Case Histories - Kate Atkinson. Slightly strange (actually it's a very strange) question for those who've read it.

[Pennies]

When Victor's dog dies, is there the implication that Julia had erm... got jiggy with it?

erk ! I've read it but can't remember it very well, but I think I'd recall that aspect (at least it didn't come up in our bookgroup discussion !)

I don't remember thinking that.
I was about to read it again anyway so will let you know!

I don't remember thinking that at the time

Well, either I'm truly sick in the head or something because I thought it was really very odd that in the preceding scene that you see (please excuse the dramatic refernces, rather than chapters etc) Julia and Amelia they briefly have an exchange where they talk about beastiality with a dog ("Would you do it to save your life?"). The next thing is the dog dies in Julia's arms and Julia is described as being covered in dog hairs. The final sentence to the scene is something along the lines of "It looked like she had been holding him for a long time".

I could help but feel that the suggestion was that the dog's stroke was brought about by her intervention.

Erm... no, not my reading of it! Though there is that reference to bestiality isn't there... isn't Amelia speculating about Julia having had sex with women, and the question is asked about 'Would you do it with a dog?' and Julia says no. Though i have to agree that Julia's dog obsession borders on the extreme......

didn't they used to fight about which bed the dog slept in?

still don't remember thinking about that at the time

you and your flithy vivid imagination

You could always email Kate Atkinson.....

I DARE YOU!

Oh yes - isn't there a little pet terrier when the sisters are little who isn't supposed to sleep in the bedrooms but they sneak him in there? And I think he's in the tent too isn't he when the other sister goes missing.

Yeah go on...... email and say lots of ladies on mumsnet are wondering if.........

Exactly - you see, now I've mentioned it you can tell the whole dog thing is way out of control with those girls.

OK will do - what's her email addy then?

Ladies? Yeah right!

gosh I've just re-read it and totally missed that aspect. >

Really Sobernow? What didn't you like abou it?

Well I read it for my book group a while back and bestiality wasn't one of the themes we picked up on. Will ahve to re-read that bit now...

Hummm, can't remember that bit. BUT in 'Not the end of the world' one of them (can't remember who) definately shags a giant cat/tiger.... she's pregnant with kittens at the end of the story....

WTF??? My word. I've just been on her website and she looks so... normal.

It wasn't up to her others, I thought. Mind you none of them has been as good as the first one.

I've read this book but I think I borrowed it from the library. Kate Atkinson is a odd writer but she is strangely engrossing .

i've just read one good turn as it seemed to be endorsed as a good read but found i was still trying to visualise who was who at the end and it was so clunky

not read any of her other books for some kind of snobbery reasons

Oh I love Kate Atkinson, must be a clunky reader . One Good Turn not as good as the others imo. Definately do not remember ref to doggy loving but I'm a bit niave...will have to have another look!