  She begins siphoning money from Pierson’s different account.

This goes on for years. She buys and sells art all the while replacing what she has “borrowed” from Pierson. However, at one point, she is almost three million dollars behind returning the money.

Readers don’t have to be accountants to understand what Becky is doing, nor do they have to know art to understand Reba’s mania. This heist thriller had me on the edge of my seat for most of it.

 The Talented Miss Farwell receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.