The Plot - September Buddy Read

[Lea]

We heard about this book being similar to Yellowface, which we read in February. It's about authors and how they come up with the stories they tell. Here's the blurb...

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.

[Ioana]

I'm in, when do we want to start? 1st half of the month works for me.

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "I'm in, when do we want to start? 1st half of the month works for me."

That works for me also. Thankfully, this book doesn't have a wait list months out! :-)

[Linda]

I’m in! I’m in!!!

[Lea]

Linda wrote: "I’m in! I’m in!!!"

Yay! :-)

[Patricia]

I already read this, but look forward to hearing your thoughts. Also, there's a giveaway going on for The Sequel.

[Lea]

Patricia wrote: "I already read this, but look forward to hearing your thoughts. Also, there's a giveaway going on for The Sequel."

Yes! We are thinking to read The Sequel after this one. (It's one of the reasons we waited until now to read this one.

[Lea]

I'm getting ready to start this one. :-)

[Ioana]

I started it, but the library snatched it back. I'll get it soon and continue it.

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "I started it, but the library snatched it back. I'll get it soon and continue it."

I hate it when that happens. I had to finish mine quickly, the book with no wait list suddenly had one. :-)

[Linda]

I will start this one probably tomorrow Are you ladies still reading??

[Ioana]

I'm still waiting for my copy, and unfortunately it will not come before we leave on vacation.

[Lindsey]

I'm in, I'll get to it around mid month...

[Lea]

Linda wrote: "I will start this one probably tomorrow Are you ladies still reading??"

I had to power through and finish it because somebody else put a hold on it at my library. So, I'm done, but happy to discuss. :-)

[Linda]

Good morning ladies, just wanted pop in here to say, I have started this book today. I’m getting the feeling that the narrator of this book is wanting the book to sound eerie if that makes sense. I’m surprised by that and wasn’t expecting it.

[Lea]

Linda wrote: "Good morning ladies, just wanted pop in here to say, I have started this book today. I’m getting the feeling that the narrator of this book is wanting the book to sound eerie if that makes sense. I’m surprised by that and wasn’t expecting it."

Hmmm....I didn't get that from the narration, but I really wasn't looking for it. Very interesting. I will say that I didn't find the book too eerie. I thought it was less a thriller/mystery and more a work of fiction on ethics...but everyone reads books differently, so you may have a different experience. I'm eager to see what you think!

[Linda]

So regarding the narrator. I’m now at the 1st Excerpt from Jacob’s book, Crib. I no longer feel the narrator is giving me eerie vibes, and for the longest time, I didn’t like his narration. M still not sold on it but he is okay, I feel like there are better guy narrators out there. My thoughts would be that he will also be the narrator for book 2, which won’t make me happy.

[Linda]

Chapter - Excerpt from Crib by Jacob Fich Vaughner - (view spoiler)[I’m glad we are getting to experience Jacobs book since we didn’t get a chance to experience Evans book except for a few pages. (hide spoiler)]

[Lea]

It isn't my favorite narrator either. (view spoiler)[I think we get less of the book than we might otherwise, possibly because the plot of the books don't seem to live up to the hype. The author keeps telling us we've never seen this plot before, but I think we have. Setting that aside, the book was still fun, but it was a quibble of mine. If you are going to say that a certain plot is an immediate best seller, I expected something a little bit different. Of course, if there was that perfect plot, the author would have just wrote that, instead of this book about a perfect plot...so there's that... (hide spoiler)]

[Linda]

I’m 50% into this book and (view spoiler)[ I agree with you Lea. We have read this book before and even saw the movie. But Evan was convinced that his book was going to be a big hit and based on the book that Jacob wrote, it is. But how do we really know Jacob’s book is indeed Evan’s book??? Evan was concerned that Jacob wanted to know more about his book because he was worried that he would try to steal his plot. And if I remember correctly it was some years that Evan passed away, why didn’t he write his book??? Am I wrong??? (hide spoiler)]

[Ioana]

I've only listened to about 35-40% of the book before the library took it back. I blame the narrator for this. I know I could've finished it on time if I had liked him more...

[Patricia]

Ioana wrote: "I've only listened to about 35-40% of the book before the library took it back. I blame the narrator for this. I know I could've finished it on time if I had liked him more..."

Now that you say that--I remember I didn't like the narrator either & ended checking out the book instead.

[Linda]

Ioana wrote: "I've only listened to about 35-40% of the book before the library took it back. I blame the narrator for this. I know I could've finished it on time if I had liked him more..."

Know what you mean! Sometimes I fall asleep on him if I’m reading in the morning then I have to start over! 🤦🏾‍♀️

[Linda]

Chapter 24 - (view spoiler)[I am 100% on Anna’s side with her anger at Jake regarding the posts of plagiarism. I just don’t understand why he didn’t tell her. Of course no time would have been a good time but when that letter arrived at their house, he should have told her then.

While telling Anna the dirty details, I feel like I’ve gotten a better understanding of how this book came to be. I do remember Jacob only getting to read a few pages. But I guess that’s all he needed to put this book together. (hide spoiler)]

[Linda]

Finished!!!

(view spoiler)[Wow!!!! Well I surely did not expect that! This plot was Evan’s sister all along! And she was the blackmailer! I was not surprised by Jake being so close and he figured out that whoever was behind this blackmail was close to Evan but how crazy that the person was actually Anna, his wife!

So I’m curious about the picture that Jake showed to the cleaner at the apartment and Roy the coroner they both said that lady was not Rose, so I wonder who was in the pic that Jacob had??!!??!!

Now after reading The Plor, I love the title for book 2 being The Sequel, it’s so perfect. - (hide spoiler)]

[Lea]

I'm going to try and read The Sequel this month. I've got it on hold and it is coming to me.

[Patricia]

I've been feeling a bit wishy-washy about reading The Sequel, but after hearing a podcaster rave about it this morning, I'm going to go ahead and put it on hold. (Because, you know, I need something to read. lol)

[Lea]

Patricia wrote: "I've been feeling a bit wishy-washy about reading The Sequel, but after hearing a podcaster rave about it this morning, I'm going to go ahead and put it on hold. (Because, you know, I need something to read. lol)"

Yes! And if you miss reading this book, you might run out of things to read. :-) :-) :-) I hope you get your hold in time. I think I need to start this weekend, as I only have 11 days left on this hold. I'll let you know what I think.