Jean Hanff Korelitz

It felt slow with no indication of “the plot” initially. I’m guessing it was done intentionally as there were suddenly “plots” everywhere. I find the main character to be unconventional and pretentious…initially, then somewhat obsessed with finding the truth regarding his former student. He expended more energy and research on the story behind the story. He learned how to become a better writer as one who cared about the story versus one wanting fame and fortune from the story.

Jacob Finch Bonner dreamed of being an accomplished writer/author but lacked the dedication and ambition to follow through with the work needed to achieve a lofty goal. He travels to Ripley College in Vermont where there is a 3-week graduate study symposium. He sets out on a fact-finding mission which only serves to stir up questions of morality and plagiarism.… (plus d'informations)

I really didn't like this book at first (basically, all of the Oppenheimers suck) and was very close to abandoning it. But I decided to give it one more shot, and to my surprise I started to like it, and having made it to the end (a very satisfying ending, which I wasn't expecting), I can say I'm really glad I stuck with it. Messy family stories don't always work for me, but the author kind of brilliantly pulls this one off.

One thing I really appreciated about this book was Korelitz' portrayal of Jonas, the Mormon roommate, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a whole. Sure, most of the characters thought Mormons were nuts, but the narrative is not only respectful of LDS beliefs and culture, it is astonishingly accurate and fair, something I'm not used to seeing from non-member writers.… (plus d'informations)