What do you think?
The Book Series #1
The Plot
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2021)Jean Hanff Korelitz’s The Plot is a psychologically suspenseful novel about a story too good not to steal, and the writer who steals it.
Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising young novelist with a respectably published first book. Today, he’s teaching in a third-rate MFA program and struggling to maintain what’s left of his self-respect; he hasn’t written—let alone published—anything decent in years. When Evan Parker, his most arrogant student, announces he doesn’t need Jake’s help because the plot of his book in progress is a sure thing, Jake is prepared to dismiss the boast as typical amateur narcissism. But then . . . he hears the plot.
Jake returns to the downward trajectory of his own career and braces himself for the supernova publication of Evan Parker’s first novel: but it never comes. When he discovers that his former student has died, presumably without ever completing his book, Jake does what any self-respecting writer would do with a story like that—a story that absolutely needs to be told.
In a few short years, all of Evan Parker’s predictions have come true, but Jake is the author enjoying the wave. He is wealthy, famous, praised and read all over the world. But at the height of his glorious new life, an e-mail arrives, the first salvo in a terrifying, anonymous campaign: You are a thief, it says.
As Jake struggles to understand his antagonist and hide the truth from his readers and his publishers, he begins to learn more about his late student, and what he discovers both amazes and terrifies him. Who was Evan Parker, and how did he get the idea for his “sure thing” of a novel? What is the real story behind the plot, and who stole it from whom?
Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising young novelist with a respectably published first book. Today, he’s teaching in a third-rate MFA program and struggling to maintain what’s left of his self-respect; he hasn’t written—let alone published—anything decent in years. When Evan Parker, his most arrogant student, announces he doesn’t need Jake’s help because the plot of his book in progress is a sure thing, Jake is prepared to dismiss the boast as typical amateur narcissism. But then . . . he hears the plot.
Jake returns to the downward trajectory of his own career and braces himself for the supernova publication of Evan Parker’s first novel: but it never comes. When he discovers that his former student has died, presumably without ever completing his book, Jake does what any self-respecting writer would do with a story like that—a story that absolutely needs to be told.
In a few short years, all of Evan Parker’s predictions have come true, but Jake is the author enjoying the wave. He is wealthy, famous, praised and read all over the world. But at the height of his glorious new life, an e-mail arrives, the first salvo in a terrifying, anonymous campaign: You are a thief, it says.
As Jake struggles to understand his antagonist and hide the truth from his readers and his publishers, he begins to learn more about his late student, and what he discovers both amazes and terrifies him. Who was Evan Parker, and how did he get the idea for his “sure thing” of a novel? What is the real story behind the plot, and who stole it from whom?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2021
About the author
Jean Hanff Korelitz
17 books3,150 followersAuthor of nine novels: THE SEQUEL (2024), THE LATECOMER (2022), THE PLOT (The Tonight Show's "Summer Reads" pick for 2021), THE UNDOING, originally published as YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN (adapted by David E. Kelley for HBO and starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant and Donald Sutherland), ADMISSION (adapted as the 2013 film of the same name, starring Tina Fey, Lily Tomlin and Paul Rudd), THE DEVIL AND WEBSTER, THE WHITE ROSE, THE SABBATHDAY RIVER and A JURY OF HER PEERS, as well as a middle-grade reader, INTERFERENCE POWDER, and a collection of poetry, THE PROPERTIES OF BREATH.
Watch for television adaptations of THE PLOT and THE LATECOMER!
I'm the founder of BOOKTHEWRITER, a New York City based service that offers "Pop-Up Book Groups" where readers can discuss books with their authors in person and online. Please join our mailing list at www.bookthewriter.com to hear about our events.
If you've become aware of my work via THE UNDOING, you should know that my novel differs significantly from the adaptation -- and that's fine with me! Just know that the twists you might be expecting will likely not be there on the page. Other twists, yes, but you'll have to read the book to find them.
