The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

I pretty much like any book I have read about books, writers and/or the writing process. I also like books that are fast-paced mysteries. This book includes all of those elements. I also love how the definition of "Plot (Noun)" is included on the book jacket of the hard copy edition of the book I have:

• 1. a sequence of events in a narrative, as in a novel, for example
• 2. an immoral or illegal plan
• 3. a designated section of land for a gravesite

This book's plot also includes all definitions of the word "plot", which makes it all the more intriguing.

The main character, Jacob Finch Bonner, is a struggling author teaching writing classes at a second-rate school. His first published novel achieved moderate success, but his 2nd, 3rd and 4th attempts were each a bust. One of his uninterested (in Jake's feedback) and seemingly uninvested students, Evan Parker, shows some promise as an upcoming author in the few pages he submits to Jake for review, but Jake remains skeptical until Evan verbally shares his future novel's plot with him. By all accounts, it's a best-selling novel plot.

Jake doesn't see or hear anything again from Evan after the end of the writing class. Occasionally he thinks of Evan and his "plot" and wonders why the book has not been published yet. After three years, Jake finds out that Evan never wrote the book because he died not long after the writing class. It's at this point that Jake has a decision to make. Knowing that Evan's parents and sister had died even before Evan, and there doesn't appear to be any other family member, and realizing that this wonderful plot has never been published, Jake decides to write his own novel - in his own words and not using any of the words Evan submitted to him in class - using Evan's "best-selling plot".

So, are Jake's actions plagiarism? No. How could they be? Jake doesn't copy any of the words from Evan's writing sample. So is it unethical to use someone's else's plot after they have died? Each writer has their own voice, so how can it be unethical to use a dead person's idea if it hasn't actually been used previously? And really, aren't all TV shows, movies and books just variations of the same plots/ideas?

These questions haunt Jake after someone starts accusing him via social media outlets of stealing the story. Since Jake's book (Crib) becomes the best-selling, Oprah-promoting novel that Evan predicted it would be, these online taunts threaten Jake's reputation as a writer.

Whether you are a writer, a want-to-be writer, or simply enjoy reading, I would recommend this book!

Wendy's Rating: *****