The Plot & The Sequel book reviews

I'd like to introduce you to an author, Jean Hanff Korelitz, I probably should have been familiar with since she has released many popular novels going back to 1996. Out of these, two have been adapted to the screen - Admission, released in 2013 and starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd, and the book You Should Have Known, released in 2020 under HBO's rename The Undoing and starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Donald Sutherland, and Noah Jupe. Two other adaptations, The Plot and The Latecomer, have been picked up as well, but no dates have been set.

Back to the actual books and the author behind them! Jean Hanff Korelitz is a brilliant storyteller. This past few days I raced through my to-do list so I could spend all the spare moments reading two of her books, The Plot and The Sequel. That says quite a lot about a "new to me" author! 

First off, the story is simply unique - A struggling writer takes/misappropriates/steals (whatever word you prefer) the concept of a novel from one of his writing students. However, this decision leads to an unexpected chain of falling dominoes.  

Not only is the plot unique, but the story the protagonist stole is actually interspersed throughout the two books, creating a book within a book. It was so gratifying to be able to read excerpts from the actual book that was creating all of the chaos.

All of this is capped off by the authors expert use of dialogue and internal monologue to immerse the reader in the characters and set an urgent pace.

Normally, a sequel falls flat to the first book. That was not the case with this series. Both books were a strong 5/5!

 

Waiting five years after their release dates to read these was a blessing in disguise; knowing The Sequel (literally and figuratively) was already out meant I could immediately devour the next phase of this story. Both books can stand on their own, yet together they provide a perfectly wrapped conclusion to the saga. So, I would recommend reading them in tandem for the most fulfilling experience. If you love complex thrillers and a the dichotomy of a book within a book, this series is a must-read! Just be prepared to add the authors entire backlist to your TBR!

most interesting vol. 3

Minnesota Spring is indecisive. Between 40 degree drizzles and 80 degree bursts, I'm constantly adjusting windows and the thermostat. It's 50 and sunny today, so I'm heading out before the chill returns. But first, over coffee, here are last weeks highlights...

1) Making progress on my writing:

In the first "most interesting," I was in the initial stages of looking into online writing courses, both on Youtube and through major universities. Proud to say, I have completed the full lecture series from Brandon Sanderson (what an enrolled student in the English program at Brigham Young would take). His classes are perfect for me because I'd like to write sci-fi fantasy, which is close to what he is known for. If that genre doesn't align with what you'd like to write, I'd suggest checking out How I Write, a channel on which David Perell interviews a wide array of writers on their process and what inspires them. The Plottery channel has amazing insight and recommendations to improve your writing with examples that can immediately be implemented. In addition to learning how to write better overall and starting my own novel, I also wanted some instantaneous improvement on my book review writing. Being able to concisely share with others verbally why I liked a book can be difficult. Reading something amazing and not having the tools to share it with others can be a sad thing, honestly. So, before I started the Brandon Sanderson series, I watched some quick videos to learn structure and key elements that make good book reviews. I've started keeping notes as I read, which has enabled me to compile my thoughts and I've been practicing doing just that on The Story Graph. The most helpful channels for raising the bar on my book reviews was Reedsy, Gina Lucia Reads, and Imagine Forest (which is for younger readers, yet the principles still apply). Next up is to start one of the free writing classes I chose at MIT!

2) "Beef" Netflix series:

Before I even talk about this series, please go to google and input "beef series" into the search bar and see what happens - HAHAHAHA - love it! Now that we've gotten that out of the way, I couldn't wait for the second season of Beef and it finally arrived to Netflix. If you're not familiar with this series, it's a dark and clever storyline, season one navigating what happens after a road rage incident spirals out of control and the season two digging into the ends wealthy people will go to to maintain their status (or grovel their way to the top). It's a fresh and enjoyable watch, I highly recommend it!

3) Alliance of Native Seedkeepers:

I haven't even 100% confirmed where I am going to put my garden. But, I am determined to get one in this year, even if I have to start it mid-Summer just planting Fall crops. Despite this, I went overboard and ordered 50 types of seeds (more than what can fit in the photo below)! Not having my outside garden planned yet isn't the worst thing, because I have planted some of them inside and successfully yielded full size plants (can't wait to show you my Tom Thumb pea plant, which is itty bitty, yet has flowered and is ready to send out some pea pods!). When I was looking for seeds, I did a little research in order to find an honest company to purchase from. Large corporations have forced out smaller seed companies and limited what we are able to do with the seeds we buy through patents and restricting seed saving. There are a lot of concerns about the mis-appropriation and labeling of heirloom seeds, oftentimes taking seeds from an idigenous lineage, which you might want to read up on as well before you commit to buying from a particular company. My research led me to the Alliance of Native Seedkeepers as a source for seeds! If you're interested in them as well, read their story here. This past week, they also got featured on their local PBS station!

where mining in the boundary waters stand now, and how to stop it

This post happens to coincide with Earth Day, yet the action and outrage for what I will describe here is not limited to one day.

Even if you don't call Minnesota home, you are likely familiar with the fight that has been ongoing over whether to allow mining near the boundary waters because this area in Northeast Minnesota bordering Canada is the most visited wilderness area in the entire United States. 675,000 public comments were submitted to the Forest Service in 2022, 95% of which favored protecting the boundary waters area from sulfide-ore copper mining. Yet, just a few days ago on April 16th 2026, the Senate went against the desire of the people by passing House Joint Resolution 140 (previously passing the House as well on January 21st, 2026).

