Diary discussion and spoilers in this link

Malanee · Post by **Malanee** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:15 pm

I love Chuck Pal-a-whatsit!

Shall we discuss come mid April?

Post by **Spudd** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 5:57 pm

I'm ready whenever you are! I just finished it a few days ago.

Crystal Meth · Post by **Crystal Meth** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:01 pm

I just finished it two minutes ago.

Malanee · Post by **Malanee** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:46 pm

I'm done - should we discuss?

Post by **Spudd** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:54 pm

Sure.

At first I wasn't that into the book, but then it started getting really interesting about half-way through. I thought the style was kind of irritating though - talking to her comatose husband the entire time.

I am dying to know what she painted.

Malanee · Post by **Malanee** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:59 pm

I loved it: "The weather is increasing concern followed by full blown dread."

It scares me how much I relate to Chuck's characters sometimes. I caught on early that strange narration was going to lead to a surprise ending. But I love the letter on the last page! I want to know what she painted too. Do you think the chair painting was made of poo?

Crystal Meth · Post by **Crystal Meth** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:19 pm

You guys are going to have to bear with me here...

I didn't fully get the ending. Yes, I know what happened. But why did everyone have to get blown up? Because how does an artist bring fame and fortune to the island if no artwork survives? Why couldn't her work be shown and sold in New York and London if they wanted fame? And why did the older generation have to die? I mean, I understand that there's a shock element that might bring tourists, but is there even enough people left to replenish the island?

Just for the record... (hee) I loved the name Wait-and-see Island. Heh.

Do you think the chair painting was made of poo?

I never thought about it.

Post by **Spudd** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:39 pm

I never thought of the chair painting being made of poo. Why did you think that, Ruth? I'm gonna have to look up that section and re-read it.

Crystal, I agree, I didn't really get how it would bring fortune to the island. I thought the point was more to get rid of all the damn tourists. I thought the island folks liked it more quiet and not so touristy. But without tourists, how will they make money?

Malanee · Post by **Malanee** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:44 pm

The guy who bought it sniffed and asked if it was made of shit.

And I thought a bunch of life insuarance policies were taken out too? Did I misread that? But mostly they killed everyone to keep the tourists away.

Post by **Spudd** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:49 am

I re-read the relevant bits.

I don't think she painted it out of shit, but I think it kind of smelled like shit because she had the runs so bad when she was painting.

And yep, all the old people on the island had massive life insurance policies - so that's how the younger generation became rich from the paintings.

Twisted book, eh?

Jax · Post by **Jax** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:53 pm

Spudd wrote:I don't think she painted it out of shit, but I think it kind of smelled like shit because she had the runs so bad when she was painting.

I have not read this book, but this statement has me laughing my ass off.

Rachael · Post by **Rachael** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 7:54 pm

I read this book a couple years ago. I love this writer - Ruth sent me one of his books to borrow and got me hooked. All of his stuff is soooo twisted.