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The Editor
From the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus comes a novel about a struggling writer who gets his big break, with a little help from the most famous woman in America.
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...
From the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus comes a funny, poignant, and highly original novel about an author whose relationship with his very famous book editor will change him forever--both as a writer and a son.
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...
From the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus comes a funny, poignant, and highly original novel about an author whose relationship with his very famous book editor will change him forever--both as a writer and a son.
320 pages, ebook
First published April 2, 2019
About the author
Steven Rowley
6 books4,908 followersSteven Rowley is the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus, a Washington Post Notable Book of 2016, The Editor, named by NPR and Esquire Magazine as one of the Best Books of 2019, and The Guncle, a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for 2021 Novel of the Year and semi-finalist for The Thurber Prize in American Humor. His fiction has been published in twenty languages. Rowley lives in Palm Springs, CA with his husband, the writer Byron Lane.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,931 reviews
April 11, 2019
4.5 stars.
Steven Rowley's The Editor really hit the spot for me. It was utterly charming, it had so much heart, and it dealt with some of my favorite subjects—family dysfunction, struggles with self-confidence, writing, secrets, and the relationships that crop up in the most unlikely of places.
James Smale has always dreamed of being a writer. After having his first few short stories published, he imagined the path to literary success would be easy. But writing a novel never seemed to come easy, and although he hoped inspiration would hit, he wondered if he was destined to be one of those people whose early promise fizzled out. Living in New York City in the early 1990s, it seemed as if he was more suited to random temp jobs than wearing the mantle of a writer.
Then he decided to write about what he knew better than anything—his relationship with his mother, an enigmatic woman whom James believed blamed him for the end of her marriage, since she had to essentially choose between him and his father. He is thrilled when he finds out that a major publisher is interested in publishing his novel.
And then he meets the editor who fell in love with his book—Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Jackie, or Mrs. Onassis, as she is known in the office, loves the complexity of the relationships in James' novel, and she identifies with the main character since she, too, is a fiercely protective mother. James is utterly blown away that this infamous woman, whose family was always a fascination for his mother, has taken an interest in his writing, and believes this novel is worth being seen by the world.
But Jackie believes James hasn't dug as deeply into his characters and their story as she thinks he can, and she pushes him to do so. Little by little their working relationship develops into a friendship of sorts, even as he wonders if someone as complex as Jackie can truly be known by someone like him.
The reality of the book is causing serious ripples in his relationship with his mother as well as his relationship with his partner, Daniel. He isn't sure if he can finish it, and then a secret is revealed which makes him wonder if he's telling the right story at all. As everything spirals out of control, James needs to figure out the truth about his relationship with his mother and needs to decide what he wants from his relationship with Daniel, but more than that, he doesn't want to disappoint Jackie.
I thought this was a beautifully written book, brimming with poignancy and complexity. James was complex and utterly appealing even when he was doing things that made him unsympathetic, and I couldn't get enough of his story. But Rowley's treatment of Jackie Onassis, meshing the familiar tropes with fascinating depth. I loved the relationship Rowley created between James and Jackie.
"I'm struck with profound gratitude that our paths have magically crossed for this brief moment of existence; she is, I see now, the only logical editor this book could have had. My book, my valiant quest to understand my own Arthurian legend with Igraine at the heart, to define my own Camelot, in the tender hands of Guinevere herself. My eyes well with tears even though knights are not supposed to cry."
This was a quick, immensely enjoyable read, and I'll think about this book for a while.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yrralh/.
Steven Rowley's The Editor really hit the spot for me. It was utterly charming, it had so much heart, and it dealt with some of my favorite subjects—family dysfunction, struggles with self-confidence, writing, secrets, and the relationships that crop up in the most unlikely of places.
James Smale has always dreamed of being a writer. After having his first few short stories published, he imagined the path to literary success would be easy. But writing a novel never seemed to come easy, and although he hoped inspiration would hit, he wondered if he was destined to be one of those people whose early promise fizzled out. Living in New York City in the early 1990s, it seemed as if he was more suited to random temp jobs than wearing the mantle of a writer.
Then he decided to write about what he knew better than anything—his relationship with his mother, an enigmatic woman whom James believed blamed him for the end of her marriage, since she had to essentially choose between him and his father. He is thrilled when he finds out that a major publisher is interested in publishing his novel.
And then he meets the editor who fell in love with his book—Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Jackie, or Mrs. Onassis, as she is known in the office, loves the complexity of the relationships in James' novel, and she identifies with the main character since she, too, is a fiercely protective mother. James is utterly blown away that this infamous woman, whose family was always a fascination for his mother, has taken an interest in his writing, and believes this novel is worth being seen by the world.
But Jackie believes James hasn't dug as deeply into his characters and their story as she thinks he can, and she pushes him to do so. Little by little their working relationship develops into a friendship of sorts, even as he wonders if someone as complex as Jackie can truly be known by someone like him.
The reality of the book is causing serious ripples in his relationship with his mother as well as his relationship with his partner, Daniel. He isn't sure if he can finish it, and then a secret is revealed which makes him wonder if he's telling the right story at all. As everything spirals out of control, James needs to figure out the truth about his relationship with his mother and needs to decide what he wants from his relationship with Daniel, but more than that, he doesn't want to disappoint Jackie.
I thought this was a beautifully written book, brimming with poignancy and complexity. James was complex and utterly appealing even when he was doing things that made him unsympathetic, and I couldn't get enough of his story. But Rowley's treatment of Jackie Onassis, meshing the familiar tropes with fascinating depth. I loved the relationship Rowley created between James and Jackie.
"I'm struck with profound gratitude that our paths have magically crossed for this brief moment of existence; she is, I see now, the only logical editor this book could have had. My book, my valiant quest to understand my own Arthurian legend with Igraine at the heart, to define my own Camelot, in the tender hands of Guinevere herself. My eyes well with tears even though knights are not supposed to cry."
This was a quick, immensely enjoyable read, and I'll think about this book for a while.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yrralh/.
April 6, 2023
If the first book you finish in a new year says anything about the books to come, I am really looking forward to reading this year. The editor was lovely in so many ways. The prose, the beautiful story and the complex characters was spot on, just what I needed to be reminded of why I spend so much of my free time between pages and not in front of the television.
April 19, 2019
How would you react if you show up at a meeting with a publisher, and find out to your surprise that the editor is none other than Jackie Kennedy Onassis? This is the situation James Smale finds himself in when the book opens. It seems Jackie has fallen in love with his autobiographical novel based on his dysfunctional family, and she and James will work together to edit his book. What a terrific premise and the wit and humor only added to my enjoyment.
But the more I got into the book the more bored I became. I sped up the audio narration. Despite a bombshell that was dropped at 50% I failed to engage with the characters or the story line.
I knew Jackie Kennedy Onassis was an editor at Doubleday but I didn’t like the way the author fictionalized Jackie, who is such an American icon. It felt like a gimmick to shore up a weak plot and I didn’t think it added anything to the story.
This was a buddy read with Marialyce, and we were both disappointed. I listened to the audio and if I had not been a captive audience in the car I would have DNF'd. The narrator was good but couldn't carry a lackluster story. It made my long drive feel even longer.
Final thoughts: This book had an interesting premise and a strong start that quickly fizzled and employed a gimmick that fell flat.
*I received a free digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
But the more I got into the book the more bored I became. I sped up the audio narration. Despite a bombshell that was dropped at 50% I failed to engage with the characters or the story line.
