Hi all. We were in the mountains last week, and it was gorgeous and clear. The doggies came with us and we stayed at a cabin. We had plenty of good hikes and fresh air and all in all it was a great break and birthday week.
Now we are back home, and according to the news, the latest surge in Covid cases here has just about filled all the hospital ICU beds in the province … as well as cancelled most of the non-urgent surgeries. Apparently a hundred percent of these Covid cases in the ICU are of non-vaccinated people. What are we to make of this? It seems mind-boggling really. Not sure why more aren’t following the science, but it’s not fair to others who need other surgeries and wish for an end to the pandemic. At this point, I’m all for mandatory vaccinations. It’s frustrating, right? Doctors at the packed hospitals seem to be at their wit’s end here and I don’t blame them.
Nothing much else of note. I’ve been reading Canadian author Thomas King’s novel Indians on Vacation for my book club, which is meeting this week virtually, and I plan to look at October releases for a preview next weekend. While in the woods, I finished just one audiobook last week. It was a title from my summer list, so here’s a review of that.
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz / Celadon Books / 336 pages / 2021
Short Synopsis: An author named Jacob “Jake” Bonner is teaching at an MFA program when he comes across a student with a great story he’s in the process of writing. Though a year or so later when Jake hears the student has unfortunately passed away, he takes the story’s plot for his own and has much success … which is all well and good for him until he starts receiving emails from an unknown source that threaten to divulge his theft … and leads him to investigate who’s behind it. Hmm … Uh-oh.
My Thoughts: I know I’m in the minority about this one — as most on Goodreads raved about this novel, but for whatever reason it wasn’t completely for me. Though I liked the HBO miniseries The Undoing based on the author’s previous novel and I really wanted to like this one a lot too. But perhaps it was due to the wooden delivery of the audiobook narrator, which I listened to, or the dull male protagonist – Jake? Or was it because it’s a slow burn that takes its own long sweet time?
Granted the issues the novel raises about the writing world and creative appropriation and plagiarism are interesting stuff and the ending is clever. And I liked, too, how it included — Jake’s story as well as it alternates with chapters of the novel he put out — so it’s a story within a story that gets quite entwined. But the execution at the beginning particularly drove me sort of crazy. For a thriller, it just seemed sort of long-winded, repetitive, and spinning its wheels. But man, at the very end it turns pretty twisted. Quite a chilling ending, which sort of snuck up on me, despite the clues being there. So I’ll give it points for that.
That’s all for now. Have you read this one and if so what are your thoughts, and how are things where you are?
I’m glad you had fun in the mountains! I want to read The Plot, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. That sucks that it was disappointing.
Hi AJ: the mountains were really nice this time of year. A good recharger for us. Perhaps you’d like The Plot more than I did …. so keep it in your sights …. it is rated pretty high on Goodreads. Cheers!
Those pictures are so beautiful. I can only imagine how wonderful it must have been to spend time there. And, I’m with you, I’m so tired of COVID and if only people would listen to science maybe we would be seeing the end of this. Haven’t read The Plot yet but it is on my list.
Hi Iliana, thanks for stopping by. Yeah we are all tiring of Covid but it seems a portion of the population is just prolonging it for everyone, Ugh. And if it gets any worse we will have another lockdown here. Blah. I hope your area is Okay. Stay well & happy reading.
Your time in the mountains sounds so relaxing and a wonderful way to spend your birthday! I am feeling in need of a break from reality at this point. 🙂
My district just mandated vaccinations for staff, which makes me happy. It will be interesting if they do the same for students.
Hi Helen, it’s interesting & great to hear about the vaccine mandates there. I think starting with people’s workplaces is a good way to mandate it.
Having a break now really was good for us … hope you can take a recharger too. Have a great week.
Glad you got out for some nice hikes while you were away. I’ve lost patience with these anti-vaxers and just wish they made vaccines mandatory the way they always used to be. Sorry The Plot, on audio wasn’t better for you. I didn’t mind the narration as I was so engaged in the story. Hope your week goes well.
Hi Diane, I went back and read your review of The Plot … it seems you thought it “took forever to get going” as well … and the first half was slow … so I guess we were on the same page about that. It did eventually take off from there and had a pretty psycho ending. You probably liked it a bit better than I did … but it had its moments and I liked how she had a story within a story element.
I agree the vaccines should be mandatory! It was really nice to get away last week. Enjoy your reading.
I read this book earlier this year and liked it well enough, probably better than you did, although I agree with your critique of it.
Lucky you to be able to spend time in the mountains. We used to head that way every fall but not this year, unfortunately. At some point, I hope to make the trip again.
Hi Dorothy, yeah I remember you had read The Plot. It was slow for me at the beginning but the ending is a bit of a whopper, right? You probably did like it a bit more than me.
Someday in the near future – I hope they can open up the border fully so we can all go back & forth without the hassles. The mountains were so clear and pleasant. Enjoy your week.
