# Whatcha Readin' (May 09) Edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2009, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077 "2009-05-02T10:59:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/61 "2009-05-08T12:50:19Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Started _The Story of Edgar Sawtelle_ – more despite, than because of, the fact that it’s Oprah-endorsed. I’m only about 90 pages into it (It’s about 600), but so far so good. Just finished it, and I liked it quite a bit – but would love to discuss the ending. Has anyone else read it? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/62 "2009-05-08T15:23:03Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Just finished it, and I liked it quite a bit – but would love to discuss the ending. Has anyone else read it? Yes. I **hated** the ending. I knew it had to be tragic, but I thought the way Wroblewski set it up was just plain silly. I was laughing when I should have been crying. Loved the book up until then though. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/63 "2009-05-08T15:36:57Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Yes. I **hated** the ending. I knew it had to be tragic, but I thought the way Wroblewski set it up was just plain silly. I was laughing when I should have been crying. > > Loved the book up until then though. [spoiler]What, the set-up in terms of Claude manipulating the sheriff? (fuck, I finished it six hours ago and already forget his name. Glen?) or just the high drama of the fire, and the blinded sheriff howling in pain, and Claude going after Edgar? Seriously – I didn’t expect Edgar to die, though it was gratifying that if he did, Claude did too. What an evil SOB he was. I was left with a bunch of “what happens next” questions – seems like Trudy will have to give up on the breeding program – half her pack has left, and all of the records apparently burned up, plus she was overextended when it was two of them. What will happen to her? And what will happen to the dogs that left? I first thought Essay was going to lead them back up to Henry, but that’s silly. They’re going to hook up with Forte, apparently – and are we supposed to assume that Forte II was the son or grandson of Forte I? [/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/64 "2009-05-08T16:16:37Z")
Yeah that. And [spoiler]Trudy rolling around on the ground with the sheriff while everything’s going up in flames and her son is dying. Trudy sending Edgar off into the wild made no sense at all. Did something similar happen in Hamlet? I have no clue about the dogs. And to be honest, I didn’t think they were all that special. Just good, smart dogs. [/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/65 "2009-05-08T16:32:17Z")
Yeah, it really did fall apart in the last 100 pages or so, didn’t it? I have to admit, though, that I’ve never read _Hamlet_ – no, really. Or _Macbeth_. So not only am I not clear about the details of the two, I am not entirely sure which is which. :o Anyway, this means I’m not entirely clear which parts of the ending we should blame on Wroblewski, and which on Shakespeare. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/66 "2009-05-08T16:53:07Z")
[SparkNotes summary](http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet/summary.html). I don’t remember everything that happened in the book, but it looks like Wroblewski kept the bare bones – uncle kills Hamlet’s father, moves in with Hamlet’s mother, Hamlet’s mother sends Hamlet away to protect him from uncle. Are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern the dogs? ETA: I’ve never read a complete Shakespeare play either. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/67 "2009-05-08T17:31:48Z")
_Edgar Sawtelle_ spoilers: [Spoil "Edgar Sawtelle" for me - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=510017) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/68 "2009-05-08T17:41:05Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > [SparkNotes summary](http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet/summary.html). I don’t remember everything that happened in the book, but it looks like Wroblewski kept the bare bones – uncle kills Hamlet’s father, moves in with Hamlet’s mother, Hamlet’s mother sends Hamlet away to protect him from uncle. > > Are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern the dogs? > > ETA: I’ve never read a complete Shakespeare play either. The dogs are the traveling players, also – remember how he has them act out a whole scene with hypodermic needles. But yeah, it looks like the over-the-topness of the finale can be blamed mostly on Willy S. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/69 "2009-05-08T17:49:10Z")
Never read the book you’re talking about, but \*Hamlet \*ends with Gertrude accidentally killed by Claudius, Laertes accidentally killed by Hamlet, Claudius intentionally killed by Hamlet, and Hamlet intentionally killed by Laertes. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/70 "2009-05-08T18:11:19Z")