I knew Jackie Kennedy Onassis was an editor at Doubleday but I didn’t like the way the author fictionalized Jackie, who is such an American icon. It felt like a gimmick to shore up a weak plot and I didn’t think it added anything to the story.
This was a buddy read with Marialyce, and we were both disappointed. I listened to the audio and if I had not been a captive audience in the car I would have DNF'd. The narrator was good but couldn't carry a lackluster story. It made my long drive feel even longer.
Final thoughts: This book had an interesting premise and a strong start that quickly fizzled and employed a gimmick that fell flat.
*I received a free digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
March 7, 2019
I actually squealed when I first read the synopsis for this one. I thought it was such a clever idea for a historical fiction book and I was really impressed with the author's ability to think a little outside the box. Instead of having a story revolve around Jackie Kennedy Onassis and her time as First Lady, this book features a writer who receives quite the surprise when he finds out Mrs. Onassis is going to be the editor for his book. Her time working for a publishing house and the last few years of her life haven't been written about as much as some of the earlier periods of her life so I was excited to read this one.
I wouldn't even say I'm a big fan of the Kennedy family, but I do find them fascinating, particularly the women, and find myself reading either historical fiction or non-fiction books about them every once in awhile. Now while this book falls into the historical fiction category it is more fiction than fact based. Essentially the author took a fact about Jackie, in this case she was an editor, and used his imagination to come up with the rest of the story. All in all, I think he did a pretty good job at depicting the former First Lady.
I loved how this book took place in the publishing world in the 1990s and really enjoyed that feeling like I was getting an inside look into the process a book goes through before it is published. I was actually surprised at how much depth there was to the story as it wasn't just a simple story about a writer and his extremely famous editor. It takes awhile to head in a meaningful direction but it does eventually explore some interesting subjects including mother-son dynamics. So if the whole writing thing or even Jackie O isn't all that appealing consider checking this one out as you might still find it to be a worthwhile read.
The only small criticism I have is I didn't like the plot device that was used during the Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, it set the stage for things to come but I was still disappointed. Basically I wish the author would have come up with something else in order to accomplish everything he wanted to in the rest of the story. This is just a nitpick though as overall I really enjoyed the book. Definitely recommend as a good read.
Thank you to First to Read for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy! I was under no obligation to post a review here and all views expressed are my honest opinion.
I wouldn't even say I'm a big fan of the Kennedy family, but I do find them fascinating, particularly the women, and find myself reading either historical fiction or non-fiction books about them every once in awhile. Now while this book falls into the historical fiction category it is more fiction than fact based. Essentially the author took a fact about Jackie, in this case she was an editor, and used his imagination to come up with the rest of the story. All in all, I think he did a pretty good job at depicting the former First Lady.
I loved how this book took place in the publishing world in the 1990s and really enjoyed that feeling like I was getting an inside look into the process a book goes through before it is published. I was actually surprised at how much depth there was to the story as it wasn't just a simple story about a writer and his extremely famous editor. It takes awhile to head in a meaningful direction but it does eventually explore some interesting subjects including mother-son dynamics. So if the whole writing thing or even Jackie O isn't all that appealing consider checking this one out as you might still find it to be a worthwhile read.
The only small criticism I have is I didn't like the plot device that was used during the Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, it set the stage for things to come but I was still disappointed. Basically I wish the author would have come up with something else in order to accomplish everything he wanted to in the rest of the story. This is just a nitpick though as overall I really enjoyed the book. Definitely recommend as a good read.
Thank you to First to Read for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy! I was under no obligation to post a review here and all views expressed are my honest opinion.
February 16, 2024
When I heard about the premise for this book, I knew I needed to read it.
After all...
How can you not be curious?
“A struggling writer gets his big break, with a little help from the most famous woman in America.”
And...
How would you react if you show up at a meeting with a publisher, and find out to your surprise that the editor is none other than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis?
This is the situation James Smale finds himself in when the book opens.
The book does a fine job giving us a glimpse into the way authors and editors craft a finished book.
As well as...
Tackle such issues as family dysfunction, struggles with self-confidence, writing, secrets and relationships that crop up in the most unlikely of places.
I highly recommend it to readers of contemporary and historical fiction.
After all...
How can you not be curious?
“A struggling writer gets his big break, with a little help from the most famous woman in America.”
And...
How would you react if you show up at a meeting with a publisher, and find out to your surprise that the editor is none other than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis?
This is the situation James Smale finds himself in when the book opens.
The book does a fine job giving us a glimpse into the way authors and editors craft a finished book.
As well as...
Tackle such issues as family dysfunction, struggles with self-confidence, writing, secrets and relationships that crop up in the most unlikely of places.
I highly recommend it to readers of contemporary and historical fiction.
September 5, 2018
Unpublished author, James Smale, is star-struck. Who wouldn’t be? When he finally secures a book deal his editor is none other than Mrs. Jackie Onassis. However, there is one major snag. Mrs. Onassis is less than thrilled with the ending which she urges him to re-write. This leads James to confront and untangle the knot of his relationship with his mother. Who among us doesn’t struggle with relationships? James’ observations, actions and revelations are sardonic, droll and quite relatable even if you’ve never been a mother or a son. Overall, an agreeable novel that also provides a glimpse into the way authors and editors craft a finished book.
July 30, 2020
I loved the audacity of Steven Rowley. He actually uses Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis as one of his main characters. Not someone modeled after her, but her. And within the first few pages, as James says that his mother doesn’t want to be written about, he has her say “Well, your mother’s in good company there.”
I truly enjoyed Rowley’s writing. “And just like that, I’ve completed the slow climb to the top of the roller coaster.” Not lush writing, but spot on point descriptions.
I’ve always wondered how the relationship works between a writer and an editor. Here, we get to see.
But what the book is truly about is family, secrets, forgiveness and healing. Especially forgiveness and what it takes to get there. This is a heartwarming book. It was and wasn’t what I expected. To be honest, I didn’t expect it to be so deep. Yes, it involves someone we all think we know. And Rowley makes Jackie seem truly real. But he also does a wonderful job with all his characters, especially James’ mother.
My thanks to netgalley and Penguin Group for an advance copy of this book.
I truly enjoyed Rowley’s writing. “And just like that, I’ve completed the slow climb to the top of the roller coaster.” Not lush writing, but spot on point descriptions.
I’ve always wondered how the relationship works between a writer and an editor. Here, we get to see.
But what the book is truly about is family, secrets, forgiveness and healing. Especially forgiveness and what it takes to get there. This is a heartwarming book. It was and wasn’t what I expected. To be honest, I didn’t expect it to be so deep. Yes, it involves someone we all think we know. And Rowley makes Jackie seem truly real. But he also does a wonderful job with all his characters, especially James’ mother.
My thanks to netgalley and Penguin Group for an advance copy of this book.
July 4, 2019
OMG, and I’m not a fan of that phrase, but I’m listening to the audio and it is brilliant! Michael Urie fits as tight as “James Smale’s glove” as his character and narrator.
Out today! Run to the bookstore, or your computer to order. Read and or listen!
James Smale has wanted to write books since he first jammed out a neighborhood newsletter on his mother’s old typewriter when he was nine years old. That typewriter was beautiful, even he knew that at his young age, “It was a Swiss Hermes typewriter, robin’s-egg blue, a thing of beauty to me.” He was talking non-stop, nervously, as he followed a young, well-dressed woman down one hallway after another, mistaking her for his new editor. “You’ll be meeting someone else, I setup the meeting with this editor.” As she leaves the conference room, another woman slips in, I look up and mumble, “It’s, it’s you!” “Jacqueline, yes. I’m the editor who liked your book.” I stare, “you’re Jacqueline Kennedy, ….. Onassis. I can’t believe you read my book!” ���I read it twice, actually.”
