The Plot

 

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz is where I got the idea to do a book blog. So, I think it’s fitting that it should be the topic of my first post.

In this story we meet Jacob Finch Bonner, a young writer who has achieved moderate success with his first novel. He's trying to recapture the same with subsequent books, but so far, he has failed spectacularly.

In the meantime, Jake is also employed as a writing instructor at an unimpressive college in a substandard MFA program. That’s where he meets Evan Parker, a cocky aspiring novelist who is one of Jake’s students. Evan boasts about the novel he's working on – saying the plot is so unbelievably original and creative that the book is sure to be a worldwide best seller. At first, Jake secretly dismisses Evan’s outrageous claims, but after hearing Evan’s plot, he is utterly astonished. Jake believes this book will be a phenomenon.

A couple years later, we find Jake still struggling as a writer – and in his personal life - when he remembers Evan’s amazing story. Jake pens the novel Crib heavily based off of this plot. Both Jake and Evan were right. Crib is a smash hit!

With his new found success, Jake is on top of the world. Book tours, special appearances, Oprah’s Book Club, a movie deal, a new relationship, Jake has everything he’s ever wanted. That's when the stuff hits the proverbial fan. Jake receives an online message from someone named Talented Tom saying “You are a thief”.

As the story progresses, its suspense comes and goes as Jake sets off on an investigation – a process that is a bit too drawn out for me - to discover exactly who Talented Tom is, and what he wants. At times, I wondered if Jake was barking up the wrong tree with his inquiries.

Additionally, excerpts of Crib are sprinkled throughout the book, allowing the reader to get a feel for this alleged fantastic novel. In my humble opinion, the plot of Crib does not live up to its hype and left me wondering why the big to-do over this book.

In the end, I believe if you’re really paying attention to The Plot’s narrative, you will figure out who Talented Tom is, as I did.

 

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