Going to the mountains sounds divine. Michigan (where I live) is so flat that the highest peak around here is an artificial ski slope. Or so they say.
Ha Mae! I’m trying to imagine that. It was a good week away. We are lucky to live near the Canadian Rockies … a great scenic range to explore & have fun in. We shouldn’t take it for granted right?! Have a great week.
Relaxing time in the mountains is always good to recharge the batteries. I haven’t read The Plot yet, not all that sure about it. The plot of the The plot does sound really good though. Let me see if I perhaps stumble upon it somewhere.
Have a good week and stay safe!
Thanks Mareli. Yeah the plot of the plot is quite clever … though it takes awhile to get off the ground. Getting away for a break was great and I hope you are able to do so there while on vacation …. though it seems you are doing some renovations now — go good luck with that. Enjoy your week.
There’s nothing like the mountains to dispel the troubles of our world. Natural beauty seems to allow us to set everything else aside for a while, and that is lovely.
We have to mandate vaccinations. There are some who are not going to do it otherwise, and it is the only way to protect us all from the virus. I feel so sad for health care workers during all of this.
I wouldn’t choose The Plot just because I don’t read thrillers, though I know I am in the minority. I’m sorry it was a little disappointing.
Hi Deb, yeah some thrillers I end up wanting to throw against a wall … though others (like this one I think) have more food for thought and raise good issues. It just took awhile though, so the execution wasn’t the best.
I agree vaccines should be mandated. Will it happen in Texas? That governor does not seem to be helpful. Sigh.
Our hikes & bike rides into rural & mountain areas have really helped us stay sane during the pandemic. So gorgeous. We will keep it up. Have a great week.
Great views of the mountains and forest! I’m glad your trip went OK. I like the premise of The Plot, and extra points for a twisted ending. I put The Vanished Days aside and I’m amidst The Bewilderment–longlisted, together with Cloud Cuckoo Land and Matrix, which I’m going to read next, for the National Book Award, among other titles. I’ll be finishing it towards the end of this week. It’s pretty good, no fireworks, but pretty good nonetheless.
Hi Carmen, you have a strong reading list and I need to get back on track with some quality reads too. We’ve been so busy with trips & the new dog & PW & book club that my own reading has suffered a lot. So I will try to resurrect it. I have Bewilderment … and would like to start it at the end of this week … Matrix looks good so I will look to hear what you think of it. I hope your fall colors are glorious now? Or perhaps in a few weeks time. Enjoy!
No falls colors yet; they’re coming later and later every year. I’ve been lucky with my reading this year. Usually I am stuck with what no one else is reading, but this time I’ve seemed to have hit the jackpot. 🙂 You could probably fit both Matrix and Bewilderment in less than a week (2 days each, top). Me, I’m such a slow reader! 😮 🙂
Actually I’m a really slow reader too. Either I get distracted easily or usually I’m just slow so I can remember as much detail as possible. I like to put it to memory. I don’t seem to read for speed. It sort of helps with my PW reviews, but it can be a bit agonizing way too.
A couple of things…
The Plot. I was totally wanting to read it and then I saw a few other books like it and I was like meh. I don’t plan to get to it anytime soon.
COVID. I have become very vocal with those around me who continue to make bad choices or stupid ones. I had someone tell me this weekend that they won’t get the vax because they have already had COVID twice and it wasn’t bad. I was like, what about all the people you infected while out and about??? This was at church. Hello??? What would Jesus do??? Please! As soon as I can get a booster I plan to.
ugh Ti, some peoples’ excuses for why they are not getting the vaccines are really lame! It’s just crazy how they are not thinking of others around them. They don’t get it or they don’t care or both. I’m behind tired of the anti-vaxxers at this point. I am able to get a third vaccine here on Oct. 4. I hope you can get one soon too.
The Plot had a good ending but the beginning was slow to me! Have a good week and I hope your knee improves …
I’m with you on the COVID question. Here in Houston the pandemic never seems to get much better. The city is a major hub for people crossing the border, and they seem to stay in the area plenty long enough to keep the virus spread going. And hardly any of them are vaccinated…for anything, it seems. We are looking forward to getting our Pfizer boosters in early December when our eight-month window opens, but it’s the hospital bed shortage for other surgeries and treatments that scares us most, I think.
Beautiful photos. Must have been hard to head home. 🙂
Thanks Sam. Yeah the scenery in the mountains was gorgeous last week.
I’m glad you talked about what it’s like Covid-wise in your area. It is scary the cancellations of other surgeries & treatments due to the packed Covid patients in the hospitals … people are on waiting lists to have surgeries here and then they are postponed again b/c of Covid patients. It is serious. I am able to get a 3rd Covid vaccine b/c I had AstraZeneca first … then Pfizer and in October another Pfizer. So I hope it gives extra protection. It’s good you’ll get one in Dec. Cheers.
