Challenge Corner discussion

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?

Hailed as breathtakingly suspenseful, Jean Hanff Korelitz's The Plot is a propulsive read about a story too good not to steal, and the writer who steals it.

I just got this from the library, so I'm starting it today!

I decided to start today as well.

End of part 1: (view spoiler)[This is shaping up to be an interesting premise, although I do wonder if the actual plot of Evan's story will be revealed. What could make people so sure that a plot could be written by even a bad writer and still come out strong? I'm interested to see how this plays out. (hide spoiler)]

End of part two: (view spoiler)[I just don't think that justification makes sense. I know all about the spark, being a partial writer myself, and I can't get behind how someone else's idea becomes your spark, solely because they told you about it. (hide spoiler)]

"'I'm telling you, I read all the time. Seventy-five novels last year, I counted. Well, Goodreads counted.'" (p.72)

So grateful for tracking on Goodreads, lol

~1/3 (view spoiler)[This is really picking up. I like that we're getting some snippets of the novel as well. Still not sure what could have made this such a big deal, though I have a few guesses that don't really fit with my idea of a big deal.

I love how much this deals with the process as a professional writer. It's intriguing. (hide spoiler)]

50% (view spoiler)[Okay, orfcourse a web of lies arises - and this IS actually a common plot - but how this connects to Evan Parker's plot/story is really interesting. I'm also trying to see if we find anything out by the Crib excerpts. (hide spoiler)]

Part One (view spoiler)[I'm wondering the same thing about whether the plot will be revealed! I'm guessing no, just because no plot could actually be that awesome. So actually describing a plot would undermine the credibility of the premise. But we'll see. I do think it would be more fun to find out what this amazing plot is. (hide spoiler)]

Part Two: (view spoiler)[Yeah, I also don’t agree that stealing someone’s plot is the same thing as a spark or inspiration. On the other hand, since Evan is dead, I don’t really see how writing his story hurts anyone? The main way this could go wrong is if Evan told someone else the story idea before he died.

By the way, I think it just said Evan “died unexpectedly”? Kind of suspicious that we’re not given any more detail… (hide spoiler)]

Ch 16 (halfway through part three)
(view spoiler)[Yeah, I also like the snippets of the novel. Given how much detail we’re getting, I’m going to take back my earlier prediction. I think we will learn the twist. I hope so! (hide spoiler)]

End of Part Three: (view spoiler)[It makes sense that Evan got the story from his real life. I was kind of wondering how he came up with the idea, since it was never mentioned. And that definitely explains how someone else knew where the plot line came from.

I feel like “Talented Tom” is coming off super unhinged. You have to give more detail than that in your accusation for it to be at all credible. I guess they don’t want to reveal their own identity, though.

I was surprised Jake didn’t tell Anna about Talented Tom from the beginning, and play it off as completely made up. I guess that would have been a little short sighted, though, since he knows there’s the possibility for more details to come out later. I was impressed that he actually came clean to her, though. That was a good step.

As for the twist itself - Samantha killed Maria and then tried to pose as her? Is that the implication? I’m still confused here, but we’ll see if this makes more sense in part four. (hide spoiler)]

Finished!
(view spoiler)[The twist ending was just really weird to me. Like the mother wanted to kill her daughter and live her best childfree life, fine. But how does impersonating the daughter make any sense. A 32 year old obviously can't pass as a 16 year old, and it just makes the lie obvious to anyone who knows them. Whereas if Dianna would just have admitted her own identity and that it was Rose who burned up, she could have gotten off scott free, apparently. And she didn't even finish graduating from Athens, so I really don't see what she got out of it.

And then she decided to become Jake's wife before killing him? I don't see how being this very public persona of the famous author's widow would be a satisfying life for her. And again, what was the point? Her story was already out, it was too late to stop it.

I liked the book and the writing, but the ending was just weird.

By the way, I did not see the ending coming, and most reviewers say they did and it was "obvious" but don't say what tipped them off. So if you guessed in advance, I'd love to hear what clues you saw!
(hide spoiler)]

Caroline wrote: "Part Two:(view spoiler)[ Yeah, I also don’t agree that stealing someone’s plot is the same thing as a spark or inspiration. On the other hand, since Evan is dead, I don’t really see how writing his story hurts an..." (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Yeah, the "died unexpectedly" thing is interesting. I never even considered that, but what if there was someone else who wanted the exact same thing? This will be interesting. (hide spoiler)]

55% (view spoiler)[Okay, so I guess I hadn't realized he never actually told Anna about TalentedTom and was actively trying to hide it from her. I honestly can't see why. She'd be supportive. (hide spoiler)]

End of part 3 (view spoiler)[Okay, what the actual fuck just happened? I'm with you Caroline in that I don't get what's about to happen. That is an interesting twist but not so out of the ordinary, except that it doesn't happen in real life, except when it does.

