The Plot

★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10

270 pages

What’s it about?

Jake was once a promising young writer but his career has stalled.  He finds himself teaching at a second rate MFA program and beating himself up for his lack of forward progress.  When one day an arrogant, unlikable young writer shares a promising plot line he finds himself burning with envy.

What did it make me think about?

What is the core of a story?

Should I read it?

This was a well plotted psychological thriller.  After reading “The Latecomer” I decided to pick this up for vacation.  I enjoyed it.  It is a good quick beach read.

A passage I marked

“I can’t imagine, pages and pages of writing, not to mention characters that have to feel real and a story that needs to surprise you. It’s absurd that people can actually do that.”