Oh good lord – I was sitting here thinking “but there’s no Ophelia … how can they do _Hamlet_ without Ophelia?” There is an Ophelia – Almondine, the freakin’ dog that lives with the family. :rolleyes: (I’m actually liking it less now that I know the story it’s based on …) ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/71 "2009-05-08T19:32:05Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > :rolleyes: > > (I’m actually liking it less now that I know the story it’s based on …) I felt the same way. I liked the book for the first 100 pages and then was all “This is Hamlet. Bleah.” ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/72 "2009-05-08T19:32:11Z")
**twicks** and **AuntiePam** , I just started the _Edgar Sawtelle_ audiobook last night and I was going to pitch it after one CD (along with _The Inheritance of Loss_, which lost me after three). But then if both of you liked it, I should probably give it more time. Right? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/73 "2009-05-08T19:38:43Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > But then if both of you liked it, I should probably give it more time. Right? Not really, because the ending will probably erase all the good feelings you have about the rest of the story. ☹ **twickster** , I couldn’t figure out who Ophelia was either. Was Glen Laertes? I need a diagram. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/74 "2009-05-08T19:47:51Z")
I’m have about 150 pages left to read of _The Crimson Petal and the White_ by Michel Faber which I picked up because of some glowing reviews in last month’s thread. I love it. I bought _The Apple_, a book of short stories with the same characters, when I was less than half way through _Crimson Petal_ because I couldn’t stand the thought that it would end. And I sent a copy to my mom for Mother’s Day. I love it so much. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/75 "2009-05-08T20:11:58Z")
> [@Zjestika](#): > > I’m have about 150 pages left to read of _The Crimson Petal and the White_ by Michel Faber which I picked up because of some glowing reviews in last month’s thread. I picked it up too because someone here recommended it ( **I Am The Lorax?** ). It’s pretty far down the TBR pile, but I read the first couple of paragraphs and almost got swept right in! Looking forward to it. ---
**Author:** ![Landshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@Landshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Landshark)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/76 "2009-05-08T20:15:23Z")
I am in the middle of a re-read of _The Sheep Look Up_, a novel by John Brunner. It was originally published in 1972, and is a very disturbing extrapolation of the results of the polluting and poisoning of the environment being allowed to run unchecked. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/77 "2009-05-08T21:10:19Z")
I gave up on _Shalimar the Clown_. Rushdie had a bug up his butt about Kashmir (and since the book is dedicated to his Kashmiri grandparents, it’s not hard to see why) but it was so bogged down in the middle when the wars started that I didn’t even stick around to see if there was a Trademark Rushdie Explosion and took it back to the library. My next Rushdie is _Step Across This Line_ which is a collection of his essays, speeches, and newspaper articles. I’m hoping that there’s a sense of humor included because _StC_ had none. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/78 "2009-05-08T23:46:02Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > **twicks** and **AuntiePam** , I just started the _Edgar Sawtelle_ audiobook last night and I was going to pitch it after one CD (along with _The Inheritance of Loss_, which lost me after three). > > But then if both of you liked it, I should probably give it more time. Right? Uh, no. Unless you want to follow the _Hamlet_ stuff unfold. I mean, fucking Ophelia is a fucking dog – as are Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern. ---
**Author:** ![Albrecht\_Durer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@Albrecht\_Durer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albrecht_Durer)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/79 "2009-05-09T01:12:02Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Try _The Human Stain_. \*The Plot Against America \*was okay, but I liked \*Stain \*much better. Or you could go for the one he actually, y’know, won a Pulitzer for (_American Pastoral_). 😛 I couldn’t help it! I was intrigued by the plot…against America. A Nazi-esque President Lindburgh? That’s an absolutely awesome idea. I just don’t think it was executed well. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077/80 "2009-05-09T03:54:25Z")
You might want to try _Fatherland_ by Robert Harris. It’s a very well-crafted, chilling murder mystery set in Hitler’s Germany in 1964, less than two decades after the Nazi victory in WW2. Joseph Kennedy Sr. is President of the U.S., and there’s passing reference to Ambassador Lindbergh in Berlin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-may-09-edition/495077.md?page=5)