I gulped down “Oxford Messed Up” as if parched; swallowing words, concepts, imagery, poetry, and song lyrics whole in a swiftly moving film traversing my mind’s eye. I will soon return to reread this exquisitely crafted novel and to savor it at a more befitting pace. It is one of those rare works that makes one head straight to the computer to send emails to all reading friends proclaiming “you must read this book”.

Andrea Kayne Kaufman should be lauded for this brilliant, insightful debut novel about the unlikely relationship between two troubled individuals who are thrust together inharmoniously by way of a shared bathroom that separates their tiny Oxford University dorm rooms. While this wouldn’t be a problem for most graduate students, academic super achiever and Gloria Zimmerman, newly arrived in England from Chicago, suffers from an extreme, untreated Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder involving a fear of germs and an avoidance of human contact. Loo mate Henry Young has his own set of demons to contend with as the bright yet unambitious son and disappointment of a harshly disapproving academician father. Still deeply mourning the death of his loving mother, Henry harbors a dark secret of past drug addition with permanent consequences. He is a talented musician with a passion for playing guitar and collecting vinyl records and a near encyclopedia knowledge of music as well as an obsession with the music of Van Morrison which Gloria shares. Henry has arresting green eyes, is inherently kind and has an unconscious charm that despite his slovenly appearance and dubious hygiene gradually works its way into grudging conversation and friendship with Gloria as the strains of “Astral Weeks”, “Moondance”, “Veedon Fleece” and the vast catalog of the Belfast Cowboy Celtic poetic genius play as leit motif.

Gloria is the trophy only child of wealthy Jewish parents consumed by material displays and the trappings of success. She is dubbed “Superstar” by her father and socialite mother, prized for her academic achievements, slim figure and correct, trouble free behavior. Content with the status having a Rhodes Scholar doctoral candidate confers among their peers, her parents ignore that twenty-two year old Gloria is friendless, lacks any semblance of social life and is growing desperately ill with her OCD compulsions. Her chapped, red, sore hands are among the only outward clues of her disorder to the unobservant. Plagued by Oliver, her constant companion, the inner ranting voice of sadness and compulsive conformity drives Gloria to excess use of hand sanitizers and pushes her to set her alarm clock to allow for three hours of bathroom scrubbing each morning. Listening to Van Morrison whose transcendent, joyful songs celebrating the healing power of music brings her glimpses of happiness. The uplifting effect of favorite scratchy vinyl records and songs like “Sweet Thing” played by Henry with good cheer on his shiny red guitar wasn’t found in her studies of dead by their own hands women poets Plath, Sexton and Teasdale. His morning greeting in song of rock anthem “Gloria” also works to gradually ease our protagonist from her lonely isolation. In turn, she works her magic to inspire Henry to emerge from his doldrums and pursue an appropriate, inspired avenue of study.

Finely drawn supporting characters include Henry’s psychologist sister Claire who provides him with crucial lessons to employ Cognitive Behavior Therapy to heal his friend. Gloria’s faculty advisor Margo Mitchell who embraces happiness also rounds out this literate, sensitively written novel. Author Andrea Kayne Kaufman, chair of the DePaul University College of Education Department of Leadership, Language and Curriculum, like her protagonists is highly motivated, successful and engaged in life, drew on her work with OCD patients to write this captivating tale. An accomplished academician, educator and attorney with multiple Ivy League degrees, she lives in harmony with her husband and two children. Andrea celebrates the gifted muse Van Morrison with song lyrics contained in every chapter. As Van the Man wrote: “Let’s enjoy it while we can, won’t you help me sing my song, from the dark end of the street, to the bright side of the road.” I can hardly wait to read her next book.