“After
years of trying to make it as a writer in 1990s New York City, James Smale
finally sells his novel to an editor at a major publishing house: none other
than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Jackie--or Mrs. Onassis, as she's known in the
office--has fallen in love with James's candidly autobiographical novel, one
that exposes his own dysfunctional family. But when the book's forthcoming
publication threatens to unravel already fragile relationships, both within his
family and with his partner, James finds that he can't bring himself to finish
the manuscript. Jackie and James develop an unexpected friendship, and she
pushes him to write an authentic ending, encouraging him to head home to
confront the truth about his relationship with his mother. Then a long-held
family secret is revealed, and he realizes his editor may have had a larger
plan that goes beyond the page.”
Strangely, I was looking back
at my list of books from last year that I read, and was looking at my review of
Steven Rowley’s debut novel, Lily and the Octopus. I had already read his third
novel, The Guncle, so after finishing his first, I mentioned in my review, that
I would probably read his second book, The Editor, sometime later in 2022. That
was exactly a year ago. So on the heels of new hardcover, The Celebrants, I
finally decided to read this book.
I liked this
book much more than his first. It’s still an autobiographical novel, in many
ways, and as I read, I just kind of tried to figure out how much Rowley made
fiction and what could rang true. In some respect, like Rowley’s James, my
relationship with my mother is always stressed. Anger and resentment about how
things turned out for her four kids, how different (yet the same) we all are is
always there when we talk. I’m passive in my own life, in my quest for being
whole and happy. I’m angry at the world for letting me down, even though I recognizes
that I’m author of all my problems. But I also know I need to be pushed, kicked
forward. I’ve just not run across anyone who was willing to puut up with my
bullshit. Some have tried, but eventually give up. Like I have.
Still, The Editor proved to me
that Rowley had much more to give than the treacle aspects of his debut novel.
As he noted back in 2019 to the San Diego Union-Tribune when asked what
influenced this book: “It was inspired by my having written a deeply personal
autobiographical (the after mentioned Lily and the Octopus) novel and having it
debut with a bigger splash than I had ever imagined. I was motivated to explore
the accompanying emotions through another story — this time highly fictional —
about a young writer whose small family novel suddenly becomes a big deal and
balloons out of his control. For that I needed a catalyst. Years ago, I had
started another project, a play, about Jacqueline Onassis’s time in publishing
— inspired by a Project Runway Jackie O. challenge — but I could never quite
find the proper narrative for it. But it got me thinking, if Jacqueline Onassis
was your editor, wouldn’t that suddenly make your book a big deal? And that’s
when I decided to merge the two projects.”
Redemption cannot easily be
handed out like Halloween candy, and I appreciate that the novel does not
resolve everything. But it’s a good enough tale to enjoy, a slice of history
when things were still less complicated and full of hope.
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