As you read this section of the book, you feel exactly as James must feel, as if you’re in a fantasy, a dream-like state. You cannot believe you’re talking to and looking at THE Jackie Kennedy. Let me state here and now, for me she is and will only ever be, Jackie Kennedy. No other names need apply, added or otherwise, regardless of their legality. Time stopped in 1963 for all Americans who were alive and witnessed the Kennedy couple, and don’t even try to bring politics into this conversation. Okay. James is as enamored as you would expect him to be suddenly discovering that ok fine, Mrs. Onassis will be his editor for his first book.
Steven Rowley is a talented and clever writer, so he this a serious novel about James’ book, his life, and events surrounding both. However, Steven likes to pepper his writing with smart gems of wit tossed here and there as he did with “Lily and The Octopus” and I adore him for this talent.
“I try to smell myself, to see if there is some trace of Jackie’s perfume, or, better yet, some faint whiff of American decorative arts from her White House restoration, leather or oils or fine upholstery.
It occurs to me they think I’m crazy, a man in a corner with a stunned expression, smelling himself for any trace of 1962.”
The journey through this book is both marvelous and heartbreaking. James gets to know Jackie well as a friend and their editor-author relationship develops. Jackie is so intelligent and wise, and James is a willing pupil. He does succeed with his published book but that’s not a spoiler, it’s how he gets there with the healed relationship with his mother, his family and his partner that is the real story.
Don’t miss one of our time’s most talented author’s second book. Highly recommended.
Thank you, Edelweiss, G.P. Putnam, and Steven Rowley
So many hilarious quotes I wanted to add from the smart and witty mind of Steven Rowley.
Note: It’s not all just Jackie worship, this is a great story in itself. The sidebar just happens to be Jackie O is his editor.
Btw, my opinion only: Michael Urie, your voice is spot on but Jackie’s voice shouldn’t be lower than your’s. 😬 Her’s was breathy but feminine, almost a whisper.
April 19, 2019
There are some books that start up out of the gate as gang busters and make you think that this book is one for you. That is how this book began for me. When I got to the fifty percent point, I started to think oh no, this book is sliding downhill but hoped that it would once again be the five star read it was in the beginning. Unfortunately that didn't occur and as I continued to read I became more and more disappointed.
The premise of a new author's book being edited by the indomitable Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis was a draw into the story though of course not the main idea. James Smale, the author, is a man who is initially elated and develops a "relationship" with Mrs Onassis. Then however, as we learn more about James and his tenuous relationship to his mother and his doubts about his unsuspecting boyfriend, I began to see a flawed character. It's not that I don't like flawed characters in my books, but James seemed to me to be a whiny pouting character. True, he faced a revelation that was awful, but he fed into his desperation. He seemed to wallow in sorrow and he became a character I could not help but dislike. Perhaps that is the reason why I found this book to be boring as James continued to be that woe is me person as the story continued.
I know there are many of my book friends who found this story to be ever so worthwhile, so please do take look at their reviews when deciding if this story is for you. For me, it was not worth my time and effort and the disappointment I felt seemed to increase with every page.
Jan and I tried to read this story together, but it was a book we both felt was not for us.
The premise of a new author's book being edited by the indomitable Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis was a draw into the story though of course not the main idea. James Smale, the author, is a man who is initially elated and develops a "relationship" with Mrs Onassis. Then however, as we learn more about James and his tenuous relationship to his mother and his doubts about his unsuspecting boyfriend, I began to see a flawed character. It's not that I don't like flawed characters in my books, but James seemed to me to be a whiny pouting character. True, he faced a revelation that was awful, but he fed into his desperation. He seemed to wallow in sorrow and he became a character I could not help but dislike. Perhaps that is the reason why I found this book to be boring as James continued to be that woe is me person as the story continued.
I know there are many of my book friends who found this story to be ever so worthwhile, so please do take look at their reviews when deciding if this story is for you. For me, it was not worth my time and effort and the disappointment I felt seemed to increase with every page.
Jan and I tried to read this story together, but it was a book we both felt was not for us.
November 30, 2020
James Smale has finished writing his first novel, “Quarantine”, and an editor at Doubleday is interested in publishing it. Until he arrives for his first meeting about the book he doesn’t know that the editor is Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. James never stops being awed by her aura, history and celebrity. Quarantine is about mothers and sons and Mrs. Onassis is drawn to the book. In her gentle prodding of James to improve the book and make it more true, she also prods him to address issues with his own mother Aileen, who is not happy about being a character in Quarantine.
I loved the portrayal of Mrs. Onassis, who tried (but often failed) to be treated like any other editor despite her rarified life. She and James have a good working relationship that is not quite a friendship. I also loved the prickly James/Aileen dynamic. The writing was very assured and the story was both funny and touching.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I loved the portrayal of Mrs. Onassis, who tried (but often failed) to be treated like any other editor despite her rarified life. She and James have a good working relationship that is not quite a friendship. I also loved the prickly James/Aileen dynamic. The writing was very assured and the story was both funny and touching.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
February 8, 2019
THE EDITOR is written by the same author that wrote LILY AND THE OCTOPUS, which is a book I loved.
Imagine that, after pouring your heart into writing a book, a publishing house in NY calls you to have your work polished by an editor, and that editor is no other than Jackie Kennedy-Onassis! I'd be so excited I'd pass away on the spot.
The novel follows the relationship between Jackie, the editor, and James, the writer, as they work together. We are exposed to the editing process and the story is narrated in a witty and humorous tone.
I enjoyed it (although not as much as I enjoyed LILY AND THE OCTOPUS, which left me emotionally punched and I'm still trying to recover), and highly recommend it to readers of contemporary and historical fiction.
Received ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss
Imagine that, after pouring your heart into writing a book, a publishing house in NY calls you to have your work polished by an editor, and that editor is no other than Jackie Kennedy-Onassis! I'd be so excited I'd pass away on the spot.
The novel follows the relationship between Jackie, the editor, and James, the writer, as they work together. We are exposed to the editing process and the story is narrated in a witty and humorous tone.
I enjoyed it (although not as much as I enjoyed LILY AND THE OCTOPUS, which left me emotionally punched and I'm still trying to recover), and highly recommend it to readers of contemporary and historical fiction.
Received ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss
August 1, 2020
The Editor is an absolute gem from start to finish. Rowley writes beautifully and lyrically, and his depiction of tough familial issues interspersed with the wit and wisdom of Jackie Onassis creates a perfect tale.
James Smale is an unpublished author whose autobiographical novel about his dysfunctional has been sold to Doubleday Books. Sent by his agent to the publishing house, Smale is astonished to learn that Jackie Kennedy Onassis is his editor. As they commence working together to prepare the novel for publication, the two develop a friendship of sorts as Jackie strives to help James come to terms with unresolved family issues.
Rowley’s inclusion of Jackie Onassis makes the novel spectacular. Her background, intelligence, and sophistication lend a fascinating and unique dimension to The Editor. In addition, Rowley writes with humor and empathy creating a gratifying, funny, and at times heartbreaking tale. Time and again I found myself marking pages where Rowley had written a clever or thought-provoking sentence. This story will stay with me for a long time.
A friend and I were discussing literature trends the other day, and as I described the premise of The Editor, we were noting that both this book and The Dinner List include very famous individuals in new settings. Instead of writing historical fiction, Rowley and Searle have created new stories with very well-known women playing significant roles. Both books are magnificent, and I would love to see this trend continue.
