Plot Dissection: Good in Bed

In an effort to become less of an idiot regarding plot structure and, in general, how stories work, I have embarked on a journey of discovery: reading fiction and sussing out their plots through my careful note-taking.  

The first book: Good in Bed by Jennifer Wiener

Spoiler Alert: The plot is completely revealed below.

First, a quick review:

Good in Bed is the second book I've read authored by Wiener, the first being her recent memoir, Hungry Heart, which I loved.  I was shocked reading Good in Bed and how closely it paralleled Wiener's own biography, from her fat-shamed self to her father issues and lesbian mother to her slacker boyfriend and seriously attention-seeking sister.  Of course, there were differences, but the novel itself felt about fifty pages too long.  I gave it two stars on GoodReads.  A little harsh, yes, but honest.  It just wasn't that good (in bed or otherwise) because it was too slow.

Now, for the dissection.  First, thank you to Jane K. Cleland's Mastering Suspense Structure and Plot for the following initial factors to think out when considering plot:

Protagonist Motivation: Cannie; to get Bruce back (find love)

Antagonist Motivation: Bruce; to move on

Narrative Question: Will Cannie learn to love herself?

Theme: Growing into self-acceptance

Setting: Philadelphia

Structure: Chronological: over a year or so

Pace: Steady (a bit slow)

Suspense: Will Cannie get Bruce back?  Will she learn to love herself and, in turn, find love?

Next, the plot analysis, with plot points as outlined in the webpage The Eight Sequences compliments of ScriptLab.  Now, there are lots of different names for these major plot points, but I found this one easy to follow and relevant for novels, even though it's for script writing.  Here it is:

ACT I

Status Quo/Inciting Incident:  Cannie, newly single, reads an article in a magazine by her ex about their (ahem, sexual) relationship that mortifies her.

Predicament: She still wants to be with Bruce.  She also feels terrible about about herself and has a complicated past (and present!) with her family.

Lock-In: Bruce's dad dies (23% into the book).

ACT II

First Obstacle: Bruce and Cannie have a one-night stand after the funeral.

Raising the Stakes: Flashback of serious father issues.

First Culmination/Midpoint: Bruce is dating another woman.  Cannie is pregnant (45% into book)

Subplot: History of Cannie's mother and her partner, Tanya; spending Thanksgiving with the family.

Rising Action: Decides to keep the baby.  She tells people and writes a letter to Bruce (with no response), but things are looking positive.

Main Culmination: Goes to California after selling her screenplay and has a great time, but then she sees and is disappointed by her father who abandoned his family long ago.

END of Act II: Back in Philadelphia, Cannie sees Bruce and the new girlfriend in the airport.  They have a fight, and she falls and blacks out (83% into book).

ACT III

New Tension: The baby is born prematurely; will she live?

Twist: Cannie is experiencing serious depression.

Resolution: Dr. K and Cannie fall in love, and they live happily ever after.

THE END.