It was great fun to hear him read aloud — he injected the exact emotions and tenors one attributes to his character, Paul Chowder. When one reads the novel, one suspects (as I noted in my review) that Chowder is a somewhat skewed alter ego of Mr. Baker’s, and indeed the author willingly confirmed that. So, listening to him read “Paul’s” amusing, quirky, and yet poignant words was like having Paul come alive in the person of the one who knows him best. This was intensified because “Paul’s” prose has a rhythm of its own when one reads it silently to oneself. Hearing it aloud joyously and eerily unerringly reinforced the “voice” that had already been heard in one’s own mind.

It was an honor to be able to see Mr. Baker in person and hear him extrapolate about THE ANTHOLOGIST and other aspects of writing, particularly his own experience. It was also wonderful to speak with him one-on-one for a few moments after his presentation. As I left the bookstore, I felt I was on literary cloud nine.

I can’t read a lot of poetry at once either, but one of the attractions of THE ANTHOLOGIST is that Paul Chowder’s comments move briskly from one aspect of poetry to another. He talks a little about meter, then shares a little biographical information about this poet or that, then shows us one of his musical efforts, etc. There are some wonderful excepts from famous (and not as famous) poems, but reading this novel is much more diverse than reading a collection of poems.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.