A Novel : Question 4

[Carol]

What is your assessment of Fred? of Chuck?

[Carol]

Virginia Miner (Vinnie), a fifty-something unmarried tenured professor, is in London to work on her new book about children's folk rhymes. Despite carrying a US passport, Vinnie feels essentially English and rather looks down on her fellow Americans. But in spite of that, she is drawn into a mortifying and oddly satisfying affair with a Fred from Oklahoma.

Vinnie's colleague Fred Turner, a handsome, flat broke, newly separated and thoroughly miserable young man trying to focus on his own research. Instead he is distracted by a beautiful and unpredictable English actress and the world she belongs to.

Chuck Mumpson starts out as Vinnie's seatmate, a garrulous man from Tulsa. She puts him off by giving him a copy of "Little Lord Fauntleroy" to read. He develops an interest to want to trace his own family history. Vinnie slowly becomes involved with this project then with him.

[Cheryl]

I THINK BOTH OF THESE CHARACTERS COME WITH MORE THAN ENOUGH MIDDLE AGED BAGGAGE EVEN THOUGH FRED IS NOT QUITE 30. BOTH ARE SOMEWHAT SOCIALLY INEPT GETTING BY ON LOOKS OR NOVELTY. THIS RELEGATES THEM TO FORM MORE THAN CONTENT. AT LEAST CHUCK'S PURSUIT OF HIS FAMILY HISTORY AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO TRY NEW THINGS GIVES HIM THE IMPETUS TO FINALLY LIVE ALBEIT TOO LATE.

[Ashley]

I liked that Fred had the looks but was an English prof! I mean, it might be the nerdy teen in me, but there's the whole package right there. No wonder his female students threw themselves at him. Fred is the opposite of Vinnie, though the dwell in the same academic department. Also, I thought his disdain of the Voegelers was hilarious.

Chuck was a bit of a caricature for me and probably the weakest character. He's sincere and so wholesome and good, but . . . why? To go back to the Fido thing, he is indeed Vinnie's pup, following her around yet bringing out her best.

[Cheryl]

I NEVER MET A HANDSOME ENGLISH PROFESSOR WHO WASN'T GAY WITH SOME AGENDA. PERHAPS FRED IS THE WHOLE PACKAGE ACADEMICALLY AND PHYSICALLY, BUT HE'S STILL A SOCIALLY INEPT DRAG.