Does this mean they'll get to Athens, GA and find Dianna and not Rose? (hide spoiler)]

FINISHED (view spoiler)[So in response to your assessment of the end, I'm always super skeptical of the first to offer friendship. That said, I was kind of like, okay it's probably Anna, and then at around 50 or 60%, I was like, no it's definitely not Anna. But it kind of makes sense to me that she would do that. I think it all had to do with Evan and the fact that the story was coming out.

Honestly the most surprising thing is that she actually managed to kill him. I was not expecting that! (hide spoiler)]

Celia wrote: "FINISHED"

(view spoiler)[
Yeah, that makes sense that her initiating the friendship could be suspicious given that it's a thriller book. And especially with how hardcore she went, moving across the country before she knew him and wanting to get married after 6 months. It didn't occur to me at the time, but it does seem suspicious now. (hide spoiler)]

Started the book!

(view spoiler)[This is another one of those books receiving many positive critical reviews and strong word of mouth, so I decided to read it. Knowing when I read it that it was one of those concept mystery novels, I was wondering how original and different it would turn out to be. At first, Korelitz’s academic literary writing style kind of slowed me down and made start rethinking my reading choice. However, the plotting kept me going along enough to get immersed in what was turning out to be an interesting mystery within a mystery. (hide spoiler)]

Part 1 (and some of Part 2): (view spoiler)[ so it's basically a writer who's once a promising writer and currently working on a creative writing symposium. He had an arrogant student who had the best story plot ever that is predictedly going to be one of the bestseller novels when published. But then he learned that that student died without even publishing it, and so he decided to use the story plot for one of his book. (hide spoiler)]

Part 3: (view spoiler)[so the stolen plot/novel hits the bestseller chart and was about to be on a film. I like it that they shared some of the excerpt from his novel. The mystery of TalentedTom is so interesting! Anyway, as I go along the chapters the writing style seems bearable. (hide spoiler)]

Part 4: Finished the book! (view spoiler)[Not so bad! The plot was crazy and twisty. So many clue the MC didn't noticed. But I like it when MC tried to find the mystery behind it. (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING JULY 2ND, 2023

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Up to PART THREE/Ch. 8 22%

Jacob Finch Bonner: (view spoiler)[What on earth is wrong with this guy? lol OMG I seriously do not like him but I wonder if I will change my mind. He is terrible. Imagine having him as your teacher? He hatesEvan for one reason only! He's totally jealous of what he believes will be a best seller. He's obviously going to plagiarize the book! (hide spoiler)]

Evan Parker: (view spoiler)[I would like to know more about him and perhaps we will as the story continues. (hide spoiler)]

One aspect I like about the book is (view spoiler)[ the fact that Jake is a "teacher" and it resonates with me in that way, BUT definitely not in the way of how he teaches. I hope that changes along the way. (hide spoiler)]

Up to Ch. 17/48%

Talented Thomas (view spoiler)[I am clueless. I wonder if it's someone he actually knows and maybe Thomas isn't Thomas at all. I know if I were Jake, I'd be freaking out for sure and looking over my shoulder. Nothing like knowing something is about to catch up to you and a major like like plagiarizing an entire book....I don't envy Jake! (hide spoiler)]

CRIB (view spoiler)[I'm not sure how I feel about the inclusion of this. I think it's a novel idea to include the script but I don't know the purpose for doing that yet. Hmmm...but I find the plot interesting. That being said, just HOW is it so unique that it's never been done? Either I'm missing something or it's yet to be revealed. The only thing I can think of is that the book is about Evan himself. (hide spoiler)]

Goodreads (view spoiler)[How exciting to see that in a book! But she has used a lot of allusions! I generally love them, especially in books like 11/22/63 because they're so historical and from "my time" but some of the ones she's used in this book I feel were just thrown in. I don't know. Just how I feel. (hide spoiler)]

Celia wrote: ""'I'm telling you, I read all the time. Seventy-five novels last year, I counted. Well, Goodreads counted.'" (p.72)

So grateful for tracking on Goodreads, lol"

I got a WEE bit excited when I read "Goodreads" in that section too!

Through Chapter 8

Bonner (view spoiler)[ I think he's made to hate. I mean, his whole commentary was just as pretentious and awful as Evan Parker/Parker Evan's but he just kept it in his head while smiling! He was just as entitled and gross as the budding writer (hide spoiler)]

Evan Parker(view spoiler)[ wow, he died shortly after giving the plot to him! I can't believe Bonner is actually going to steal it

and I have to be honest, what is this amazing plot?! lol

I loved hearing about the ways he tried to earn money! I liked the on-line guiding/editing. Interesting how he said published world had changed and now you're expected to deliver something pretty much publishable.

