The literary landscape of the 21st century seems more and more divided when it comes to one particular aspect: plot. Some books have it; others don’t. The have-nots have gotten a lot of critical attention in recent years: Think of novels that read like an extended internal monologue, describing in intimate detail the thoughts, feelings, and impressions of a protagonist. Usually, this is not someone who makes things happen, or to whom things happen; the strength of the narrator’s voice and the