The mountains are gorgeous! I’m curious about The Plot, but I always hate the tension when someone does something wrong…and you wait “for the other shoe to fall.”
Ha Jen, I like how you put that. The other shoe does fall hard too …. but you have to wait till the very end. It’s a bit agony the wait & see. Have a great week.
Pretty mountains! Thanks for sharing your lovely pictures with us. We’re in the same boat down here with Covid. Beds are full. More and more people are testing positive and going to the hospital and more deaths every day. It’s so frustrating!
I’ve heard of The Plot. Have it on my list. But now I’m not sure how quickly I’ll get to it…I watched the Undoing which was wild but not great. I didn’t know this was the same author!
Stay safe this week!
Thanks Heather. Yeah all the hospital beds are full and things are nuts. Welcome to the non-vaxxers world, blah. What’s next? More of this?
I think the Plot is a bit like your assessment of The Undoing … wild but not that great. I wouldn’t be surprised if this one gets to be a TV series too. I hope your fall weather is nice! Enjoy.
Gorgeous photos! I haven’t been to the mountains for a long time, so I am quite envious of you. Sorry to hear about the increasing number of Covid cases in your area. Hopefully, you’ll manage to keep it under control. I don’t want to force people to be vaccinated, but it does annoy me, when someone doesn’t take Covid seriously and try to spread false propaganda. Not familiar with The Plot, but “long-winded” and “repetitive” are not phrases I am keen to hear in relation to a thriller…
Yeah Stargazer … this novel was a slow burn …. and then it gets crazy at the very end, the beginning took me awhile. Meanwhile I think we’ve lost our patience with the non-vaxxers here like other places. Just too much is being compromised. The mountains definitely were a great getaway … and fall has been gorgeous so far. Enjoy your days.
Beautiful photo of the mountains! I’ll bet it was nice to spend some time there. We were on the coast to the north of us for a week of R&R in the RV and now we’re heading south (at a leisurely pace) to Santa Rosa for another visit with my aunt. I walked to the beach today and the wind was blowing and it was cool, but not cold.
I’m sorry to hear that your ICU beds continue to fill up. It’s so worrisome for those who might need to go for reasons other than Covid. A friend of ours fell and broke his hip and instead of getting into a local hospital, he was transported 90 minutes away where they had a bed available (not in ICU, but the lack of availability seems to be everywhere). I’m all for mandatory vaccinations, too. I just don’t get the stubborn, selfish attitude of those who refuse.
I did a double-take when I saw Thomas King’s name in your post. I read Medicine River for a Great Plains lit course at UNL many years ago. I wrote a little bit about it here
The Plot sounds like a good thriller. Too bad the audio was a dud. I just finished Falling by TJ Newman and thought it was a very good audiobook. Lots of stereotypes and predictable, but I still enjoyed it.
Hi Lesley, thanks for the link to your review on the Thomas King book … it’s nice to hear about novels set in Alberta, indigenous & otherwise. Our book group didn’t care for his recent book much but it still had a few parts funny about it.
I’m glad you two are enjoying an RV trip – sounds like gorgeous country along the coast. We had a good trip and break too. Now are back. And fall is here. Have a nice drive to Santa Rosa. Are all the fires out now? Hope so.
It’s crazy about the hospital beds, right? Breaking a hip now is particularly bad timing. I hope your friend will be all right. Stay well. & thx for the word on the Newman thriller.
I tried to read The Plot when it came out and I just couldn’t get through it. I think I dropped it at around the 30% point. I’ve heard since that it picks up shortly after that but meh, it took a good percent of my time and life to go through that 30%. I did feel bad because everyone else was raving about it, but just not for me.
Hi Athira : I agree the Plot took me forever to get into … as the first half seems quite slow! I almost DNF’d it. It finally picks up near the end but I didn’t like it all that much … so it’s fine you didn’t continue on with it. There’s too much other good things out there! Happy reading.
I tried so hard to leave a message here yesterday, and I see it still didn’t take. Sorry about that. I adore the mountains, and the woods; just seeing your photographs takes me there for at least a brief moment. I haven’t read The Plot, but so many times I find that the books people have raved about aren’t really for me. Or, maybe I’ve just over-hyped them in my head, who knows. Have you read the quote from Haruki Murakami? “If you only read what everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.” So, we’ll think what we choose and read what makes us happy, right? Thanks for visiting me at Dolce Bellezza. ☺️
Hi Bellezza … I’m sorry. I hope my site is not blocking people out. I’m no tech wizard but let me know if it’s hard to comment here and I will try to figure out how to make it better. I need to spend more time on the tech parts of the site but I never seem to do it.
I like the Murakami Quote you mention. I was a bit surprised of all the high ratings of this book on Goodreads … and it reminds me book reading is quite subjective right? I try to find what’s good out there … but then that can be hit or miss. Hope you have a great week. & thanks for finding my blog.