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Plan B: A Novel [Paperback]

Jonathan Tropper
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (88 customer reviews)


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Paperback, February 4, 2001 --  
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Book Description

February 4, 2001
Turning thirty was never supposed to be like this. Ten years ago, Ben, Lindsey, Chuck, Alison, and Jack graduated from New York University and went out into the world, fresh-faced and full of dreams for the future. But now Ben's getting a divorce; Lindsey's unemployed; Alison and Chuck seem stuck in ruts of their own making; and Jack is getting more publicity for his cocaine addiction than his multimillion-dollar Hollywood successes.

Suddenly, turning thirty-- past the age their parents were when they were born, older than every current star athlete or pop music sensation-- seems to be both more meaningful and less than they'd imagined ten years ago.

Jonathan Tropper's wonderful debut novel is about more than friendship, love, celebrity, addiction, kidnapping, or even turning thirty-- it's a heartfelt comic riff on what it means to be an adult against your will, to be single when you thought you'd have a family, to discover you are not, in fact, immortal, and to learn that Star Wars is as good a life lesson today as it was when you were six years old.


Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The title of Tropper's debut novel refers to the madcap plot at its center, and also to one of the book's primary themes--that life rarely works according to plan. Nobody knows this better than Ben, the narrator, who wants to be a novelist, but finds himself at age 30 stuck in a low-level publishing job in New York City, on the cusp of a sad and bloodless divorce, and envious of his closest college friends: Lindsey, the spirited ex-girlfriend who's always followed her heart; attorney Alison; surgeon Chuck; and movie star Jack Shaw, who earns $13 million a picture. But Jack, it turns out, is also a cocaine addict whose drug-fueled escapades are increasingly finding their way into the tabloids. When an intervention attempt fails, his friends turn to Plan B: they kidnap Jack and keep him captive in the Catskills until he shakes his habit for good. Of course, holding a mega-celebrity against his will is no simple matter, and complications abound. Jack turns violent, then vanishes, the local-yokel sheriff's department starts poking around and soon enough the FBI and the media are involved. Meanwhile, the remaining friends are forging new bonds (platonic and otherwise) and confronting encroaching fears of aging. Despite Ben's exaggerated Gen-X voice--by turns jaded and facile, glib and bleak--the picaresque plot is diverting in a sitcom kind of way. The characters are unlikely as friends but entertaining as Friends, and Tropper keeps the story moving at a brisk pace with crackling TV dialogue. Agent, Simon Lipskar.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The background music is decidedly not Marvin Gaye but the tone is definitely The Big Chill. Four college friends launch an unusual reunion in New York City when they kidnap a drug-addicted friend. The plan, resorted to when Plan A failed, is to get their good friend and now movie star Jack Shaw to come clean long enough to get his life back on track. Given that life is not exactly on track for any of them, it is no surprise when things go awry. Coming together--and almost falling apart--give each of them a chance to recapture or let go of dreams and move on. There is Chuck, comic relief and surgeon-to-be; Alison, bright young lawyer trapped in unrequited love; Lindsey, former teacher, now queen of the temps; and Ben, the narrator, a would-be-writer without a story. Funny, sweet, and sometimes bitter, this first novel should be a popular read among twentysomethings about to turn 30. Recommended for public libraries.
-Jan Blodgett, Davidson Coll. Lib., NC
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (February 4, 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312272766
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312272760
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (88 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,014,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jonathan Tropper is the author of How to Talk to a Widower, Everything Changes, The Book of Joe, and Plan B. He lives with his family in Westchester, New York, where he teaches writing at Manhattanville College.

Customer Reviews

It is just a well told story and amusing read. Dennis Leahy  |  13 reviewers made a similar statement
This is the second book of his that I've read and it seems like it just gets better. Breanna  |  10 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Funny and entertaining May 18, 2000
Format:Hardcover
Plan B is a novel about friendship. It's about five 30-something friends struggling with work, romance and life. But the story focuses more on Jack, a famous Hollywood actor and cocaine addict. Ben (the narrator), Lindsey, Chuck and Alison try to help Jack face his demon by way of intervention. In denial, Jack refuses to get help. Desperate, the friends try Plan B: imprisoning Jack in a house in the country until the period of withdrawal passes. While they try to help their friend, they face their own demons and try to improve their lives.

