Bright, Precious Days

American author Jay McInerney’s novel Bright, Precious Days (2016) it is the third novel in which McInerney has written about Corrine and Russell Calloway, a couple who live on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The novel is set in the early 2010s, during the period of the Great Recession.

The novel starts by giving the reader some insight into Corrine and Russell’s complicated marriage. It is revealed that Corrine was involved in an extramarital affair after the events that took place at the World Trade Center on September 11, when Corrine met Luke McGavock while volunteering. Luke is a wealthy banker, and the author hints that the affair between Luke and Corrine might not be quite over.

The action of the novel kicks off when Russell decides to host a dinner party. Russell works as a publisher and editor, and the party is meant to be in honor of his latest writer, Jack Carson, who has recently moved to New York City. The conversation during dinner leads to the revelation that Corrine’s sister, Hillary, is the biological mother of their children, just one factor in the strained relationship between Corrine and her family.



As time goes by, Corrine and Russell’s relationship grows increasingly stagnant, causing Corrine to yearn for the passion of her former romance with Luke. She contacts him and they begin seeing each other once again, unbeknownst to Russell. Meanwhile, Russell is busy negotiating a book deal with author Phillip Kohout. Russell used to be Phillip’s editor, but Phillip left Russell in search of greener pastures. As he re-enters the picture, Russell is convinced that working with Phillip is his ticket to wealth and success.

Russell is also busy working with Jack, who has just released his debut novel. It received great acclaim; however, the more success he earns as a writer, the more he is drawn back into his life of drug abuse. Russell notices this and it puts a strain on their professional relationship, as he worries whether Jack can keep up the production of his writing while under the influence.

After their initial encounter, Corrine and Luke continue seeing each other in secret. It turns out that Russell and Corrine are not the only ones with a complex relationship. Over the last two decades, Russell’s best friend, Washington Lee, has been occasionally sleeping with Corrine’s best friend, Casey Reynes. The trajectory of their relationship mirrors the events leading up to the subprime mortgage crisis. Washington and his wife, Veronica, go to dinner with Russell and Corrine. Washington reveals that his own publishing house, as well as several others already passed on the book deal with Kohout, making Russell doubt his own investment in the project.



While Russell worries about the fate of the book deal, things are becoming more serious between his wife and her lover, who has just decided to leave his own wife to pursue Corrine. Luke pressures Corrine to consider leaving Russell so that they can be together. In addition to this, Jack’s drug use is becoming increasingly worrisome. Russell is reminded of his friend Jeff, also a writer, who died of a drug overdose.

Things come to a head when he finds out that one of the stories from Kohout’s upcoming book is based on a lie. As the book was marketed as a memoir, the entire deal falls through. Jack and Russell have a disagreement regarding editing style, which results in Jack dropping Russell as his editor. Russell is feeling increased pressure to pay for their New York City apartment and to keep his business going.

Shortly thereafter, Russell learns of Jack’s death in a car accident. On the same day that he hears about Jack’s death, he also finds out about Corrine’s affair with Luke. He kicks Corrine out of their apartment, insisting that he has no interest in repairing their marriage.



Just when Russell believes that his business is too far gone, Washington offers to personally invest half a million dollars to keep the company running. However, it turns out that the money is actually coming from Corrine; when Russell learns this, he decides to revisit his decision about their relationship. After seeing her again, they decide to work things out and their separation ends.

Corrine sees Luke again when she runs into him at an art exhibit, however, it is clear that neither of them is eager to rekindle their romance based on the tumultuous ending of their relationship. At the end of the book, the screenplay that Corrine has been working on for decades is finally produced. Corrine, Russell, and all of their friends go to the screening. It is the first time they have all been together in a long while.