The Plot

 Although Jean Hanff Korelitz is a prolific writer, this is the first I’ve heard of her and it’s her first book reviewed in this blog. I promise that there will be more reviews to come. The Plot is a spectacular book about Jacob Finch Bonner, a once successful writer who has gone dry with new ideas for many years. He is barely supporting himself as a teacher in a low-grade college writing program when his most obnoxious and narcissistic student announces that he has a sure thing for a plot. Jacob is doubtful that such a thing even exists until her eventually hears that story. It nearly tears him apart to realize that the student, Evan Parker is probably right – that he is about to gain international fame and massive wealth for the plot in the story that he is about to write. Subsequently, Jacob burns inside with jealousy as he waits to learn of Parker’s success, but that never happens. Then, he learns that Parker died shortly after the MFA program ended, apparently before ever publishing his story. 

Although agonizing about the decision, he decides that the great story must be told. Jacob takes credit for the story that brings him the fame that surely would have come to Parker, and Jacob’s life is transformed from being someone know one knew of, to someone of international fame and wealth.

 

But then he receives an anonymous email from someone who knows he has stolen the idea. Then we begin to learn more about the real author, how the plot was created, and who really stole the story.

 

I don’t understand how it was possible that more than 100,000 reviews on Good Reads only resulted in a 3.8 rating. I was captivated from the outset and found it so difficult to put the book down. My rating of this book is clearly a 5.0. Now, I’m ready to jump into The Sequel, which is the author’s follow-up to The Plot.