The Editor is a fabulous book that will certainly remain a favorite of mine. Plans to develop the book into a movie are already underway with Greg Berlanti set to direct, and Rowley adapting the book to a screenplay so make sure to read it before the movie comes out!
Listen to my podcast at https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com for fun author interviews. For more book reviews, check out my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....
James Smale is an unpublished author whose autobiographical novel about his dysfunctional has been sold to Doubleday Books. Sent by his agent to the publishing house, Smale is astonished to learn that Jackie Kennedy Onassis is his editor. As they commence working together to prepare the novel for publication, the two develop a friendship of sorts as Jackie strives to help James come to terms with unresolved family issues.
Rowley’s inclusion of Jackie Onassis makes the novel spectacular. Her background, intelligence, and sophistication lend a fascinating and unique dimension to The Editor. In addition, Rowley writes with humor and empathy creating a gratifying, funny, and at times heartbreaking tale. Time and again I found myself marking pages where Rowley had written a clever or thought-provoking sentence. This story will stay with me for a long time.
A friend and I were discussing literature trends the other day, and as I described the premise of The Editor, we were noting that both this book and The Dinner List include very famous individuals in new settings. Instead of writing historical fiction, Rowley and Searle have created new stories with very well-known women playing significant roles. Both books are magnificent, and I would love to see this trend continue.
The Editor is a fabulous book that will certainly remain a favorite of mine. Plans to develop the book into a movie are already underway with Greg Berlanti set to direct, and Rowley adapting the book to a screenplay so make sure to read it before the movie comes out!
Listen to my podcast at https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com for fun author interviews. For more book reviews, check out my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....
September 17, 2019
I had high hopes and high expectations for this book. I loved the premise of the book and was interested to see how the author would portray Jackie Kennedy Onassis in her elusive later years and role as an editor, coming full circle from her pre-JFK days as a writer. I thought the author did a really good job of imagining her life in this role. I was hooked from the beginning of the book and originally thought it would be an all-night couldn’t put down kind of read. I can’t quite put my finger on it but it seemed to lose steam about half-way through. It could be that I expected Mrs. Onassis’ life to be a bit more glamorous. I guess I was a little disappointed that she seemed so ordinary. Elusive, yet rather plain. Just my opinion. Others may love her portrayed in this manner.
I will admit I got a bit side-tracked when a deceased poet I’d never heard of was introduced into the text. Constantine Cavafy. All I could think about at that point was ’is this the answer to the mysterious Trump covfefe tweet’? Mr. Rowley, if you read these reviews, is it possible you’ve solved the riddle of the modern-day Sphinx? Should “Despite the negative press covfefe” have been written Despite the negative press, Cavafy! But I digress ... Jackie O’s protégé, James, has an interesting story to tell. I imagine there will be another book that delves more into the history of his dysfunctional family and answer some of the questions left unanswered in The Editor.
I will admit I got a bit side-tracked when a deceased poet I’d never heard of was introduced into the text. Constantine Cavafy. All I could think about at that point was ’is this the answer to the mysterious Trump covfefe tweet’? Mr. Rowley, if you read these reviews, is it possible you’ve solved the riddle of the modern-day Sphinx? Should “Despite the negative press covfefe” have been written Despite the negative press, Cavafy! But I digress ... Jackie O’s protégé, James, has an interesting story to tell. I imagine there will be another book that delves more into the history of his dysfunctional family and answer some of the questions left unanswered in The Editor.
April 7, 2019
I might be generous and make this 2.5 stars, which would then lead me to round up to 3... but nah. I just can't. I raced through this book, not because it was so compelling, but because I was afraid that if I slowed down, I'd just quit. The emotions and relationships just never rang true for me, and this book barely sustained my interest.
April 17, 2019
4 stars
An aspiring gay novelist in 1990s New York lands a publishing deal exploring the estranged relationship between a mother and son, and discovers his Doubleday editor is none other than former First Lady of the United States, Jackie Kennedy Onassis. The Editor was touching, introspective, and full of nuanced emotional character arcs.
Concept: ★★★★★
Protagonist: ★★★ 1/2
Pacing: ★★★
Right off the bat: this story is not focused on Jackie Kennedy. She is a pivotal character, but her arc in The Editor takes a strong third place to the events of both the protagonist and the protagonist's quest to finish his novel.
The Editor has a fantastic sense of time and place—you never forget you're in the 90s. Talk of Clinton's election is prominent throughout and the perception of the homosexual community was present.
The Editor follows James as he works (under Jackie Kennedy's direction) to find an accurate resolution to his novel, which involves the painful confrontation between the protagonist and his aloof mother. This is an obviously autobiographical work, as James himself has many conflicted issues with his mother and is attempting to repair those bridges indirectly/directly through his novel. The reparation process between James and his mother was fascinating and surprisingly poignant.
However, due to the nature of James' constant search for internal reparations and external quest for resolution I found sections of this book to be long winded and entirely focused on James' thoughts and feelings. There were huge paragraphs with no dialogue and minimal action at the start of almost every chapter, lending a sense of odd pacing and making me bored with James. As soon as the dialogue/action resumed in each section, I reengaged.
Overall, a great read! Recommended for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and others who enjoy intimate and emotional tales.
Many thanks to Penguin Group Puntam via NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
An aspiring gay novelist in 1990s New York lands a publishing deal exploring the estranged relationship between a mother and son, and discovers his Doubleday editor is none other than former First Lady of the United States, Jackie Kennedy Onassis. The Editor was touching, introspective, and full of nuanced emotional character arcs.
Concept: ★★★★★
Protagonist: ★★★ 1/2
Pacing: ★★★
Right off the bat: this story is not focused on Jackie Kennedy. She is a pivotal character, but her arc in The Editor takes a strong third place to the events of both the protagonist and the protagonist's quest to finish his novel.
The Editor has a fantastic sense of time and place—you never forget you're in the 90s. Talk of Clinton's election is prominent throughout and the perception of the homosexual community was present.
The Editor follows James as he works (under Jackie Kennedy's direction) to find an accurate resolution to his novel, which involves the painful confrontation between the protagonist and his aloof mother. This is an obviously autobiographical work, as James himself has many conflicted issues with his mother and is attempting to repair those bridges indirectly/directly through his novel. The reparation process between James and his mother was fascinating and surprisingly poignant.
However, due to the nature of James' constant search for internal reparations and external quest for resolution I found sections of this book to be long winded and entirely focused on James' thoughts and feelings. There were huge paragraphs with no dialogue and minimal action at the start of almost every chapter, lending a sense of odd pacing and making me bored with James. As soon as the dialogue/action resumed in each section, I reengaged.
Overall, a great read! Recommended for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and others who enjoy intimate and emotional tales.
Many thanks to Penguin Group Puntam via NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2020
!! NOW AVAILABLE !!
Set in New York City in the 1990’s, James Smale, a mid-thirties unpublished writer, finally catches a break after ten years of attempts, or perhaps twenty-five years if you count the years before college. An editor that might be interested in publishing his latest book has contacted him. He’s arrived at the publishing house, Doubleday, knowing he has an appointment with the editor, but not knowing which editor he has an appointment this, mistakenly believing the woman he was told to ask for is the editor, and nervously chattering away to the woman who walked him to the conference room, where he is left to wait until the editor arrives.
And then the door opens, a woman enters, but her back is to him, so he has yet to realize just who this woman is. And then she turns toward him.