If you're trying to reach me, please know that I don't do any communicating through Goodreads, and that includes FRIEND REQUESTS AND FOLLOWING. (You may also infer that I've read more than the few books listed here, all of which are -- coincidence? -- written by me. I have another GOODREADS account, under another name, with which I keep track of my reading, but it's private.) I'm particularly inept on Facebook, as well, so trying to reach me that way will be spectacularly ineffective. If you want to get in touch, please use the contact form on my website, jeanhanffkorelitz.com
Thanks so much for your interest in my work!
Jean Hanff Korelitz
Watch for television adaptations of THE PLOT and THE LATECOMER!
I'm the founder of BOOKTHEWRITER, a New York City based service that offers "Pop-Up Book Groups" where readers can discuss books with their authors in person and online. Please join our mailing list at www.bookthewriter.com to hear about our events.
If you've become aware of my work via THE UNDOING, you should know that my novel differs significantly from the adaptation -- and that's fine with me! Just know that the twists you might be expecting will likely not be there on the page. Other twists, yes, but you'll have to read the book to find them.
If you're trying to reach me, please know that I don't do any communicating through Goodreads, and that includes FRIEND REQUESTS AND FOLLOWING. (You may also infer that I've read more than the few books listed here, all of which are -- coincidence? -- written by me. I have another GOODREADS account, under another name, with which I keep track of my reading, but it's private.) I'm particularly inept on Facebook, as well, so trying to reach me that way will be spectacularly ineffective. If you want to get in touch, please use the contact form on my website, jeanhanffkorelitz.com
Thanks so much for your interest in my work!
Jean Hanff Korelitz
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 24, 2021
Da je ova knjiga hrana, verovatno bi bila neki Big Mac.
Možda nije nešto što vas zasiti na duže, a, na kraju krajeva, definitivno nije ni najbolje jelo na svetu, ali to neće da vas spreči u tome da ga svakako progutate u tri zalogaja i da vam posle ne bude žao.
4.5/5🌟
Možda nije nešto što vas zasiti na duže, a, na kraju krajeva, definitivno nije ni najbolje jelo na svetu, ali to neće da vas spreči u tome da ga svakako progutate u tri zalogaja i da vam posle ne bude žao.
4.5/5🌟
April 26, 2024
Da li ste ikada želeli da čitate o romanu unutar romana? Da li ste želeli da čitate o piscima i pisanju? Ovo je možda prava prilika za vas. Naravno, bila bi - da je roman napisan kako treba.
Autorka je imala sjajnu ideju za vrhunski triler, ali realizacija nije odrađena kako treba. Ovo je pravi primer da nije dovoljno imati dobru ideju, već treba znati i napisati roman.
Imamo glavnog junaka koji je propali pisac. Slavu je stekao prvim romanom koji je neko vreme bio popularan. Nakon toga Džejkob Finč Boner nizao je samo neuspehe i ostao u senci uspešnih kolega. Međutim, jednog dana pruža mu se prilika da se ponovo "popne na vrh". Džejkob je iskoristio šansu, naravno - moralno upitnim postupkom. Sve ide kako treba, sve dok jednog dana ne dobije uznemirujuću poruku. Neko zna za njegovu prevaru.
Da ne otkrivam previše radnje, sama ideja je generalno dobra. Međutim, smatram da je ovde falilo svega. Falilo je prave napetosti, nesigurnosti i boljeg kraja romana. Priča ima na momente napetih delova, ali je ostatak radnje meni bio vrlo monoton. Osećao sam se kao da čitam neki suvoparni priručnik za pisce ili dnevnik depresivnog propalog pisca, koji piše o nekim nebitnim stvarima.
