The Marriage Plot: Jeffrey Eugenides speaks off the page

By Nikki Robles, Staff Writer -- robles15@up.edu

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jeffrey Eugenides opened his lecture Monday night by stressing the true worth of literature: attracting women.

The acclaimed author of novels such as "Middlesex" and "The Virgin Suicides" proved his argument by telling the story of a Princeton student who had read his latest novel, "The Marriage Plot," and used it to start a conversation with a woman he was pursuing.

"Little by little the night turned out better than he expected," Eugenides said.

Eugenides was invited to The Bluff by English professor John Orr as part of the Schoenfeldt Distinguished Visiting Writers Series. Founded by Rev. Arthur Schoenfeldt and his sister, Suzanne Schoenfeldt-Fields, the program allows UP students to interact with renowned writers.

Throngs of literary enthusiasts crowded into Buckley Center Auditorium to hear Eugenides speak about "The Marriage Plot," his writing and Portland.

Eugenides laughed about the Portland coffehouse culture.

"Every place I went to, I was waited on by someone with a magnificent beard," Eugenides said.

He also talked about being picketed in Powell's bookstore several years ago for using the word "hermaphrodite" in his book "Middlesex."

Eugenides entertained the audience with a reading of "The Marriage Plot," focusing on college humor ranging from sexual encounters to urinary tract infections.

When a student asked Eugenides about his ability to write from a female perspective, he said he called upon previous relationships with women.

"You're going out with somebody in college, after a while you wonder: Why is there always a jar of cranberry juice?" Eugenides said.

Eugenides also gave the audience a glimpse into his routine, which consists of practicing his writing instead of waiting for inspiration to come to him.

"You have to go to work," Eugenides said. "You can't wait for inspiration, you can't wait until you feel good about it."

Junior Evan Gabriel was pleased to hear Eugenides' reading of "The Marriage Plot."

"You see the author take the voice of the narrator in his own hands and present it the way he envisions it," Gabriel said.

Freshman Sierra Huitt had read Eugenides' works before, and was excited to meet him at the book signing.

"He was much more delicate than I thought he would be," Huitt said.

Eugenides also visited classrooms Monday, giving students a chance to ask him questions in an intimate setting.

"It was various questions about cultures, genders, sexualities within that novel ("Middlesex") but also basic questions of how a person writes and how they can get into other people's minds," English professor Lars Larson said.

Gabriel, one of the students in Eugenides' classroom discussion, enjoyed the author's relaxed and humorous attitude.

"He was a pretty laid back guy," Gabriel said.

Larson was glad UP could host Eugenides.

"He's one of the most respected contemporary American writers," Larson said. "He's only got three major works out; they are all solid works that are taught in various places. We wanted that kind of writer to rub off on our campus."

Junior Hannah Fink agrees.

"He was everything that I had hoped for," Fink said. "I am really happy that the University of Portland was able to bring such a big name."