’It’s you. I almost say it out loud.’
‘She’s immediately recognizable. Her posture, her eyes – there is no mistaking her. Of course I know who she is. But that’s an understatement. I try to breathe. Have I not been breathing? In fact, it’s perhaps the biggest understatement in the history of understating things…
‘Because everyone knows who she is.’
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
’James, I’m the editor who liked your book.’
‘My entire life I’ve been waiting to hear someone at a New York publishing house say these words. But in the thousands of ways I may have imagined this moment, not one time did it look anything like this.
Of course, as his editor, she has changes she wants to his semi-autobiographical novel The Quarantine, and they require him dealing, facing, some potential familial conflicts. An ending more in line with his personal truths, the ones he has yet to face, yet to come to terms with. And, of course, he is reluctant to face them. He know the news won’t impress his mother, she’s already objected to how he has portrayed the mother in his story. And he still doesn’t know everything.
This was a nice, charming read – although with plenty of background drama, with family members as well as with James’ live-in boyfriend, from keeping it from being overly twee.
A wonderful diversion for me, a little something to add a little balance to our days of ‘quarantine.’
Pub Date: 30 June 2020
Many thanks for the ARC provided by PENGUIN GROUP Putnam / G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Set in New York City in the 1990’s, James Smale, a mid-thirties unpublished writer, finally catches a break after ten years of attempts, or perhaps twenty-five years if you count the years before college. An editor that might be interested in publishing his latest book has contacted him. He’s arrived at the publishing house, Doubleday, knowing he has an appointment with the editor, but not knowing which editor he has an appointment this, mistakenly believing the woman he was told to ask for is the editor, and nervously chattering away to the woman who walked him to the conference room, where he is left to wait until the editor arrives.
And then the door opens, a woman enters, but her back is to him, so he has yet to realize just who this woman is. And then she turns toward him.
’It’s you. I almost say it out loud.’
‘She’s immediately recognizable. Her posture, her eyes – there is no mistaking her. Of course I know who she is. But that’s an understatement. I try to breathe. Have I not been breathing? In fact, it’s perhaps the biggest understatement in the history of understating things…
‘Because everyone knows who she is.’
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
’James, I’m the editor who liked your book.’
‘My entire life I’ve been waiting to hear someone at a New York publishing house say these words. But in the thousands of ways I may have imagined this moment, not one time did it look anything like this.
Of course, as his editor, she has changes she wants to his semi-autobiographical novel The Quarantine, and they require him dealing, facing, some potential familial conflicts. An ending more in line with his personal truths, the ones he has yet to face, yet to come to terms with. And, of course, he is reluctant to face them. He know the news won’t impress his mother, she’s already objected to how he has portrayed the mother in his story. And he still doesn’t know everything.
This was a nice, charming read – although with plenty of background drama, with family members as well as with James’ live-in boyfriend, from keeping it from being overly twee.
A wonderful diversion for me, a little something to add a little balance to our days of ‘quarantine.’
Pub Date: 30 June 2020
Many thanks for the ARC provided by PENGUIN GROUP Putnam / G.P. Putnam’s Sons
April 2, 2019
The Editor is a fictional novel about first time author James Smale who sells his book to Doubleday during the 1990's only to find out his editor is Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The story is very lovely and awkward and funny at times as James tries to feel comfortable with his new editor and not make a complete fool of himself in the process of getting to know her.
As Jackie and James do begin to bond, James' other relationships, with his mother and family, whom the book is based, on begin to fall apart (more than they already had been), as does his long-time relationship with his partner Daniel. Although he looks to Jackie for notes on his book, she seems to sense his anxiety and tries to give him the life advice he so desperately needs to finish his work and perhaps make peace with his life.
One of the best chapter sequences is the Thanksgiving Dinner at James' mother's house. Most of us can empathize with the tensions that sometimes erupt, and how deeply hidden secrets can come spewing out! I laughed and gasped and laughed again!
But throughout the book it is his relationship with Jackie which helps him to finally find a grown-up ending for his novel and perhaps assists him in actually becoming a real man himself.
The writing is so creatively crafted and although completely fiction, what a testament to Rowley's writing style to make you feel James' relationship with Jackie really took place. I loved the humor, the insight and the sadness he brought into the story.
The book is out today. Don't miss it!
Thank you #NetGalley #G.P. Putnam and Sons #The Editor #Steven Rowley for the advanced copy.
If you enjoyed this review please visit www.lisascubby.com for more like it. Happy Reading!
As Jackie and James do begin to bond, James' other relationships, with his mother and family, whom the book is based, on begin to fall apart (more than they already had been), as does his long-time relationship with his partner Daniel. Although he looks to Jackie for notes on his book, she seems to sense his anxiety and tries to give him the life advice he so desperately needs to finish his work and perhaps make peace with his life.
One of the best chapter sequences is the Thanksgiving Dinner at James' mother's house. Most of us can empathize with the tensions that sometimes erupt, and how deeply hidden secrets can come spewing out! I laughed and gasped and laughed again!
But throughout the book it is his relationship with Jackie which helps him to finally find a grown-up ending for his novel and perhaps assists him in actually becoming a real man himself.
The writing is so creatively crafted and although completely fiction, what a testament to Rowley's writing style to make you feel James' relationship with Jackie really took place. I loved the humor, the insight and the sadness he brought into the story.
The book is out today. Don't miss it!
Thank you #NetGalley #G.P. Putnam and Sons #The Editor #Steven Rowley for the advanced copy.
If you enjoyed this review please visit www.lisascubby.com for more like it. Happy Reading!
August 8, 2019
When I noticed this book in our "All the Buzz" section of our library, it caught my attention due to mention of JFK's wife as the book editor. Heart warming, it tells the story of the journey of a young author who is awed when he learns Mrs. Onasis is his editor. Blessed with invitations to her residences in NY and Martha's Vineyard, their interactions cause a ripple effect in his writing and life views. Using a motherly approach, Jackie guides the young author towards the goal of completion. Struggling with how to end the story, the author visits his mother who startles him with an unexpected truth. And with this revelation, comes the theme of the story; Seeking Truth. Soon after the book has been published, we're saddened by Jackie's death. The author's research into the life of Jackie Kennedy offers the reader valuable insights into her humanity. Whether you're an aspiring writer or not, immersing into the inner world of Jackie Kennedy and a new author is a unique experience.
November 28, 2018
Wouldn't it be great if Jackie O. was your editor? Well that's what's happened to James when his first book is accepted by a publisher - he's assigned to Jackie Kennedy Onassis. James is awestruck,
James has written a book about his mother and their relationship. It needs some work according to Jackie, especially the end - she wants it rewritten. As James works on the rewrite he learns some things about his life, his mother, and his father.
This book was filled with both humor and introspection. I enjoyed the writing style so it was easy to keep reading as the story unfolded (no pun intended). A great read.
Thanks to Edelweiss for an advance copy!
James has written a book about his mother and their relationship. It needs some work according to Jackie, especially the end - she wants it rewritten. As James works on the rewrite he learns some things about his life, his mother, and his father.
This book was filled with both humor and introspection. I enjoyed the writing style so it was easy to keep reading as the story unfolded (no pun intended). A great read.
Thanks to Edelweiss for an advance copy!
February 16, 2021
I really enjoyed and loved this beautifully written story.
The book was a very enjoyable and fast read. I flew
through the 350+ pages. In early pages, I was drawn into hoping their was more Jackie O as I turned to new places.