I also liked he was running that writers retreat. But if Evan Parker/Parker Evan was already dead, who is the guy yelling at him? Just a guy that looks like him?? (hide spoiler)]

The Plot (view spoiler)[ Okay, so far we know the mom has dubious employment - psychic and dirty talk - both hotline work

we know the daughter was very smart - or at least VERY driven - to get out of town and get to college

we know from Chapter 8 that there is a murder? And it sounds like the mom killed the daughter? Did I get that right?
Yikes, this doesn't sound like "an amazing best seller" just from the plot. I hope we learn more! (hide spoiler)]

I have to be honest, I wasn't excited to read this one but I'm really liking it so far!

ha! I love that Goodreads was mentioned in there too!! lol I'd be so lost without Goodreads!

YES! (view spoiler)[It definitely gave the impression that the mother killed her daughter. And your comments are spot on as always. (hide spoiler)]

I also asked how (view spoiler)[the plot was so amazing and unique, but I didn't ask it until my next set of comments. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "ha! I love that Goodreads was mentioned in there too!! lol I'd be so lost without Goodreads!"

You and me both! I'm so glad I discovered it when I did! Do you realize that we've been friends on GR since 2012? 11 years already!

That's awesome! sounds like we need another meetup! lol

I would SO do that!! You're in WA state now, right?

Up to PART FOUR/Ch. 25/74% and the plot thickens.

(view spoiler)[Nothing earth-shaking really since we already knew pretty much that the mother killed her daughter.

I felt bad for Anna...I'd freak out too if some looney toon had my address and was sending threatening letters. I see why Jake wanted to conceal it all from her, but I think he should've told her so she'd be less shocked and scared by the letter she got. (hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[I suspected Anna in PART FOUR for some reason. I don't know. I was thinking she might really be the niece, but I wasn't expecting the mother. I was confused though when we knew she killed her daughter and then Jake went looking for the daughter. But then she was dead after all.

I am baffled...why on earth didn't Jake take off? Did I miss something? Nobody would just sit there and take a bunch of pills like he did. (hide spoiler)]

Overall I really enjoyed this one.

Vicki wrote: "I would SO do that!! You're in WA state now, right?"

Yes! I'm in Washington now!

up to 17 (did not read through 17)

Talented Tom(view spoiler)[ I mean. . .do you think it's Anna? She sought him out and now she's with him and spending all his money he got from the book
I think she's the only person currently in his life that we could potentially point a finger at! could she be the niece that's alive?
I don't think anyone else had access to Evan's writings but she might have collected his stuff after he died and found the book!
I think other than her, even Alice from the previous BBQ - the one that did poetry. I don't think she would have gotten close enougth to Evan to get his writing. . . (hide spoiler)]

Crib (view spoiler)[ awe, I'm sorry you don't love this addition! I'm loving it! I just really hope we get the twist so we know what everyone is talking about!!! I'm dying to know! lol (hide spoiler)]

up to Part 4

oh oh oh oh (view spoiler)[ NOW WE KNOW THE TWIST!
So the mom is going to take her daughter's life. she's going to pretend to be the niece.

and I think Anna is the niece. She just might kill Jake and take all his money for the novel now that they are married.

I remember she said her hair was gray - and that her age was ambiguous and she had him guess her age. Well well well. She's older than she appears because she's the mom who took her daughter's life.

wow. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "up to 17 (did not read through 17)

Talented Tom I mean. . .do you think it's Anna? She sought him out and now she's with him and spending all his money he got from the book
I think she's the only ..."

Can't answer that one since I already know!

I'm done!
(view spoiler)[ oooh what a fun twist. I definitely called it, but it was only because of the book. and I had to point to someone in his life and Anna popping up just seemed a bit . . .too good to be true! and she made it all move so fast and then went straight to spending all the money! lol

Oh, he didn't take the pills (to answer your question above). She put the pills in the really strong soup - which is why he took them without really knowing. I don't think it even took much, especially with that mix!

I thought she might kill him and label it suicide and that she had killed her whole family. she was just so mad about her life derailing. Interesting that she never went after the guy who got her pregnant.

anyway, I liked this one! Twisty for sure! (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "I'm done!
oooh what a fun twist. I definitely called it, but it was only because of the book. and I had to point to someone in his life and Anna popping up just seemed a bit . . .too good to be t..."

I guess I missed that so thanks for clearing it up! lol I'm so glad you liked it too.