10.24.2011

A Reading with Jeffrey Eugenides

Photo from the Boswell Books Blog*

I enjoyed a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Boswell Books yesterday for a reading with Jeffrey Eugenides. You guys all know that I'm a big fan of his work and when I heard he was coming to Milwaukee to do a reading I immediately marked my calendar and made sure to keep the entire day open. The reading was scheduled at noon, so the night before the reading I took it easy and went to bed early, knowing I would want to get there early and get a good seat. (I sat just behind the tan leather couch pictured to the right, above.)

I couldn't have been more pleased with the reading. Eugenides chose two passages to read, one that lasted about 15 minutes, and another that lasted about three. The first detailed Madeline's less-than-ideal love life in college, and the other discussed the idea of the ever-evolving art student. It was truly wonderful to hear Eugenides read his own work; his clever wit is even more amplified when he reads his passages himself. After the reading he took questions from the audience. It's no surprise that Eugenides humor transcends his writing, as even his responses to most questions had the audience laughing. A few things I learned about Jeffrey Eugenides yesterday:
  • He teaches a creative writing class at Princeton every Wednesday. His wife swears he comes back home with more energy on Wednesday evenings after his "brush with youth."
  • Eugenides has been working on a short story collection that is almost finished. He confirmed that we will not have to wait another nine years for it to come out. Yay!
  • When asked if it was intentional that the theme of pollution, both metaphorically and symbolically, permeated his works, he stated, "Well, I grew up in Detroit." Enough said. (He actually expanded on this response to mention that when he was seven and eight he was quite disillusioned with the state of the world and why. He doesn't purposefully include these descriptions of pollution, but he isn't surprised they are there.)
  • Noting he had never been to a reading so early (noon) Eugenides mentioned that "writers are temperamentally nocturnal."
  • Eugenides admitted that his writing process is quite disjointed. He didn't get the idea for writing The Marriage Plot until until he wrote a couple hundred pages of a different novel involving Madeline's parents. He didn't like the tone or the direction of the novel, and it wasn't until he decided to explore his character's daughter, Madeline, that he felt he had something. He also joked that he often leaves one demanding novel behind unfinished in favor of a newer, younger novel, only to discover that it too proves to be just as demanding.
  • In Middlesex, the translation of Cal's brother's nickname Chapter 11 proved to be a problem when translating the book. The name refers to the US tax law Chapter 11 and since this law is specific to the US alone, those in Europe and Asia were a bit confused.
  • When asked if he liked to write, Eugenides admitted that he does, but there is also something masochistic about it.
Following the Q&A was the book signing, where I waited in line to get my copy of The Marriage Plot personalized and even sneak in a picture. While waiting I met a girl about my age who drove eight hours from someplace in Michigan to attend the reading. Now that is dedication! She even offered to take a photo for me when she saw me eagerly clutching my camera as I inched forward in line.




Can I just tell you how nervous I was to meet Jeffrey Eugenides? I was so scared I would say something stupid, and I was literally shaking as I stood next to him for the photo above. But, all in all, I was so happy I had the opportunity to attend this event. If you get a chance to do the same, I highly encourage it! You won't be disappointed.

*I was too chicken to take a picture while Eugenides was reading, for fear of distracting him with my flash and getting dirty looks.

28 comments:

  1. Too exciting! :) I love that he said that Chapter 11 caused problems in Europe etc, because omg I was so confused by that in Middlesex! It was solved by a bit of a google, but still :)

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  2. This is awesome! So excited for you and...also... GOOD NOTES!!! I am glad that the interwebs brought me here. I am loving your blog!

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  3. Laura, I know I was confused until the end of the novel when Cal alluded to what happened.

    patya, Thank you! :)

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  4. That's so awesome that you got a chance to go see him do a reading and get an autograph! Still can't wait to read this one

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  5. You got to meet him! I'm so glad it went well. I love that you include some of the things he said. I love going to author readings because I feel like you learn so much more about the way they work.

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  6. How exciting! I'm a huge Eugenides fan myself and just finished reading The Marriage Plot... Glad you have so many great pictures and anecdotes to share - and that a short story collection is coming soon!