The characters are splendid! Jackie Onassis is elegant, poised, quirky and sharply direct as an editor, while charming and warm, in personal matters.
In the main character, James, we see Jackie being a mentor in his personal issues, like with his mom. James is an author who is fortunate enough to land Jackie Onassis as his editor, only his book's ending needs help and Jackie pushes James to give the book an ending that both he and the book deserve.
Jackie O. was a real hero of mine growing up. So, this book attracted me right off the bat. I loved it and was not disappointed.
Very well written. Rowley' glimpses into the life of Jackie O. makes one think they reading non-fiction.
Great book... I recommend.
The book was a very enjoyable and fast read. I flew
through the 350+ pages. In early pages, I was drawn into hoping their was more Jackie O as I turned to new places.
The characters are splendid! Jackie Onassis is elegant, poised, quirky and sharply direct as an editor, while charming and warm, in personal matters.
In the main character, James, we see Jackie being a mentor in his personal issues, like with his mom. James is an author who is fortunate enough to land Jackie Onassis as his editor, only his book's ending needs help and Jackie pushes James to give the book an ending that both he and the book deserve.
Jackie O. was a real hero of mine growing up. So, this book attracted me right off the bat. I loved it and was not disappointed.
Very well written. Rowley' glimpses into the life of Jackie O. makes one think they reading non-fiction.
Great book... I recommend.
March 28, 2019
4.5 stars rounded up
Lily and the Octopus was a book that I absolutely love, so I knew I would read anything Steven Rowley wrote next but when I read the synopsis for The Editor and found out that the editor in this book was Jackie Kennedy, it absolutely made it to the top of my must-read list of spring books.
James Smale is a young, unpublished novelist who is sent by his agent to Doubleday Books to discuss his semi-autobiographical novel with the person who wants to become his editor. No one warned him that the editor just happens to be Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the former first lady!
The two quickly develop a very unexpected friendship, along with their writer-editor relationship that is a delight and heartwarming! Jackie Kennedy's intelligence, grace, charm, sophistication, as well as her known shyness and demureness are captured perfectly by Rowley with great sensitivity and subtlety and even though she's not the main character in the book, she's such an essential and marvelous part of the story--her wit, wisdom, and gentle (sometimes not so gentle) pushes along the way are certainly the guiding hands for James' character growth in the novel! Just like James, you can't help but be completely enamored by her!
The two quickly develop a very unexpected friendship, along with their writer-editor relationship that is a delight and heartwarming! Jackie Kennedy's intelligence, grace, charm, sophistication, as well as her known shyness and demureness are captured perfectly by Rowley with great sensitivity and subtlety and although she's not the main character of the book, she's such an essential and marvelous part of the story--her wit, wisdom, and gentle (sometimes not so gentle) pushes along the way are certainly the guiding hands for James' character growth in the novel! Just like James, you can't help but be completely enamored by her character!
Yet, this is James' story no matter how many scenes Jackie may appear. James can't write an ending to his novel that meets with his editor's approval! His publication date is looming fast and at his editor's insistence, his novel needs a completely different ending, but he can't write one until he repairs his relationship with his mother with whom he's at odds because of she never wanted to be the basis of the "mother" character in his novel.
The novel is also a coming of age story as James finally discovers who he really is and uncovers some long buried, hard to handle family secrets. More than anything, the story is about the powerful, complex, and all-encompassing love between a mother and son and the journey in discovering what that means for both of them.
The characters are so believable that I almost thought they would step off the page, so I can't wait to see the movie adaption of the book of which Rowley is both writing the screenplay and acting as the executive producer! The inclusion of Jackie Kennedy as a literary character just makes it the perfect read, at least for me since she's on my list of famous women whom I most admire, and I'd loved to have met her, just like James.
Rowley has written another emotional, thought-provoking beautiful book full of humor and wit that I believe is markedly his own. The Editor is a delightful, heartwarming, at times very heartbreaking, original novel that will remain a favorite. I highly recommend this one!
**Thank you Edelweiss and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC to read in exchange for my fair and honest review.**
Lily and the Octopus was a book that I absolutely love, so I knew I would read anything Steven Rowley wrote next but when I read the synopsis for The Editor and found out that the editor in this book was Jackie Kennedy, it absolutely made it to the top of my must-read list of spring books.
James Smale is a young, unpublished novelist who is sent by his agent to Doubleday Books to discuss his semi-autobiographical novel with the person who wants to become his editor. No one warned him that the editor just happens to be Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the former first lady!
The two quickly develop a very unexpected friendship, along with their writer-editor relationship that is a delight and heartwarming! Jackie Kennedy's intelligence, grace, charm, sophistication, as well as her known shyness and demureness are captured perfectly by Rowley with great sensitivity and subtlety and even though she's not the main character in the book, she's such an essential and marvelous part of the story--her wit, wisdom, and gentle (sometimes not so gentle) pushes along the way are certainly the guiding hands for James' character growth in the novel! Just like James, you can't help but be completely enamored by her!
The two quickly develop a very unexpected friendship, along with their writer-editor relationship that is a delight and heartwarming! Jackie Kennedy's intelligence, grace, charm, sophistication, as well as her known shyness and demureness are captured perfectly by Rowley with great sensitivity and subtlety and although she's not the main character of the book, she's such an essential and marvelous part of the story--her wit, wisdom, and gentle (sometimes not so gentle) pushes along the way are certainly the guiding hands for James' character growth in the novel! Just like James, you can't help but be completely enamored by her character!
Yet, this is James' story no matter how many scenes Jackie may appear. James can't write an ending to his novel that meets with his editor's approval! His publication date is looming fast and at his editor's insistence, his novel needs a completely different ending, but he can't write one until he repairs his relationship with his mother with whom he's at odds because of she never wanted to be the basis of the "mother" character in his novel.
The novel is also a coming of age story as James finally discovers who he really is and uncovers some long buried, hard to handle family secrets. More than anything, the story is about the powerful, complex, and all-encompassing love between a mother and son and the journey in discovering what that means for both of them.
The characters are so believable that I almost thought they would step off the page, so I can't wait to see the movie adaption of the book of which Rowley is both writing the screenplay and acting as the executive producer! The inclusion of Jackie Kennedy as a literary character just makes it the perfect read, at least for me since she's on my list of famous women whom I most admire, and I'd loved to have met her, just like James.
Rowley has written another emotional, thought-provoking beautiful book full of humor and wit that I believe is markedly his own. The Editor is a delightful, heartwarming, at times very heartbreaking, original novel that will remain a favorite. I highly recommend this one!
**Thank you Edelweiss and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC to read in exchange for my fair and honest review.**
March 26, 2019
After years of trying to make it as a writer in the 1990's New York City, James Smale finally sells his novel to an editor at a major publishing houses, none other than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis -- or Mrs Onassis as she is known in the office -- has fallen in love with James candidly autobiographical novel, one that exposes his own dysfunctional family. But when the books 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.
This book made me laugh out loud on several occasions with all the funny moments he writes about. The story is written post JFK and the author makes Jackie's personality jump off the pages. I'm sure many potential authors would do a double take if they walked into their publisher to find that she was Jackie Onassis. This is an entertaining mock memoir of a young author. It's an interesting and original read. A really enjoyable story.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Steven Rowley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book made me laugh out loud on several occasions with all the funny moments he writes about. The story is written post JFK and the author makes Jackie's personality jump off the pages. I'm sure many potential authors would do a double take if they walked into their publisher to find that she was Jackie Onassis. This is an entertaining mock memoir of a young author. It's an interesting and original read. A really enjoyable story.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Steven Rowley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2019
Imagine having Jackie Kennedy assigned as the editor of your debut novel, especially for a young male author grappling with maternal issues of his own. This is the premise of Steven Rowley's The Editor. I enjoyed this novel and the way James uses the writing and editing of his novel to discover himself. I will say, I picked up this novel for the Kennedy aspect - which was NOT so much the focus of the book. I think the role of Kennedy could have been played by anyone written as a strong maternal character to serve the plot, so I was left wanting more on that aspect. I advise you to go into this for James Smale's journey and not Jackie Kennedy's impact and I think literary fiction fans will have nothing but high praise to offer.