Mining is not new to Minnesota, the state has a long history of iron ore mining. In fact, we're the number one producer of iron ore in the entire country, my paternal great-parents even running a boarding house, general store, and post office for miners in the area. Yet, sulfide mining has never been done in Minnesota before. Sulfide mining is generally considered one of the most toxic industries since it creates a runoff of sulfuric acid (basically battery acid) that makes the land and water surrounding the mine unlivable, and this acid also seeps into watersheds downstream, further expanding the damages reach. A study from March 2025, analyzed eight mines in Idaho, Washington, Michigan, Montana, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Alaska to show that even with today's regulations they are "consistently polluting rivers, lakes, and groundwater." This is truly sad in any area of the country, and especially so in a place still so pristine such as the boundary waters where you can literally drink the water without filtering. "In addition to acidifying the lakes and rivers, the sulfuric acid leaches out heavy metals such as mercury, lead, arsenic, and other toxins. This type of mining is so toxic that there HAS NEVER BEEN A SULFIDE MINE THAT HAS NOT CONTAMINATED SURROUNDING WATER SOURCES." As if this irreparable ecological damage wasn't bad enough, if this sulfide mining is allowed to happen, it would also severely impact the recreation in the area, which contributes more than $19M annually and creates over 300 jobs, destroy the future for all of the fisherman and hunters who enjoy this area, and violate treaties protecting the hunting, fishing, and gathering rights of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, along with two other bands, all of whom were denied being part of the conversation.

 

I've been near the boundary waters and found it other worldly and serene. In fact, all of the pictures included in this post are ones I took on that trip to Grand Marais, Minnesota in the Summer of 2024, one of the towns near the entry point of the boundary waters area, sitting on Lake Superior where the downstream flow of contaminated water will head. My mom backpacked into the boundary waters in  2006, which she frequently mentions as being a life changing experience. And, my grandpa actually worked in the area in 1933, at age 23, for the Civilian Conservation Corps reforesting this heavy logged area during the Great Depression, an effort by President Roosevelt to put unemployed men to work (later the BWCA Wilderness Act passed by Congress in 1978 ended logging and snowmobiling use in the area, and restricted mining).

But, even if you don't have a connection, or haven't visited the area, these mines may already be affecting natural land near you (as noted in the study of eight mines in other parts of the US). And, if this administration is successful in using The Congressional Review Act to overturn regulations years beyond the 60 days the act allows, it could have dire impacts for other efforts this administration, or others with their same ideologies, will try in the future. While this is a huge setback, there are things we can still do. Litigation will be pursued, questioning the legality of what Congress did in. Minnesota leadership could deny state permits and/or pass state law to override this federal overreach. The impacted Native American tribes could push back. And, as a last line of defense, Minnesota residents would likely step in, akin to how we stood up for our state in January of February of this year. 

 

To assist with the cost of legal efforts in the first, and most ideal, next line of defense against this mining, please consider donating to any of the organizations below. I have no affiliation with them, nor do I get anything if you do donate. I just wanted to personally share should you want to make your voice heard. Contacting representatives in Minnesota, even if you're out of state, will also be super important as the second line of defense will require state laws and permits to deny the mining company its move forward. And, of course, continuing to vote in leadership who is can actually show they have integrity and aren't just in a bunch of people's pockets.

Save the Boundary Waters

Environmental Defense Fund - donate by tonight, April 22nd 2026, to triple the impact of your donation as it will be matched by two longtime EDF donors!

Friends of the Boundary Waters

Sierra Club

Backcountry Hunters & Angler's Campfire Society

American Rivers

Mining in the boundary waters is just one of many environmental projects that this administration is set on creating detrimental damage with, oftentimes having ties to a monetary benefit/influence. The 2025 budget cancelled 350 environmental protection agency grants (as well as cancelled or paused any program with the keywords "equity" or "climate" from the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Agriculture, and the Interior, no matter whether closer inspection would show these programs had nothing to do with equity or climate in the way the administrations broad search intended), closed the offices of environmental justice, pulled data used by the public and many organizations for environmental mapping, paying a French company $1B in our taxpayer money to NOT build wind farms (so our money is literally being thrown away to stop a project this administration doesn't like), given the rubber stamp to pollute our air, and so much more. 

Just like mining in the boundary waters, these decisions are not a done deal. If you'd like to support initiatives that are fighting against these larger environmental rollbacks, please consider looking into the below organizations...

Environmental Integrity Project

Environmental Protection Network

Evergreen Action

Greenpeace

Earth Justice

Natural Resources Defense Council

The ACLU is doing fantastic work fighting against other injustices as well.

 

If you're on the fence wondering whether your donation, protest, boycott, social media post, etc. will even make a difference, I find the 3.5% rule an interesting concept to think more about - every action, even those that are small, combine together into a larger movement and also get people thinking about taking additional steps that are more impactful than their initial step of marching in protest. In the years to come, I anticipate the actions taken by Minnesotans in the early months of 2026 will also be studied as an effective method of resistance as well.