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  7. WOW! Seems like a pretty cozy environment which actually surprises me. I can only imagine... it's so awesome that you were able to go. I hate to admit that I've only gone to one author reading, Margaret Atwood, which is nothing to complain about, but you've made me realize I should keep my eyes peeled for more. Love the pictures! Glad you had such a good time.

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  8. Red, I know I feel so lucky! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it.

    Melissa, It was awesome! This was the first reading I've been to where I am a huge fan of the author.

    Laura, I know I can't wait for the short stories!

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  9. Beth, It really was cozy! Not super packed, but there wasn't an empty seat. I'd LOVE to go to a Margaret Atwood reading. After this one I am definitely going to be checking the Boswell events schedule more frequently. I had such a good time.

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  10. Eugenides read at Square Books in Oxford MS just recently as well...my mom lives in Oxford but was away on a business trip to Arizona while Eugenides was there. What a thrill for you!

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  11. It is so great that you were able to go this reading and meet one of your favorite authors. The pictures are fantastic. Thank you for the post and the interesting info about Eugenides!

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  12. Oh that is just too cool! I would have been totally nervous, too.

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  13. Yea! I love readings, although in my part of the country we don't often get the "big names" like Eugenides. I always get really nervous to get my books signed as well. It makes me feel like a big dork.

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  14. Ahhhhhh. I am so jealous! I love all the tidbits you shared and I am glad to know we won't have to wait another nine years for more work from him.

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  15. I'm so freaking jealous!!! I ruined the end of The Marriage Plot for myself, but I'm still crazy in love with him. Yay you!

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  16. Very jealous. I can't believe I screwed up the dates when he was in my town.

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  17. Great write-up - glad the event lived up to your expectations! Funny you should mention the photo while reading and afraid of the flash distracting him - I did that exact same thing at the Harbach reading. I triple checked my flash to make sure it was off, but it still wasn't - and I gave him a good bit of bright white light, right in his eyes. Oops. He took it well enough - but man was I embarrassed. (Notice, I conveniently left that part out of my writeup.) The lesson, as always: I'm an idiot.

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  18. Oh, how exciting!! Great pictures.

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  19. Your report has me even more excited about my event in a couple of weeks! I'm also going to be incredibly nervous when I meet him, I just know it. I'm glad you had such a good time!

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  20. Brilliant - that sounds reqlly exciting and its a great pic!

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  21. Sounds like it was a great event! I'm looking forward to your views on the book (and I love your grey jacket!).

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  22. Peppermint, Awe too bad you couldn't make it! Maybe next time.

    Heather, Sure thing! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

    Trish, I know.. and I really was.

    LBC, I think that's a good thing! To feel like a dork that is :)

    Lola, I know! I thought everyone would be happy to know that!

    Leica, I bet if he hasn't already he's got a reading somewhere in NYC set up. Look into it! You could meet him too!

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  23. Christine, Awe man that sucks.

    Greg, That is so funny. I was too nervous about that happening to snap a picture. I always think my flash is off when it's not, and I didn't want to distract him. Plus, no one else there was taking photos during the reading (except the Boswell people, who clearly knew how to keep their flash off.)

    JoAnn, Thanks!

    Nymeth, I can't wait to hear how yours goes!

    Becky, Thanks!

    Alex, I already posted my review! I got an ARC of it... and thanks for the compliment on my jacket :)

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  24. I am so jealous! It sounds like a wonderful event.

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  25. It sounds like a fantastic event, but I'm most surprised by what he looks like. I hadn't pictured him like that at all. I don't know why, but I'm very surprised he has a moustache. Strange how I build up these images of authors through only reading their books.

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  26. Trisha, It was fantastic!

    Jackie, Really? I suppose I always sneak a peak at the back cover or inside jacket flap to see what an author looks like while I am reading one of his or her books.

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  27. I am so so SO excited he is working on a short story collection. I really enjoy short stories and will definitely keep an eye out for that. Great post!

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  28. Wow that would have been a great night. I also get a bit flustered and say dorky things at book signings, I really need to work on my cool when meeting my literary rock stars!

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