Thank you to Putnam Books for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Putnam Books for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
June 11, 2019
I once had a writing coach tell me that one can't write a novel about a struggling novelist. The Editor is proof that he was a stupid, stupid man.
The first 30 pages of this made me snort with laughter and the final 30 pages made me tear up–something that books can rarely make me do.
And the story in between, about a struggling novelist working with a remarkable editor and searching for his own identity and the truth about his relationship with his own mother, is poignant, funny, heartbreaking, and wonderful. This is dangerously close to being a 5-star read for me.
The first 30 pages of this made me snort with laughter and the final 30 pages made me tear up–something that books can rarely make me do.
And the story in between, about a struggling novelist working with a remarkable editor and searching for his own identity and the truth about his relationship with his own mother, is poignant, funny, heartbreaking, and wonderful. This is dangerously close to being a 5-star read for me.
May 7, 2019
This is one of those books you want to finish in one sitting. So try and find time to do that.
I enjoyed how Steven Rowley decided how to portray Jackie. He wrote her a a person, not just an American icon. And to tell more would be giving spoiler, which I don’t want to do.
A big way how this story appeals and it very striking is the time it is set. It takes place at the beginning of the Clinton Era. So, the story was a reflection of a new era that was supposed to be the second Camelot.
To say anything more would cause the spoilers to come out. If you have a chance, give this story a go.
I enjoyed how Steven Rowley decided how to portray Jackie. He wrote her a a person, not just an American icon. And to tell more would be giving spoiler, which I don’t want to do.
A big way how this story appeals and it very striking is the time it is set. It takes place at the beginning of the Clinton Era. So, the story was a reflection of a new era that was supposed to be the second Camelot.
To say anything more would cause the spoilers to come out. If you have a chance, give this story a go.
March 1, 2019
When I take a long time to finish a book because I am reading it between better books, it doesn’t bode too well for my final assessment. Actually, my favorite scene in the book is at the beginning, the first time our hero, James, meets Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. It’s the early years of the 90s, when she is a Doubleday editor with a small office, who uses a conference room to meet with a client because it has more space. I think Rowley captured her essence there, at least the grace and polish she exuded, along with her mild, gentle blend of shy and assertive. The scene was light, delicate, and showed promise. But I never felt true liftoff the rest of the way through the novel.
I want to stress that this is purely subjective, and I don’t wish to discourage readers who are eager to read this book. Perhaps your experience will be different. For me, it plodded along with pedestrian fervor. It came off as if Rowley had borrowed a plot from central casting and then placed his characters in it, never actually delivering something new, passionate, and intriguing. The actual arguments that drove a wedge between characters were uninspired and derivative, with a few precious moments of levity, also limp.
There was a tendency to over-explain and over-explicate. For example, two characters have a surprise run-in, and one of them needs to justify what he was just doing. This leads to nervous, strained dialogue, unfolding to a parallel conversation. It is evident in the words that they spoke, obvious to the reader, yet the author clumsily inserts, “We’re almost having parallel conversations.” Unnecessary explanation, and it was either condescending to the reader, or the author didn’t trust the reader to get it.
The gist of the story is an anguished writer finally is getting his novel published, and his editor is none less than Jackie O. He has to deal with his estranged mother in order to write an organic ending to the story, “The Quarantine” (that title is explained in the first few pages). His relationship with his boyfriend of five years starts to get rocky, and of course his whole life is existentially in the balance. Oh, the thunder and crash of success.
There’s many more indelicate pitfalls that tripped up this writer from making THE EDITOR a success, in my view. Setting up a scene to follow with a profound statement that is nothing more than a cliché, such as “If I want to really be a writer, I have to tell the whole story. I have to follow the narrative wherever it may go.” Was this supposed to be a gem of discovery? How can one not write a novel without already knowing this? And how did Jackie O, a distinguished editor, see The Quarantine as a winner? There's an answer, but it didn't sway me. The author's inattention to important details bothered me. I wish I could pluck out more fine attributes, but it fell flat to me, and what was supposed to be dynamic was simply more static. But it is for the individual reader to disagree with me and enjoy this novel.
I want to stress that this is purely subjective, and I don’t wish to discourage readers who are eager to read this book. Perhaps your experience will be different. For me, it plodded along with pedestrian fervor. It came off as if Rowley had borrowed a plot from central casting and then placed his characters in it, never actually delivering something new, passionate, and intriguing. The actual arguments that drove a wedge between characters were uninspired and derivative, with a few precious moments of levity, also limp.
There was a tendency to over-explain and over-explicate. For example, two characters have a surprise run-in, and one of them needs to justify what he was just doing. This leads to nervous, strained dialogue, unfolding to a parallel conversation. It is evident in the words that they spoke, obvious to the reader, yet the author clumsily inserts, “We’re almost having parallel conversations.” Unnecessary explanation, and it was either condescending to the reader, or the author didn’t trust the reader to get it.
The gist of the story is an anguished writer finally is getting his novel published, and his editor is none less than Jackie O. He has to deal with his estranged mother in order to write an organic ending to the story, “The Quarantine” (that title is explained in the first few pages). His relationship with his boyfriend of five years starts to get rocky, and of course his whole life is existentially in the balance. Oh, the thunder and crash of success.
There’s many more indelicate pitfalls that tripped up this writer from making THE EDITOR a success, in my view. Setting up a scene to follow with a profound statement that is nothing more than a cliché, such as “If I want to really be a writer, I have to tell the whole story. I have to follow the narrative wherever it may go.” Was this supposed to be a gem of discovery? How can one not write a novel without already knowing this? And how did Jackie O, a distinguished editor, see The Quarantine as a winner? There's an answer, but it didn't sway me. The author's inattention to important details bothered me. I wish I could pluck out more fine attributes, but it fell flat to me, and what was supposed to be dynamic was simply more static. But it is for the individual reader to disagree with me and enjoy this novel.
March 15, 2019
James Smale has finally sold his book to a publisher. When he arrives at the publisher's office in New York, he is shocked to discover the editor who wants to publish his book is none other than former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. As he progresses down the road towards publication, James has trouble finishing his story. The book is semi-autobiographical and could cause problems in his already tenuous relationships with his family and partner. He forms an unexpected friendship with Onassis, who helps him not only with the ending for his book but with his life.
Lovely book! This story sucked me right in at the start with Smale's shocked first meeting with his editor. The poor man was absolutely gobsmacked that he was in the same room with Jackie O. Turns out her wisdom would do more for Smale's life than a published book.....
This is the first book by Steven Rowley that I've read. I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I'm definitely going to be reading more by this author! I've had Lily and the Octopus on my bookshelf for quite awhile. I think it's time to move it to the top of the TBR stack and start reading! Rowley tells this story with the sweetest mix of humor, wisdom, and wit. Just a lovely story!
