Oxford Messed Up (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Characters/People edit see section history

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• Gloria Zimmerman: A 23 year academic superstar who is studying feminist poetry at Oxford University. Gloria suffers from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder which is fueled by her overachieving parents and has manifested in a deathly aversion to germs and human contact.
• Henry Young: An underachieving musician who is the son of an overbearing and disapproving Oxford don. Henry is studying music at Oxford but travels through the university with a reckless and undirected outlook, that is until he meets Gloria.
• Claire Young: As Henry's older sister and pseudo-mother figure, Claire is the voice of reason for many of Henry's decisions. Claire is a psychologist at Oxford who has her own romantic troubles, but remains a constant positive figure in Henry's life.
• Nicholas Young: Chair of the Music Department at Jesus College and the father of Claire and Henry. Nicholas has a distant and harsh relationship with Henry and one not much better with his Claire.
• Frank Zimmerman: Claire's support system in her family, Frank served as Gloria's one-person cheer team throughout her childhood. He was always proud of her accomplishments and to him, Gloria was always a super star.
• Gladys Zimmerman: Claire's loving, yet critical mother. Gladys made no effort to hide her feelings about the embarrassment of Gloria's red-raw hands and constantly encouraged her to take medication and ignore the problems.
• Van Morrison: Add a description of this character.
• Mary Oliver
• Margo Mitchell: Oxford professor and writer, and Gloria's advisor.
• Amir: Twelve step sponsor.
• Millicent: Girl on a bus
• Sam
• Cook
• Sylvia Plath: Poet studied and quoted in the novel.
• Liz
• Sara Teasdale
• Anne Sexton: Poet studied and quoted in novel.
• Tom Petty
• Patricia
• Fritz: Dog.
• Luvox: Drug used by gloria to treat her O.C.D.
• Alfred
• Sally
• Mr. Rogers
• Emma
• Molly
• Klonopin
• Andrew
• Ted Hughes
• Julian

Quotes edit see section history

• “Gloria watched the swollen white orb of a hot-air balloon rising over Navy Pier and knew she had to break it off with Oliver, for he was the type who would never enjoy hot-air balloons, Van Morrison songs, or mess, whether from orgasm or otherwise. But who was she to be dreaming about mess today?”

  Narrator

• “You wouldn't be alone, Henry. You have Van Morrison and me."”

  Gloria

• “I am exploring a variant on the Sylvia Plath Effect - the realationship between crativity and mental illness. I am examining a recent variant in the literature about destructive parenting. Specifically, I am discussing how a parent's derision can undermine one's accomplishments and sense of equanimity. But there is probably no need for me to go into great detail, Professor Young. You are undoubtedly an expert.”

  Gloria

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Oxford University: The University located in Oxford, United Kingdom where the majority of the book takes place. There are multiple branches of Oxford that is covered within the book, but Gloria and Henry meet at Oxford where they are both studying different disciplines.
• Jesus College: A branch of Oxford University where Henry's father, Nicholas Young, is chair of the Music department.
• St. Cross: A branch of Oxford University where Gloria is enrolled and where both Gloria and Henry live in dormitories.
• Equanimity: The estate of the Young family, where Henry's father Nicholas and sister Claire still live.
• Chicago
• London
• Madison
• New York
• Radcliffe
• England
• Atripla

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Andrea Kayne Kaufman (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Health, Mind & Body › Mental Health › Compulsive Behavior
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Literary
• Books › Romance › Contemporary
• Books › Entertainment › Music

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