Staff Picks: Lusanne's February Pick

Lusanne's February Pick: The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Lusanne's favorite February read takes you to a place where a good writer never wants to go yet has you empathetic for the worst thing a writer can ever be.

Jacob Finch Bonner, an author struggling to write a follow up novel to his highly successful debut, reluctantly takes a position teaching in an MFA program at a lowly upstate New York college. Bonner is underwhelmed by the talent of his students save for one. Evan Parker dismisses any guidance from Bonner and is exceedingly arrogant and off putting. Parker has already begun a novel that he is convinced will be a best seller and reiterates it does not require any constructive input from anyone, least of all a washed up one hit wonder.

Evan begrudgingly lets Bonner read a portion of his book as per the course requirement. Bonner can now see why Parker is so confident. He can write. Jake is unexpectedly captivated by the plot of the work. A few years pass and literary success eludes Jake.  He waits for the release of the Evan's novel he is sure will be the hit Parker expounded on but it never comes.

When Parker suddenly dies, Bonner makes the untoward decision to claim the plot of Parker's novel as his own.

The story simply MUST be written.

Jake, correct in his assumptions that Parker wrote a gripping novel, basks in the fame and fortune that should have been Parker's.

It's a juggling act keeping the secret from his publisher and his fan base but of course it's good to be on top again until it isn't.

As Jake learns more about the intricate story behind the plot of "his" book, someone emerges from the shadows within it and threatens to shatter his glory.


Pick up our copy of The Plot at Kingston Public Library today!