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The Muse Asylum
David Czuchlewski Book Review

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Plot Summary of The Muse Asylum
"

Putnam, May 2001, 23.95, 225 pp.
ISBN: 0399147454

   Ledger editor Joe Fogarty assigns new reporter Jake Burnett to uncover the identity of the grandmaster of the postmodern American novel, Horace Jacob Little. The great author has remained anonymous for over a quarter of a century as his book jackets read more like Mike Tyson's boxing garb with no picture, autobiography, or any signings/sightings. Jake tells Joe that trying to obtain a picture of the great one seems impossible, as even his agent has never met him. Still, Jake, a fan of Little, is intrigued with the prospect.

    At about the same time, Jake's college classmate at Princeton, talented but paranoid Andrew Wallace believes Little is dangerous. In his autobiography, Andrew who is a patient at the Overlook Psychiatric Institute, better known as the MUSE ASYLUM, feels he must protect his beloved Lara Knowles from the insane Little.

    Jake knows Lara from Princeton and she gives him a copy of Andrew's “Confessions”, which surprisingly points in the direction of Little, especially since Wallace seems crazy. As he get closer to the truth, Jake finds himself in danger, but is not sure from whom except that it must be the paranoid Little.

    The MUSE ASYLUM is an entertaining, different type of thriller that will please readers who enjoy an offbeat tale. The story line is cleverly designed and the key characters seem real. Though the extracts from Confessions slow the plot down a bit while rarely adding that much, the suspense never totally eases up for a moment and the ending is truly shocking. Fans who want to try something different will muse over the talent that David Czuchlewski exhibits in his debut tale.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of The Muse Asylum
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story: - 1980's-1999
Spying/Terrorism Thriller Yes
Cloak & Dagger Plotlets: - main char. spying/sabotage
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes
Search for technology? - method of mind control

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - writer
How much violence does he/she use? - none
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - unemployed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
Motive of antagonist - jealousy
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
How many deaths? - 0 (not a murder mystery)
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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