The narration is nicely done and the comic timing is precise. I think that Jonathan Tropper could turn this into a movie (this book begs for a script). A nice read.

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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Real World meets Fiction May 22, 2000
Format:Hardcover
In accordance with some of the other reviews posted about Plan B, this book deserves attention as well as more than 5 stars.

Plan B has a beautiful ensemble of main characters that are really cohesive together, and are written in such a believable way to 'real life' its incredible. Each character shines in their own way, and you'll see a bit of your friends and yourself in everyone.

The story centers about four 30 something friends in trying to save a fifth friend from his own destruction, and in doing so discover more about themselves and each other despite being best friends over all these years. What makes this novel so great is the strength of the character's dialogue...I have had these conversations so many times myself, and had the same introspections that the main character Ben reflects upon.

Mixed in this tale that spans just a few short weeks is a great sense of humor (much like Nick Hornby's 'High Fidelity' & 'About A Boy'), all too real emotion and self-worth, quirky situations, and a non-stop pace. Every chapter left me begging for more, and I'd really like to see a sequel. This is begging to be made into a TV mini-series or movie.

Also, as a person who just turned 30 myself, the references to everything 80's and late 70's is a fun walk down nostalgia lane. There are things discussed within the chapters that brought a smile to my face as I too remember certain songs, shows, events, etc... that were part of my childhood and how I reacted to them in my life.

In a nutshell, I think this novel perfectly captures Generation X as we enter our 30's. Great job!

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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars The Big Chill For The Year 2000 June 15, 2000
Format:Hardcover
"Plan B" has movie script written all over it. As other reviews have said, it's clear that this book could be made into a movie....but, the question is, "A good movie?" I would hate to see this wonderfully warm, creative, and well written debut novel get the "movie make-over hack." The characters are interesting, multi dimensional, and you really are concerned about them and the fate they will face. I found this book to be very enjoyable and has a lot of postive qualities. This author has a lot of talent and it's clear he has a way with characterization and storytelling. A really nice read!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Good beach read
Enjoyed this book, not a complex plot, kind of saw where it was going but that's ok. Don't expect a lot of deep insights but if you are looking to read for pleasure this will do.
Published 7 days ago by GaPeach
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Tropper Gem
This book had a "Big Chill" kind of vibe going on. Classic Tropper with funny dialogue, good character development, engaging plot and a little angst. Well done!
Published 1 month ago by willis9301
3.0 out of 5 stars "Thirty.... s***." Indeed.
Despite the clichéd and sometimes whiny characters in "Plan B", it is a highly entertaining, humorous and distressing novel on the joys (? Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. Tedrick
3.0 out of 5 stars Not my favorite
I'm a big Trooper fan but this is my least favorite. His voice hasn't really dropped yet but the potential is visible.
Published 3 months ago by Bryan N. Barberot
3.0 out of 5 stars plan B.
Always liked him as an author. His style is sensitive, demanding you notice everything about the scene he is painting on any particular page. Read more
Published 3 months ago by delino
4.0 out of 5 stars good read
You kind of see the ending coming long before it actually does, but you still go along for the ride because it is still well written and you want to see if you were right all... Read more
Published 3 months ago by B Paris
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
I bought this book based largely on the reviews I read here. I think most of the reviews were a little too generous. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Andrew
5.0 out of 5 stars Love It!
Jonathan Tropper has secured himself as my new favorite author. This is the second book of his that I've read and it seems like it just gets better. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Breanna
5.0 out of 5 stars best of his books
I so look forward to this authors books. I can assosiate with his sense of humor and relativity. Keep writing Jonathan!
Published 4 months ago by Linda Pickett
5.0 out of 5 stars awesome!
i loved this book, and i plan on buying more from this author. it was funny and heartbreaking at the same time
Published 4 months ago by amber
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