The Writing Circle

May 31, 2010
Nancy Markopolis, a medical newsletter editor working earnestly on a novel inspired by her late, beloved father, is invited into an exclusive Massachusetts writers' group, the Leopardi Circle, by hapless historian Bernard, setting in motion this convoluted tale of professional jealousy and literary theft. What Nancy doesn't realize is that to gain a spot in the circle, her work must be judged worthy by a group that includes, among others, Bernard's novelist ex-wife, Virginia, and the cold but wildly successful poet Gillian Coit. As she gets to know the members of the insular group, including who is sleeping (or not sleeping) with whom, accusations of plagiarism arise and lead to a number of shifting alliances, troubling revelations, and a looming showdown. Demas (Eleven Stories High) offers a dense, intricately detailed Massachusetts literary community populated by characters who appraise each others' relationships and furniture just as harshly as their writing—and with the same assessing smile—but what begins as an arresting study in moral ambiguity, however, ends in a clear-cut revenge plot hobbled by an outsized cast.

June 1, 2010
Demas is a prolific childrens author who has also written a collection of short stories and a memoir. Here she has a field day with this group portrait of the Leopardi Circle, six writers who gather weekly to critique each others work. Nancy is the newest member, unsure about her place in the group and the quality of her work; Bernard is an esteemed biographer and the ex-husband of Virginia, the groups most beloved member and its prime peacekeeper; Adam is the very wealthy owner of a shoe company and an aspiring novelist who writes surprisingly erudite fiction; Chris is a successful thriller writer with a difficult personal life; and Gillian is a world-famous poet with a condescending manner. Part of what gives this format its enduring appeal is the way it allows readers to dip in and out of each characters life while also giving multiple perspectives on key events. Demas ups the ante by deepening the characterizations, introducing the subject of plagiarism, and exposing the vanity and insecurity of even the most celebrated writers. Delicious reading.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)