Genius! | The Writing Class

A thoroughly enjoyable read | The Writing Class | Jincy Willett

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	• The Writing Class Jincy Willett Thomas Dunne Books, 2008 - 336 pages average customer review:based on 22 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Strains credibility somewhat, but a Fun Read

Amy Gallup, a rather reclusive woman who had enjoyed early success as a novelist and now teaches an extension class in writing for a local college, finds herself mired in mystery when her latest class convenes. As Amy begins the class, she thinks she has her students pegged - the dilettante doctor, the retired teacher, the stalker-like fan who always signs up, etc. etc. But things get interesting fast with odd phone calls in the night and disturbing "critiques" showing up on students' work.

We discover the reasons for Amy's loss of interest in the world, and that helps make her sympathetic, but it does take her too long a time to share the information she has with the class. After all, the students are all potential targets, and when the `Sniper' steps up from vague threats to murder, it will take the whole group to figure out who the nutjob is among them.

Amy's group bands together, holding class even after the college cancels it, and the players break out a bit from the labels they were `assigned'. This book zips right along, a bit literary and a bit Agatha Christie, until the killer is revealed in a showdown with Amy, naturally. Though some elements strain credibility, like the lack of attention and dimwittedness from police, Willett keeps things moving well and lets the characters grow from experience.

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Genius!

I loved "The Writing Class." Jincy Willet truly captures the loopy world of writing workshops. Yes, read this book for the incredibly well-crafted murder mystery, but also for the very informative lessons on creative writing. Willet is subtle, brilliant, wise and witty, very funny and yes, more than a little bit naughty. I love her writing and suggest you read all her books. I teach writing and often refer students to her fiction as example of exquisite character and plot construction. The gal is a master at it!

A thoroughly enjoyable read

After reading the other reviews of this book, I have come to the conclusion that I am in the minority here. I found this book to be laugh out loud funny. I found myself laughing on just about every page. This book gave me the opportunity to roll 3 of my favorite things all into one package. Reading, writing, and mysteries. This book caught my interest very early on and held it throughout. There were some red herrings, but I found them believable. I was completely caught off guard by who turned out to be the killer. It was one of the people I least suspected. I stayed up until after midnight reading last night, because I couldn't want to see how it would end.

The one complaint I do have about this book regards characterization. To me, the characters all seemed very stereotypical. The arrogant doctor. The hotshot lawyer, the oddball older woman, the brainless pretty girl, they are all there. And more. I also agree with the reviewer who said that the characters lacked depth. I did find the characters to be somewhat flat and one-dimensional.

But all things considered, this book was still definitely a worthwhile read. In fact, I've already picked up another book by this author. If you are looking for an intelligent, fast-paced, unpredictable mystery, check out this book. Even though I had no familiarity whatsoever with the author before reading this book, I'm glad I did.

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Dark and funny

I greatly enjoyed this novel, and laughed out loud many times. As an unpublished fiction writer who has attended my share of writing workshops, I found The Writing Class spot on. The "sniper" is clever, scary and at times, sympathetic. I can well believe that a serious fiction writer would turn vengeful and a little crazy after years of being turned down by snippy editors.

I agree with other reviewers, however, that with the exception of Amy and Carla, the workshop participants remained unrealized. And I found the climactic scene with the killer disappointing. Amy Gallup comes across as too much of a know it all, and the killer's motives for the second murder remain murky. We are also left wondering if, in fact, the killer isn't as good a writer as s/he claims. Still, a fine murder yarn, a great read. I've recommended it to my writing group.

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Great character driven work!

I loved this novel. There were so many levels of storytelling happening at once. Plus it totally kept me in the dark until the end. I'd be happy to read more Jincy Willett if this is any indication of her work.

Amy Gallup is gifted, perhaps too gifted for her own good. Published at only twenty-two, she peaked early and found critical but not commercial success. Now her former life is gone, along with her writing career and beloved husband. A reclusive widow, her sole companion a dour, flatulent basset hound who barely tolerates her, her daily mantra Kill Me Now, she is a loner afraid to be alone. Her only bright spot each week is the writing class that she teaches at the university extension.

This semester?s class is full of the usual suspects: the doctor who wants to be the next Robin Cook, the overly enthusiastic repeat student, the slacker, the unassuming student with the hidden talent, the prankster, the know-it-all?. Amy?s seen them all before. But something is very different about this class---and the clues begin with a scary phone call in the middle of the night and obscene threats instead of peer evaluations on student writing assignments. Amy soon realizes that one of her students is a very sick puppy, and when a member of the class is murdered, everyone becomes a suspect. As she dissects each student?s writing for clues, Amy must enlist the help of everyone in her class, including the murderer, to find the killer among them.

Suspenseful, extremely witty, brilliantly written, unexpectedly hilarious, and a joy from start to finish, The Writing Class is a one-of-a-kind novel that rivals Jincy Willett?s previous masterpieces.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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