Solved! - English prof with magic finger [s]

[Jillian]

I'm trying to remember the title of a book about an english professor who loses his finger in a freak accident and discovers after it is reattached that he has the ability to affect the willpower of others. Things become increasingly bizarre, culminating in a supernatural encounter with an individual who is transgendered and/or two different people. There are several scenes with witty literary bickering amongst the department and a lot of focus on the eerie library tower where the old and rarely read books are kept.

Thanks in advance - this group is such an excellent idea!

[Emily]

The Lecturer's Tale
by James Hynes
http://www.amazon.com/Lecturers-Tale-...

This looks like a hoot. Definitely a different take on the academia novel. I'm adding it to my "to read" list.

[Jillian]

Thanks so much!
I kept thinking it was "professor" rather than "lecturer" somewhere in the title, so my google searches were bringing me nothing. I'm still not sure what I think about the last third of the book, but I enjoyed Hynes' style and his take on academia (I'm currently a lit grad student) so I'll definitely add those other books to my list! Thanks!