The Sequel (The Book Series, #2)

by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Hello to everyone who has joined me here for a sequel I never imagined I’d write! If I had, if I’d considered it even a possibility, I’d have scattered many more clues in THE PLOT to work with when I returned to these characters. But maybe having less to work with made me do more with what I did manage to embed in that novel: a certain piece of furniture, a collection of — shall we say — less than gifted writers, and yet another lost manuscript that refuses to stay lost. THE SEQUEL is a what-happens-next story about a character who truly comes into focus only at the end of THE PLOT, but it’s also some form of a “prequel” that attempts to explain how we all got here in the first place. A few notes before you set off. First, if you haven’t read THE PLOT… stop right now. Can you read THE SEQUEL as a so-called “standalone”? Of course you can — you can do whatever you like. But why would you want to? You’ll have way more fun if you’re up to speed on what’s already happened. So stop, go back, and I’ll wait for you right here. (Pay no attention to me, I’m just going to hum the “Jeopardy” theme song a few thousand times…No, it won’t be boring at all. No, I have nothing else to do, it’s all right!) What? You’re back? Delighted to hear it! Ok…off you go with THE SEQUEL. But wait! One final piece of advice: pay attention to the chapter titles. They’re kind of important.

All too real.

An infamous story of a creative act interrupted. Of course, opium also played a part…

Only a visual artist would ask such a silly question, no? Good thing this novel isn’t about visual artists.

It may be useful to remember, here, that the pole vault always ends in failure.

I cannot claim to have read every sequel whose title serves as a chapter title in THE SEQUEL. I haven’t even read all of the novels they are sequels TO. But I revere the thrillers of Thomas Perry. DANCE FOR THE DEAD is the sequel to VANISHING ACT — the first of his Jane Whitefield novels. If you haven’t read them, lucky you. You get to read them now.

A reference not only to Dickens but to an identical chapter opening in THE PLOT.

Contrary to popular belief, I do not hate Vermont. I love Vermont! Some favorite Vermont restaurants: A Single Pebble (Burlington), Simon Pearce (Queechee) and the lost but never forgotten Dog Team Tavern (Middlebury), Storm Cafe (Middlebury) and Christophe’s (Vergennes).

One of the very few characters in the novel inspired by a real person. Fortunately, I don’t remember his name, or what state he was from, but I certainly remember that manuscript which arrived on my desk when I worked in publishing decades ago. I was appalled by it, but also kind of fascinated. Once a novel is out of copyright it’s at the mercy of anyone who wishes to “improve” it, as in the clever “The Great Gatsby: But Nick has Scoliosis” by — and yes, I’m going to go out on a limb and declare this a pen name — Dick C. Heese.

And yet I named the character for my friend Richard Rosen, who thought it was hilarious.

A great sequel to a great novel by a great writer, to whom so many of us owe so much.

If you recognize a reference to one of my favorite musicals…it’s not coincidental. Just saying.

A place I’m ashamed to say I first learned about on an episode of The Real Housewives of New York City.

Another great sequel by the masterful Scott Turow.

Also, apparently, a real thing, which I find hilarious.

One of my very favorite sequels, by Erica Jong, to FEAR OF FLYING. I read it first, unaware of the fact that it was a sequel, and it was fantastic. Then someone said: “You know it’s a sequel, right?” So I read FEAR OF FLYING, and it was extraordinary.

In 1991 I spent a few weeks at The Hambidge Center in Rabun Gap, working on a novel that would never be published. But what a beautiful place that was!

A reference to Little Gloria Vanderbilt, of course!

I knew when I began to write this novel that I would arrive at this sentence.