**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Penguin via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
Lovely book! This story sucked me right in at the start with Smale's shocked first meeting with his editor. The poor man was absolutely gobsmacked that he was in the same room with Jackie O. Turns out her wisdom would do more for Smale's life than a published book.....
This is the first book by Steven Rowley that I've read. I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I'm definitely going to be reading more by this author! I've had Lily and the Octopus on my bookshelf for quite awhile. I think it's time to move it to the top of the TBR stack and start reading! Rowley tells this story with the sweetest mix of humor, wisdom, and wit. Just a lovely story!
**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Penguin via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
February 12, 2020
Steven Rowley’s The Editor is a jaunty, light read that attempts humor on every page. The opening of the novel, in many ways, reminded me of a duller, less funny version the wide-eyed Andrea Sachs of The Devil Wears Prada but from a male perspective. However, Rowley’s version read more in the vein of puerile than comical, and the jokes and moments of humor never really hit the mark for me. As I read this novel, the attempts at comedy only distracted from the reading experience, because they managed to take away from the book’s atmosphere rather than add to it. They fell flat and just came off as borderline YA, misplaced in The Editor’s setting. It’s possible that it was my own misunderstanding, but I was hoping for a more substantive read – something with a little more meat on the bones that I could really fall into. It’s possible that I would have responded better to this book if I’d known the type of humor that it was going for – borderline slapstick as the James Smale regales us with stumbling all over himself – and the fluffy way in which the story would be told.
Let’s start from the beginning: In 1992, James Smale is a writer living in New York City who hasn’t been published in years. What he has accomplished is a slew of soul-crushing temp assignments involving hours sitting in cubicle after cubicle; he’s witnessed the demise of his family unit on the subject of his homosexuality and he’s written a book about his mother. A cold woman he never really felt he knew, she is an accidental topic that spills out of James as a form of therapy while he tries to grapple with who she is and how they feel about each other. It is this book that lands him in the orbit of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. When James arrives at the publishing house to meet the editor who wants to buy his book, never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that it would be the Mrs. Onassis. He is dumbstruck and dumbfounded and worried how his mother, a devout Catholic and avid admirer of the Kennedy family, will feel about having her life read and edited by one of her idols. James and Jackie develop a friendship he never expected, and as they work together on his manuscript, she encourages him to go back home to confront his demons of the past so that he can write the perfect, authentic ending for the book. But when a long-held family secret is revealed, he realized his editor may have had a larger plan that goes beyond the page…
The Editor is a cozy read that pairs well with a mug of Earl Grey tea and warm footie socks. It leans into the territory of heartfelt, going for the heartstrings that for most of us are triggered by matters such as family, ailing elderly parents, apartheid within the ranks of a nuclear unit and the realization of finally meeting one’s goals. You’ll find all of that here, wrapped around a sincere writer still grappling with his past writer, his ice-cold mother, his now-estranged father and the Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in all her prim fineness and glamour. Jackie Kennedy Onassis, here, is painted as a real person – someone who waits in line at the copy machine and likes the occasional drink after work – and that portrayal of her I really appreciated. It was approachable and dynamic, as I’m sure Rowley intended for her to be. She quietly and demurely stole the show both as and in The Editor. However, the rest of the cast of characters would have interested me more if they’d been explored through a more profound lens, if the interactions between them had been conceived with more depth and less failed attempts at awkward humor. After a while, those attempts just make the read itself awkward for the reader, and that’s not the relationship I’d hoped for with this book. But alas, I don’t doubt that many readers will enjoy this novel. Just be prepared for what you’re in for – at times inane humor, a writer’s journey both personally and professionally and the effortlessly exotic bird that is the Jackie Kennedy we think of at its center. ***
*I received a physical copy of this novel from the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons in exchange for an honest review. Thanks so much to the publisher!
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Let’s start from the beginning: In 1992, James Smale is a writer living in New York City who hasn’t been published in years. What he has accomplished is a slew of soul-crushing temp assignments involving hours sitting in cubicle after cubicle; he’s witnessed the demise of his family unit on the subject of his homosexuality and he’s written a book about his mother. A cold woman he never really felt he knew, she is an accidental topic that spills out of James as a form of therapy while he tries to grapple with who she is and how they feel about each other. It is this book that lands him in the orbit of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. When James arrives at the publishing house to meet the editor who wants to buy his book, never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that it would be the Mrs. Onassis. He is dumbstruck and dumbfounded and worried how his mother, a devout Catholic and avid admirer of the Kennedy family, will feel about having her life read and edited by one of her idols. James and Jackie develop a friendship he never expected, and as they work together on his manuscript, she encourages him to go back home to confront his demons of the past so that he can write the perfect, authentic ending for the book. But when a long-held family secret is revealed, he realized his editor may have had a larger plan that goes beyond the page…
The Editor is a cozy read that pairs well with a mug of Earl Grey tea and warm footie socks. It leans into the territory of heartfelt, going for the heartstrings that for most of us are triggered by matters such as family, ailing elderly parents, apartheid within the ranks of a nuclear unit and the realization of finally meeting one’s goals. You’ll find all of that here, wrapped around a sincere writer still grappling with his past writer, his ice-cold mother, his now-estranged father and the Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in all her prim fineness and glamour. Jackie Kennedy Onassis, here, is painted as a real person – someone who waits in line at the copy machine and likes the occasional drink after work – and that portrayal of her I really appreciated. It was approachable and dynamic, as I’m sure Rowley intended for her to be. She quietly and demurely stole the show both as and in The Editor. However, the rest of the cast of characters would have interested me more if they’d been explored through a more profound lens, if the interactions between them had been conceived with more depth and less failed attempts at awkward humor. After a while, those attempts just make the read itself awkward for the reader, and that’s not the relationship I’d hoped for with this book. But alas, I don’t doubt that many readers will enjoy this novel. Just be prepared for what you’re in for – at times inane humor, a writer’s journey both personally and professionally and the effortlessly exotic bird that is the Jackie Kennedy we think of at its center. ***
*I received a physical copy of this novel from the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons in exchange for an honest review. Thanks so much to the publisher!
FOLLOW ME HERE:
Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram | Get a Copy of My Book | Book Editing, Author Coaching, Submit Your Book to Me
November 9, 2019
sorry to say... this one didn‘t work for me. i loved the fast paced first few pages, and was interested in the permise - aspiring writer gets his first book accepted by doubleday and the editor he‘s going to work with is jackie kennedy onassis. the first meeting with her... he was just too much in awe, too childish, not getting over it - and this is how it went on for the rest of the book. oh, wow, she‘s a real person, what a surprise. the story of the novel he wrote also proved to be pretty disappointing, with a clichéd „family secret“ emerging at about 50% of the book... and a relationship with the writers boyfriend also going through all the phases of « you only care about work » etc one can expect. the characters didn‘t come to life, the dialogues felt empty... but this is just how i felt, and the many positive reviews demonstrate other readers could find joy in it. whatever works... :-)
December 28, 2020
Ahhhh my heart is full! This book was magnificent! Such a personal journey (of growth) for the main character, James, and I loved it! I took forever to get the courage to read this book because of how much I loved Lily and the Octopus, and I had nothing to worry about!
Whether you know literally every life detail of the Kennedy’s, or you’re like me and just know the names, it won’t make a difference in reading this book, so don’t worry about that!
If you haven’t read a Steven Rowley book yet, well-what are you waiting for!?
Whether you know literally every life detail of the Kennedy’s, or you’re like me and just know the names, it won’t make a difference in reading this book, so don’t worry about that!
If you haven’t read a Steven Rowley book yet, well-what are you waiting for!?
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