Seeking advice on how to get over her lost lover, Kit, a character in a short story titled "The Cures for Love," turned to the Latin writings of the Roman author Ovid.
"I tell you, when you're heartsick ... trust me, get knocked down in public, you'll be helped up," was Ovid's advice.
Later in the story, Kit takes the advice. But the results are less than satisfying. "OK, so it happened as predicted, but it didn't make you feel wonderful (comfortably numb was more like it)," Kit said in the story.
University English Prof. and renowned author Charles Baxter, who created Kit, told the audience her story last night at Rackham Amphitheatre. Although Baxter lives in Ann Arbor, he said he doesn't do readings at the University "more often than every three or four years."
The meticulous attention to detail in Baxter's fiction kept the 160 audience members intrigued during the two half-hour-long selections, a piece from the novel "The Feast of Love" and the short story about Kit.
Baxter's first selection described the narrator's steps in a disappointing quest for love, including an impulsive excursion to Jackson, Mich., and his inescapable observance of couples in the throes of love.
In "The Cures for Love," Baxter focused on Kit's feelings as she comes to grips with the fact that her lover has gone away.
Many audience members said Baxter's reading met their expectations.
"I thought it was splendid, both the work in progress and the work achieved," said English Prof. Nicholas Delbanco. "It had that special slant of his that brings everything into relief while remaining in the first light."
As Baxter read his work, different phrases caused knowing smiles or chuckles to escape from the audience. Baxter's unique and memorable style was evident in his word choice and descriptions, from referring to a woman's nod as "therapeutic" to describing a man in Chicago's O'Hare Airport as wearing a polyester suit and reading USA Today.
Baxter said he was pleased with his reading of the first selection, "The Feast of Love." "I liked reading it - it's fun," he said.
A former student of Baxter's, English lecturer Lauren Kingsley said she went into Rackham Amphitheatre confident of what she was about to hear. "I know his work and it's as good as I expected it to be," she said. "He's a sure thing."
JOSH BIGGS/Daily
Charles Baxter, renowned author and University English professor speaks at Rackham Auditorium yesterday. Baxter only gives reads on campus every three or four years.