Ideja za roman unutar romana mi se dopala, ali je sve povezano na vrlo loš i amaterski način. Autorka je definitivno trebala pročitati i analizirati svoju priču, pre slanja rukopisa agentu. Ako je Džejkob kao glavni junak svestan radnje priče koju je napisao, zapleta i raspleta iste, u jednom trenutku postaje svestan i da je stvarni problem potpuno isti kao u njegovoj priči - kako onda ne zna rešenje?! Shvatam da je autorka htela da dobije na broju stranica i da na neki način zadrži pažnju i razbije monotonu atmosferu, ali je to zaista loše osmišljeno. Čak više, mislim da na to autorka nije ni obratila pažnju.
Likovi od samog početka ne izazivaju moju reakciju i emocije, niti sam osetio život u njima. Linija je bila ravna, od početka do kraja. Šta god da se likovima dešavalo, nikako nije dopiralo do mene. Toliko poglavlja o "postavci dobrog romana" unutar ovog romana, a ta postavka je upravo ono što i ovde ne valja. Ironično. Možda je autorka trebala da posluša savete svog glavnog junaka?!
Kraj je očekivan i možete ga prozreti mnogo pre poslednjeg poglavlja. Nisam oduševljen ovim trilerom, uprkos tome što ima relativno dobru ocenu na Goodreads-u i što ga preporučuje i sam King. Očekivao sam dosta, a iskreno nisam dobio ništa vredno prevelike pažnje.
Autorka je imala sjajnu ideju za vrhunski triler, ali realizacija nije odrađena kako treba. Ovo je pravi primer da nije dovoljno imati dobru ideju, već treba znati i napisati roman.
Imamo glavnog junaka koji je propali pisac. Slavu je stekao prvim romanom koji je neko vreme bio popularan. Nakon toga Džejkob Finč Boner nizao je samo neuspehe i ostao u senci uspešnih kolega. Međutim, jednog dana pruža mu se prilika da se ponovo "popne na vrh". Džejkob je iskoristio šansu, naravno - moralno upitnim postupkom. Sve ide kako treba, sve dok jednog dana ne dobije uznemirujuću poruku. Neko zna za njegovu prevaru.
Da ne otkrivam previše radnje, sama ideja je generalno dobra. Međutim, smatram da je ovde falilo svega. Falilo je prave napetosti, nesigurnosti i boljeg kraja romana. Priča ima na momente napetih delova, ali je ostatak radnje meni bio vrlo monoton. Osećao sam se kao da čitam neki suvoparni priručnik za pisce ili dnevnik depresivnog propalog pisca, koji piše o nekim nebitnim stvarima.
Ideja za roman unutar romana mi se dopala, ali je sve povezano na vrlo loš i amaterski način. Autorka je definitivno trebala pročitati i analizirati svoju priču, pre slanja rukopisa agentu. Ako je Džejkob kao glavni junak svestan radnje priče koju je napisao, zapleta i raspleta iste, u jednom trenutku postaje svestan i da je stvarni problem potpuno isti kao u njegovoj priči - kako onda ne zna rešenje?! Shvatam da je autorka htela da dobije na broju stranica i da na neki način zadrži pažnju i razbije monotonu atmosferu, ali je to zaista loše osmišljeno. Čak više, mislim da na to autorka nije ni obratila pažnju.
Likovi od samog početka ne izazivaju moju reakciju i emocije, niti sam osetio život u njima. Linija je bila ravna, od početka do kraja. Šta god da se likovima dešavalo, nikako nije dopiralo do mene. Toliko poglavlja o "postavci dobrog romana" unutar ovog romana, a ta postavka je upravo ono što i ovde ne valja. Ironično. Možda je autorka trebala da posluša savete svog glavnog junaka?!
Kraj je očekivan i možete ga prozreti mnogo pre poslednjeg poglavlja. Nisam oduševljen ovim trilerom, uprkos tome što ima relativno dobru ocenu na Goodreads-u i što ga preporučuje i sam King. Očekivao sam dosta, a iskreno nisam dobio ništa vredno prevelike pažnje.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews